Grand Canyon Preparatory Academy
CIVITAS II: Political and Economic Systems
Scope and Sequence
Unit Theme
The State of Nature
and Social
Contract: Why is
Government
necessary, what
should it do, and
how should it
change with the
times
Unit Dates
and
Duration
August 12 to
September
16
Unit Focus
Description
This unit focuses on the development of the
concept of government from the ideas from the
earliest historical periods to the present, its types
(from monarchy, dictatorship, aristocracy,
oligarchy, democracy, anarchy and its other
forms like fascism, socialism to what should it do
(right wing or left wing) how it should change
with the times or what should happen when
things do not change and how the ideas of
Federalism and Republicanism developed within
our constitution in this country fuse those ideas
Social Studies
Standards
(Concept One is
Universal)
Strand Three
Literacy in History/
Social Studies Standards
Reading
Writing
Grades 11-12
R.H. 1-10
Grades 11-12
Grades 11-12
R.H. 1-10
Grades 11-12
Strand Three
Grades 11-12
Grades 11-12
Civics/Governm
ent
R.H. 1-10
WHST 1-10
Civics/Governm
ent
WHST 1-10
Concept One
PO 1-4
Concept Two
PO 1-4
Concept Three
PO 1
Structure of the
American
Constitutional
System on the City,
State and Federal
Level
September
17 to October
5
This unit will focus on structure of the American
Constitutional System at the City, State and
Federal Level and how powers are separated and
shared between and within these parties
according to city statutes, state constitution and
federal constitution.
Strand Three
Civics/Governm
ent
WHST 1-10
Concept Two
PO 3-11
Concept Three
PO 1-4
The Executive,
Legislative, and
Judicial Branches
October 13 to
November 10
The student will learn about the separation of
powers and checks and balances among the
Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches and
Grand Canyon Preparatory Academy
CIVITAS II: Political and Economic Systems
Scope and Sequence
at the City, State,
and Federal Level:
their functions and
how they interact
with another
through their
separate powers
and checks and
balances
The Power of the
People: The
Promise and
Drawbacks to
Democracy: the
rights and
responsibilities of
the citizen
Alternatives to the
American System:
Different Types of
Government
/Economic
Systems around
the world
The Power Game:
The Non
Democratic
Influences on our
Political and
how they interact with one another.
Concept Two
PO 3-11
Concept Three
PO 1-4
November 12
to December
1
December 1
to December
18
Students will learn about what the goals and
responsibilities are of the citizen (staying
informed, civic participation and voting for
example) and how it is essential to the running of
a proper democracy and what happens if citizens
do not do what is necessary.
Students will learn about other systems of
governments and economies with examples like
parliamentary, theocratic, communist,
totalitarian and the countries that have them.
Strand Three
Grades 11-12
Grades 11-12
Civics/Governm
ent
R.H. 1-10
WHST 1-10
Strand Three
Grades 11-12
Grades 11-12
Civics/Governm
ent
R.H. 1-10
WHST 1-10
Strand Three
Grades 11-12
Grades 11-12
Civics/Governm
ent
R.H. 1-10
WHST 1-10
Concept Four
PO 1-5
Concept Five
PO 1-3
January 5 to
February 5
Students will learn about the behind the scene
influences on our government officials (lobbyists,
special interests), how they influence and corrupt
the process and steps that can be taken to reduce
their power.
Concept Four
Grand Canyon Preparatory Academy
CIVITAS II: Political and Economic Systems
Scope and Sequence
Economic System
Regional and
Supranational
Political and
Economic
Organizations like
the WTO, UN,
NAFTA, Red Cross,
EU
PO 5
February 5 to
February 19
Students will learn about regional and
supranational GO and NGO organizations that
influence political, cultural and economic events
like the U.N., the Council on Foreign Relations,
The World Trade Organization, OPEC
Strand Three
Grades 11-12
Grades 11-12
Civics/Governm
ent
R.H. 1-10
WHST 1-10
Grades 11-12
Grades 11-12
R.H. 1-10
WHST 1-10
Concept Five
PO 1-3
Strand Five
Economics
Concept Four
PO 2
Theories of
Economic Systems
February 20
to March 5
Students will learn about the theories governing
our economic system and how it blends them
(democratic capitalism)
Strand Five
Economics
Concept One
PO 1-5
Concept Four
PO 1
The United States
Economic Model:
In reality and
applications
The American
Taxpayer: Rights
and
responsibilities
March 14 to
April 15
Students will learn about how the United States
Economic System functions in reality from the
stock market to small business to supply and
demand.
Concept Three
PO 1-7
Concept Two
PO 1-3
April 18 to
May 6
Students will learn about their obligations as tax
payers and rights and how it compares to other
groups and businesses. Students should also
learn about the intricacies of personal finance like
setting a household budget and balancing a
checkbook
Concept Five
PO 1-6
Grand Canyon Preparatory Academy
CIVITAS II: Political and Economic Systems
Scope and Sequence
The General
May 9 to June
Welfare for all:
2
What obligation
does the
Government have
to its citizens and
how has the
pendulum gone
back and forth. The
Power Game
Revisited: who has
more sway the one
or 99 percent.
Students will learn about the varying approaches
to social welfare and public policy from the
conservative to centrist to liberal approach and
how they think governments and economic
interests should invest in the people and
infrastructure.
There really is
no standards in
the State ones
that conform to
this unit.