Unit+2-+American+Government+Structure+and+Functions


 * Unit 2: American Government Structure and Functions **
 * **__ Time Frame: __**** 4 Weeks ** ||
 * **__ Essential Standards: __**
 * __ 2.1 __**Analyze the structures of national, state and local governments in terms of ways they are organized to maintain order, security, welfare of the public and the protection of citizens
 * __ 2.2 __**Summarize the functions of North Carolina state and local governments within the federal system of government
 * __ 2.3 __**Evaluate the U.S. Constitution as a “living Constitution” in terms of how the words in the Constitution and Bill of Rights have been interpreted and applied throughout their existence
 * __ 2.4 __**Compare the Constitutions and the structures of the United States and North Carolina governments
 * __ 2.5 __**Compare United States system of government within the framework of the federal and state structures as well as in how they relate with governmental systems of other nations
 * __ 2.6 __**Evaluate the authority federal, state and local governments have over individuals’ rights and privileges
 * __ 2.7 __**Analyze contemporary issues and governmental responses at the local, state, and national levels in terms of how they promote the public interest and/or general welfare
 * __ 3.1 __**Analyze how the rule of law establishes limits on both the governed and those who govern while holding true to the ideal of equal protection under the law
 * __ 3.2 __**Compare lawmaking processes of federal, state and local governments
 * __ 3.3 __**Analyze laws and policies in terms of their intended purposes, who has authority to create them and how they are enforced
 * __ 3.4 __**Explain how individual rights are protected by varieties of law
 * __ 3.5 __**Compare jurisdictions and methods of law enforcement applied at each level of government, the consequences of noncompliance to laws at each level and how each reflects equal protection under the law
 * __ 3.6 __**Explain ways laws have been influenced by political parties, constituents, interest groups, lobbyists, the media and public opinion
 * __ 3.8 __**Evaluate the rights of individuals in terms of how well those rights have been upheld by democratic government in the United States.
 * __ 5. 2 __**Analyze state and federal courts by outlining their jurisdictions and the adversarial nature of the judicial process
 * __ 5.3 __**Analyze national, state and local government agencies in terms of how they balance interests and resolve conflicts
 * __ 5.4 __**Explain how conflict between constitutional provisions and the requirements of foreign policy are resolved
 * __ 5.5 __**Analyze the developments and implementation of domestic and foreign policy by outlining opposing arguments on major issues and their efforts toward resolutions ||
 * **__ Essential Questions: __**
 * 1. How is power divided among the 3 branches of government? **
 * 2. What is the primary duty of each branch of government? **
 * 3. How can a constitution protect rights of people? **
 * 4. How is the Constitution a living document? **
 * 5. How are the U.S. and N.C. Constitutions alike and different? **
 * 6. How does the division of power among the levels of government limit authority? **
 * 7. How does each branch check the power of the other 2 branches? **
 * 8. How does each level of government maintain order and protect citizens? **
 * 9. How is the President chosen? **
 * 10. What government officials depend directly on the President for their jobs? **
 * 11. What are arguments against the Electoral College? **
 * 12. How are Senators and Representatives elected? **
 * 13. What is the basic structure of the federal court system? **
 * 14. What is the basic structure of the state court system? **
 * 15. What are the steps in the judicial process? **
 * 13. How does the selection of federal and state judges compare? **
 * 14. What are the roles and responsibilities of key national, state and local government agencies? **
 * 15. What are some similarities between U.S. Congress and the N.C. General Assembly? **
 * 16. Explain the process of how a bill becomes a law at the national and state levels. **
 * 17. Why should citizens take an active role in government? ** ||
 * **__ Essential Understandings: __** ||
 * **__ Vocabulary: __** ||
 * **__ Technology: [|The Constitution] __**
 * __ [|The Executive Branch] __**
 * __ [|The Legislative Branch] __**
 * __ [|The Judicial Branch] __**
 * __ [|Three Branches] __**
 * __ [|State and Local Government] __** ||
 * **__ Resources/Activities: __**
 * Create a graphic organizer illustrating separation of powers **
 * Create a venn diagram comparing NC & US Constitutions **
 * Create a flow chart illustrating the steps in the judicial process **
 * Follow a court case through the judicial process ** ||
 * **__ Assessments/Performance Tasks: __** ||