Social Studies (Grades 5–12) Subtest 2

Subarea II. Government and Citizenship

0016

Understand political science concepts, terms, perspectives, and research skills.

applying basic political science terms and concepts (e.g., sovereignty, social contract, federalism, judicial review, executive privilege, patronage, gerrymandering, balance of power)
analyzing the writings of major political thinkers (e.g., Aristotle, Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, Alexis de Tocqueville, Karl Marx, Mohandas Gandhi, George Orwell, Nelson Mandela)
recognizing the purposes of government; comparing unitary, confederal, and federal governments; identifying major characteristics of different systems of government (e.g., monarchy, oligarchy, direct democracy, totalitarianism); and examining similarities and differences between the political system of the United States and those of other contemporary and historical nations
examining major events and developments related to the emergence and spread of democratic and representative government
recognizing the characteristics and uses of various political science reference sources and research tools (e.g., census data, surveys, polls, interviews, government reports and publications, computer databases)
interpreting historical and contemporary political science issues represented in a variety of visual formats (e.g., maps, charts, diagrams, tables, political cartoons, graphs) and assessing the appropriateness of alternative graphic formats for conveying political science information
evaluating political science information and analyzing a variety of public policies and issues from the perspective of formal and informal political actors

0017

Understand the foundations of U.S. government, the U.S. political process, and the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.

identifying basic concepts and analyzing key documents that contributed to the development of democratic republican government in the United States (e.g., Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Federalist Papers, Washington's Farewell Address, the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, the Seneca Falls Declaration of 1848)
demonstrating knowledge of the fundamental principles, major articles, and significant amendments to the U.S. Constitution
analyzing tensions that exist between key principles of government in the United States (e.g., majority rule vs. minority rights, protecting individual rights vs. promoting the general welfare, diversity vs. unity, tribal sovereignty vs. states' rights)
examining the significance of landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions (e.g., Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland, Plessy v. Ferguson, Schenck v. United States, Brown v. Board of Education, Gideon v. Wainwright, Miranda v. Arizona, United States v. Nixon, University of California v. Bakke)
demonstrating knowledge of major features of the U.S. and Minnesota electoral systems (e.g., reapportionment and redistricting, primary elections, the Electoral College, the role and development of political parties, factors influencing voter turnout, the Minnesota caucus system and election process)
recognizing ways in which citizens participate in the political process, the skills needed for effective participation in civic affairs, forms of participation that are consistent with the ideals of citizens in a democratic republic, and the influence of various forms of civic action on public policy
demonstrating knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship
analyzing events and developments in U.S. history that have increased or diminished individual rights and popular participation in the political process and evaluating the effectiveness of public opinion in influencing and shaping public policy and decision making

0018

Understand the structure, organization, and operation of different levels of government in the United States.

demonstrating knowledge of the structure, functions, and powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government
analyzing the separation of powers and operation of checks and balances in the federal government and analyzing how public policy is made, enforced, and interpreted by the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
examining lawmaking processes in the United States (e.g., how a bill becomes law in Congress, the role of lobbyists and special interest groups in the legislative process, the operation of the initiative and referendum processes at the state level, the process of amending the U.S. Constitution)
recognizing the organization and responsibilities of independent regulatory agencies, government corporations, and executive agencies in the federal government
demonstrating knowledge of the U.S. legal system (e.g., the function of law in U.S. society; the constitutional, statutory, case, and administrative sources of U.S. law; steps in the criminal justice process)
examining the process by which U.S. foreign policy is made; analyzing interactions between the United States and other nations; and analyzing concerns, issues, and conflicts related to universal human rights
demonstrating knowledge of Minnesota state, local, and tribal government and the relationship between American Indian nations and the U.S. and Minnesota governments
analyzing relations among federal, state, and local governments in the United States

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