Social Studies Standard 5 Commencement

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Social Studies: Commencement
Standard 5: Civics, Citizenship, and Government Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the necessity for establishing governments; the governmental system of the United States and other nations; the United States Constitution; the basic civic values of American constitutional democracy; and the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation.
Key Idea	Central to civics and citizenship is an understanding of the roles of the citizen within the American constitutional democracy, and the scope and limitations of a citizen's rights and responsibilities.
	PI	Students analyze issues at the local, state, and national levels and prescribe responses that promote the public interest or general welfare, such as planning and carrying out a voter registration campaign.
	PI	Students describe how citizenship is defined by the Constitution and important laws.	The Constitution of the United States of America The First Amendment Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution
	PI	Students explore how citizens influence public policy in a representative democracy.	The Campaign of 1840: William Henry Harrison and Tyler, Too The Electoral College Legislating Neutrality, 1934-1939
	PI	Students understand how citizenship includes the exercise of certain personal responsibilities, including voting, considering the rights and interests of others, behaving in a civil manner, and accepting responsibility for the consequences of one's actions (Adapted from The National Standards for Civics and Government,1994).	Slang: Are You Sure We're All Speaking English? The Economics of Voting: What Do You Mean, My Vote Doesn't Count? The Electoral College Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution Separate is Not Equal: Brown v. Board of Education Homepage

Key Idea	The state and federal governments established by the Constitutions of the United States and the State of New York embody basic civic values (such as justice, honesty, self-discipline, due process, equality, majority rule with respect for minority rights, and respect for self, others, and property), principles, and practices and establish a system of shared and limited government. (Adapted from The National Standards for Civics and Government, 1994).
	PI	Students identify, respect, and model those core civic values inherent in our founding documents that have been forces for unity in American society.	Four Freedoms for the Fourth The Constitution of the United States of America The First Amendment Charting the Constitution: Student Interactive Interactive Gettysburg Address
	PI	Students compare and contrast the Constitutions of the United States and New York State.
	PI	Students understand the dynamic relationship between federalism and state's rights.	James Madison: Raising an Army: Balancing the Power of the States and the Federal Government
	PI	Students analyze the disparities between civic values expressed in the United States Constitution and the United Nation Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the realities as evidenced in the political, social, and economic life in the United States and throughout the world.	Holocaust and Resistance Separate is Not Equal: Brown v. Board of Education Homepage
	PI	Students trace the evolution of American values, beliefs, and institutions.	The Electoral College Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution Interactive Star-Spangled Banner Separate is Not Equal: Brown v. Board of Education Homepage

Key Idea	The study of civics and citizenship requires the ability to probe ideas and assumptions, ask and answer analytical questions, take a skeptical attitude toward questionable arguments, evaluate evidence, formulate rational conclusions, and develop and refine participatory skills.
	PI	Students prepare a plan of action that defines an issue or problem, suggests alternative solutions or courses of action, evaluates the consequences for each alternative solution or course of action, prioritizes the solutions based on established criteria, and proposes an action plan to address the issue or to resolve the problem.	Buying vs. Renting The United States/Mexico Border
	PI	Students explain how democratic principles have been used in resolving an issue or problem.	Separate is Not Equal: Brown v. Board of Education Homepage
	PI	Students consider the need to respect the rights of others, to respect others' points of view (Adapted from The National Standards for Civics and Government, 1996).	Online Mayhem I: Metallica Versus Napster
	PI	Students evaluate, take, and defend positions on what the fundamental values and principles of American political life are and their importance to the maintenance of constitutional democracy (Adapted from The National Standards for Civics and Government, 1994).	The First American Party System: Federalists and Democratic-Republicans -- The Platforms They Never Had The First American Party System: U.S. Political Parties -- The Principle of Legitimate Opposition Why Cities Provide Tax Breaks Even When They Are Strapped For Revenue
	PI	Students participate as informed citizens in the political justice system and processes of the United States, including voting.
	PI	Students participate in school/classroom/community activities that focus on an issue or problem.	The Collapse of Corporate Giants Through the Eyes of a Refugee Activity Your Hometown: A Teenage Perspective
	PI	Students take, defend, and evaluate positions about attitudes that facilitate thoughtful and effective participation in public affairs.

Key Idea	The study of civics, citizenship, and government involves learning about political systems; the purposes of government and civic life; and the differing assumptions held by people across time and place regarding power, authority, and governance, and law. (Adapted from The National Standards for Civics and Government, 1994).
	PI	Students identify and analyze advantages and disadvantages of various governmental systems.	Congressional Committees and the Legislative Process
	PI	Students compare various political systems with that of the United States in terms of ideology, structure, function, institutions, decision-making processes, citizenship roles, and political culture.
	PI	Students analyze how the values of a nation and international organizations affect the guarantee of human rights and make provisions for human needs.	Economic Freedom, Political Freedom: Their Meaning, Their Results The Debate in the United States over the League of Nations: League of Nations Basics Regulating Freedom of Speech
	PI	Students consider the nature and evolution of constitutional democracies throughout the world.


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