La Habra High School
Social Sciences Department

Social Science Standards - Government

The student will:

understand the influences of political philosophers on American democracy.
know how freedoms relate to majority rights.
recognize the importance of individual worth.
Recognize the structure of American government.
identify how and why the structure was designed to limit powers of the government.
describe the amendment process.
evaluate comparative systems such as socialism, totalitarianism, tyrannies, communism, monarchies, parliamentary systems, and constitutional liberal democracies.
distinguish between parliamentary/ presidential and unitary/federal/confederal governmental systems.
identify ideologies that historically gave rise to communism and other non-democratic governments.
examine the way in which these ideologies led to revolutionary movements.
identify general societal conditions that have launched and sustained democracies or failed to sustain them.

The student will:

discuss the evolution of the two-party system.
identify different political parties throughout United States history.
identify and analyze the impact of third parties.
demonstrate an understanding of the evolution of the presidential nomination process.
recognize the increasing importance of primaries.
recognize the increasing importance of the media in influencing public opinion.
evaluate key issues in campaign financing.
recognize the importance of a free and responsible press in reporting on campaign issues/candidates.
evaluate how public officials use the media to communicate with the citizenry and to shape public opinion.
identify the different means available to citizens, such as voting campaigning, lobbying, filing a legal challenge, demonstrating, petitioning, and/or running for political office.
analyze features of direct democracy such as the process of referendums and recall elections.
recognize the impact of voter turnout in elections.
evaluate the reasons for and results of reapportionment and redistricting.
discuss how voter qualification has changed over time.
examine the relationship between the reapportionment and the Electoral College.
define gerrymandering.
show the impact of gerrymandering on the rights of minorities.

The student will:

describe the bicameral structure of Congress.
state the eligibility requirements for office.
know the lengths of terms of Representatives and Senators.
articulate the enumerated, delegated, implied, and inherent legislative powers.
describe the process by which a bill becomes a law.
explain the process of election to and removal from office.
identify the process of selecting and confirming presidential appointments.
state eligibility criteria for office and length of term.
identify the roles and responsibilities of the President and the Vice President.
describe the function and the history of the Electoral College.
understand the structure of the Federal Court system.
define the length of terms of judges and the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
describe the procedures of the Supreme Court.
summarize historical landmark Supreme Court decisions.

The student will:

summarize the rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment.
explore Supreme Court decisions.
explain “due process.”
explain the rights of the accused in criminal proceedings.
articulate legal obligations such as obeying the law, serving as a juror, and paying taxes.
realize civic obligations: voting, being informed, volunteering and performing public service, and serving in the military.
articulate the reciprocity between rights and obligations.
explain why the exercise of one's rights entails respect for the rights of others.
describe the process of naturalization and list language, literacy, and other requirements.
explain deportation, expatriation.
analyze the difference between judicial activism and judicial restraint.
cite specific Supreme Court opinions to establish the difference.
trace evolution of the civil rights legislation.
examine the role of the Supreme Court in the development of civil rights.
realize the controversies that have resulted over changing interpretations of civil rights.