The United States stands at a critical juncture in its, and the world's, history. For the time, the nation finds itself as the last remaining superpower on the face of the Earth. But how do we define superpower? The United States has the world's most technologically advanced military, an economy that serves as the primary engine for the global marketplace, and political and social values that are the envy of many other nations. Yet, the United States is also a nation that, on September 11, 2001, discovered just how far these attributes went in defining the very concept of superpower. In the post 9/11 era, the United States faces many questions about its role and purpose in the world community. The answers to these questions will not come easily and thus it is important for students to examine them now and to begin to formulate their own answers.

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 8.1: Students will explain how nations are organized politically.

8.1 Indicators:

Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

Benchmark 8.2: Students will explain the major characteristics of the governments of Mexico, Great Britain, and the People's Republic of China and compare these systems to American constitutional government.

8.2 Indicators:

Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

1. Describe the distribution of governmental power and the relationship between the legislative and executive branches within the United Kingdom, Mexico, and the People's Republic of China.
   
   1. Describe the parliamentary government of the United Kingdom.
      
   2. Describe the presidential government of Mexico.
      
   3. Describe the one-party communist government of the People's Republic of China.
2. Compare the extent of citizen participation in the political process in the United Kingdom, Mexico, and the People's Republic of China with that of the United States.

Benchmark 8.3: Students will describe the purposes and functions of international organizations in the world today.

8.3 Indicators:

Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

Benchmark 8.4: Students will examine global economic systems.

8.4 Indicators:

Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

1. Identify the basic economic questions encountered by all economic systems.
   
2. Compare the characteristics of free market, command, and mixed economies, as described by Adam Smith and Karl Marx, and how these systems answer the basic economic questions.
   
3. Compare the United States economic system with those of major democratic and authoritarian nations in terms of economic goals and institutions.
   
4. Analyze current global economic trends.
   
   1. Examine the interdependency of the global economy.
      
   2. Examine international trade initiatives, e.g., NAFTA, GATT, etc.
      
   3. Examine the debate over the current policies of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
      
   4. Analyze who should benefit from the allocation of economic resources within a nation, i.e., the people, the government, or private enterprise and how that allocation affects the global economy.
      
   5. Examine the relationship of Virginia to the global economy, e.g., Internet technology, etc.
      

Benchmark 8.5: Students will evaluate, take, and defend in writing, discussion and debate a position on the relationship of the United States with the rest of the world in terms of implementing current U.S. foreign and domestic policies and promoting economic and political freedoms.

8.5 Indicators:

Students reach this benchmark when they are able to:

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