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v 9-12 Standards

 
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American Legacy is an 80-page, pocket-sized booklet that includes the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence together with passages from other documents that encompass essential ideas of American democracy. Order American Legacy online.



Overview of The Center for Civic Education: Promoting the Principles and Practice of Democracy



Overview of
We the People:
The Citizen and the Constitution






Celebrate Lincoln's Bicentennial!

The Center, with a grant from the Motorola Foundation, has produced a new lesson on Abraham Lincoln to commemorate the bicentennial of his birth. The lesson, appropriate for high school students, discusses Lincoln's ideas and decisions regarding slavery and the use of presidential power. Download this free lesson today!. Watch a video about the lesson by clicking here.


We the People
High School Level
Student Text
  • New Companion Website
  • Audio Overview
  • 1995 Edition, 2009 Edition Comparison
  • Announcement
  • Table of Contents [PDF]
  • New sample lesson [PDF]
  • New Congressional District Level Questions [PDF]


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    You are here: Home » Resources » Civic Education Resources » Online Curricular Materials » National Standards for Civics and Government » 5-8 Standards
    Grades 5-8 Content Standards

    National Standards for Civics and Government

    5-8 Content Standards

    1. What are Civic Life, Politics, and Government?

      1. What is civic life? What is politics? What is government? Why are government and politics necessary? What purposes should government serve?

      2. What are the essential characteristics of limited and unlimited government?

      3. What are the nature and purposes of constitutions?

      4. What are alternative ways of organizing constitutional governments?

    2. What are the Foundations of the American Political System?

      1. What is the American idea of constitutional government?

      2. What are the distinctive characteristics of American society?

      3. What is American political culture?

      4. What values and principles are basic to American constitutional democracy?

    3. How Does the Government Established by the Constitution Embody the Purposes, Values, and Principles of American Democracy?

      1. How are power and responsibility distributed, shared, and limited in the government established by the United States Constitution?

      2. What does the national government do?

      3. How are state and local governments organized and what do they do?

      4. Who represents you in local, state, and national governments?

      5. What is the place of law in the American constitutional system?

      6. How does the American political system provide for choice and opportunities for participation?

    4. What is the Relationship of the United States to Other Nations and to World Affairs?

      1. How is the world organized politically?

      2. How has the United States influenced other nations and how have other nations influenced American politics and society?

    5. What are the Roles of the Citizen in American Democracy?

      1. What is citizenship?

      2. What are the rights of citizens?

      3. What are the responsibilities of citizens?

      4. What dispositions or traits of character are important to the preservation and improvement of American constitutional democracy?

      5. How can citizens take part in civic life?

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