Using a written constitution to set forth the values and principles of government and to establish and limit its powers is among the most distinctive accomplishments of the Founders. Students must understand the fundamental ideals of American constitutional government, their history, and their contemporary relevance to develop a reasoned commitment to these values and principles, and to use these values and principles as criteria to evaluate both their own behavior and the behavior of government officials.

Benchmarks & Indicators:

NOTE: Red Bolded content in the indicators is considered essential and must be taught in all classrooms. Content which is not bolded goes beyond the scope and sequence of the state standards.

Benchmark 3.1: Students will explain the major philosophical arguments advanced for the necessity of politics and government.

3.1 Indicators:

Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

1. Describe the development of Athenian democracy.
   1. Explain that the term democracy is derived from the Greek word for "rule by the people."
   2. Explain that in a democracy the people are the source of authority for government and how that idea is related to free elections and widespread participation.
   3. Explain the difference between the use of the term "democratic" to refer to the American form of government and the use of the term to refer to the Democratic Party in the United States.
2. Describe the development of the Roman republic.
   
   1. Define a republic as a state in which the citizenry as a whole is considered sovereign but which is governed by elected representatives rather than directly by the people, as in direct democracy.
   2. Explain major ideas of republicanism, i.e., government of a republic seeks the public or common good rather than the good of a particular group or class of society and "civic virtue" of citizens is essential; civic virtue means that citizens put the public or common good above their private interests.
   3. Explain the difference between the use of the term "republican" to refer to the American form of government and the use of the term to refer to the Republican Party in the United States.
3. Identify the major philosophical arguments for government according to Aristotle, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Charles Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and other political philosophers who shaped the development of constitutional government in the United States.
4. Cite examples of these philosophical arguments in action; e.g., the Declaration of Independence as a reflection of the natural rights philosophy of John Locke and the social contract philosophy of Thomas Hobbes, etc.

Benchmark 3.2: Students will explain the major historical events and documents that influenced American constitutional government.

3.2 Indicators:

Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

Benchmark 3.3: Students will analyze the structure and principles found in the Constitution.

3.3 Indicators

Students will reach this benchmark when they are able to:

Benchmark 3.4: Students will evaluate, take, and defend positions in writing, discussion, and debate on issues regarding the distribution of powers and responsibilities within the federal system, i.e., the concept of federalism.

3.4 Indicators:

Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

1. Define confederal, federal, and unitary systems of government.
   
   1. Confederal system--a system of government in which sovereign states delegate powers to a central government for specific purposes, e.g., defense against foreign enemies.
      
   2. Federal system--a system in which a national government shares powers with state governments, but the national government may act directly on individuals within the states, e.g., national government may require individuals to pay income taxes.
      
   3. Unitary system--a system in which all power is concentrated in a central government; state and local governments can exercise only those powers given to them by the central government.
      
2. Explain why the Framers of the Constitution adopted a federal system in which power and responsibility are divided and shared between national and state governments.
   
3. Explain how the Constitution grants and distributes power among different levels of government to reduce chances of abuse, protect individual rights, and promote the common good; i.e., enumerated, delegated, concurrent, reserved, and implied powers.
   
   1. Explain how the Constitution allows power to be shared among different levels of government; e.g., power to establish courts, power to tax, power to enforce laws, etc.
      
   2. Describe how the Constitution places limits on both the powers of the states, e.g., Article I Section 9, and the powers of the national government, e.g., the Tenth Amendment.
      
4. Analyze the ongoing debate on the balance of power between state and national governments.
   

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