NCSS Theme 6

Power, Authority and Governance

John Stokes
Portfolio

NCSS Overview

Citizenship and Government Substrands and Standards

Substrand 1 Civic Skills

Standard 1 Democratic government depends on informed and engaged citizens

who exhibit civic skills and values, practice civic discourse, vote and participate in
elections, apply inquiry and analysis skills, and take action to solve problems and
shape public policy.

Substrand 2 Civic Values and Principles of Democracy

Standard 2 The civic identity of the United States is shaped by historical figures,
places and events, and by by educational documents and other
symbolically important artifacts

Standard 3 The United States is based on democratic values and principles that
include liberty, individual rights, justice, equality, the rule of law, limited
government, common good, popular sovereignty, majority rule and
minority rights.

Substrand 3 Rights and Responsibilities

Standard 4 Individuals in a republic have rights, duties and responsibilities.

Standard 5 Citizenship and its rights and duties are established by law.

Substrand 4 Governmental Institutions and Political Processes

Standard 6 The United States government has specific functions that are
determined by the way that power is delegated and controlled among various
bodies: the three levels (federal, state, local) and the three branches (legislative,
executive, judicial) of government.

Standard 7 The primary purposes of rules and laws within the United States
constitutional government are to protect individual rights, promote the general
welfare and provide order.
 Standard 8 Public policy is shaped by governmental and non-governmental
institutions and political processes.
Standard 9 Free and fair elections are key elements of the United States political
system.

Substrand 5 Relationships of the United States to Other Nations and Organizations

Standard 10The United States establishes and maintains relationships and

interacts with indigenous nations and other sovereign nations, and plays a key
role in world affairs.

Standard 11 International political and economic institutions influence world

affairs and United States foreign policy.

Standard 12 Governments are based on different political philosophies and

purposes; governments establish and maintain relationships with varied types of
other governments.
Resources:
Resources
https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/teachers/lesson-plans-and-activities (US citizenship
and immigration services)

http://www.civiced.org/resources/curriculum/lesson-plans (Center for civic education)

http://www.ncsl.org/documents/public/trust/LessonPlans_HS.pdf (National Conference

of State Legislatures)

http://besthistorysites.net/american-history/u-s-government/ (Ed Tech Teacher)

http://www.learner.org/resources/lessonplanbrowse.html?d[]=SS (Annenberg Learner)

http://www.citizenadvocacycenter.org/civic-ed-lesson-plans.html (Citizen advocacy

center)

http://constitutioncenter.org/learn/educational-resources/lesson-plans (National
Constitution Center)

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/themes/civics/lessonplans.html (Library
of Congress)

https://www.cartercenter.org/news/teacher%5Fresource/ (The Carter Center)

https://education.blogs.archives.gov/category/teaching-activities-lesson-plans/ (The
National Archives)

http://teachingcivics.org/find-lessons-2/ (Teaching Civics)

http://www.annenbergclassroom.org (Annenberg Classroom)

http://www.mncsse.org/sites/default/files/documents/9-12_civics_resources.pdf
(Minnesota Center for Social Studies Education)
Summary of the Theme

As described on the National Council for Social Studies website, the theme of

Power, Authority and Governance has 4 main points listed that are the

emphasis of the theme. The first idea is for students to develop the idea of

civic competence. To develop civic competence students, need to be able to

understand political thought and and historical developments of the idea of

power, authority and governance. The second idea refers to the idea that the

students should understand critical thinking and questions. Some questions

include what are the purposes and functions of the government, what is the

proper scope and authority of the government, and several more questions

how the government works. The third theme is the studying the dynamic

relationships between individual rights and responsibilities and the needs of

social groups. This also includes looking becoming affective problem solvers

and decision makers by learning the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

The fourth point covers where this theme, this theme is primarily covered in

courses dealing politics, government, civics, history or law.

This theme has both many strengths and weaknesses. One strength that this

theme has is its ability is that it allows students to understand the power

stricter in government and help them understand why this lead to many of

the events that happen in history. This theme is also really important to help

everyone understand our political process and how our government works.
This theme is very specific in what it wants you to cover and prompts for

students to answers. Some weaknesses this theme has is that it doesnt tell

you certain items in the government it wants you to apply to this theme.

Another weakness is that with this theme a lot of the information could also

be found in other themes.

This theme fits Minnesota State Standards 9.1.1.1.4 and 9.1.6.4.7. 9.1.1.1.4

is described as examining a public policy issue by defining the problem,

developing alternative courses of action, evaluating the consequences of

each alternative, selecting a course of action, and designing a plan to

implement the action and resolve the problem. Standard 9.1.6.4.7 is defined

as explaining the powers and operations of the State of Minnesota

government as defined in its Constitution and its relationship with the federal

government. Both of this standards and many more are taught and apply to

this theme.

Lesson Plans

Lesson Plan 1: Fitness Plan for democracy

Objective: This lesson gives students the opportunity to assess their level of involvement in
their local communities and beyond. It also provides a series of questions, the Fitness Plan for
Democracy, to guide them to greater civic involvement.

Source:http://www.citizenadvocacycenter.org/uploads/8/8/4/0/8840743/citize

nship_fitness_plan_for_democracy.pdf
Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards for Social Studies

This lesson fits Minnesota standard 9.1.4.6.7

The United States government has specific functions that are determined by
the way that power is delegated and controlled among various bodies: the
three levels (federal, state, local) and the three branches (legislative,
executive, judicial) of government.

Benchmarks: Explain the powers and operations of the state of Minnesota

government as defined in its Constitution and its relationship with the federal
government.

Minnesota Standard 9.1.4.6.8

The United States government has specific functions that are determined by
the way that power is delegated and controlled among various bodies: the
three levels (federal, state, local) and the three branches (legislative,
executive, judicial) of government.

Benchmarks: Explain the powers and operations of local (county, city, school
board, and township) government in Minnesota.

StrengthsandWeaknesses:Astrengthofthislessonisthatithasseveraldifferentactivitiesthat
buildoneachother.Anotherstrengthofthislessonisthatitallowsstudentstolearnwhatis
goingonintheirlocalcommunityandalsothoughoneactivitiesgivesthemwaystogetinvolved
intheircommunityandbecomeanactivecitizen.Athirdstrengthofthislessonisthatitallows
studentstotakeactionintheirownlearning,thereisachecklistthatthestudentdoessuchasdid
Ireadthepapertoday,didIlearnsomethingaboutmycommunityjustforsomeexamples.A
weaknessofthislessonisthatstudentsmaynothaveaccesstowatchingthenewsora
newspaperathomeandtheirparentsmightnotbewillingtodrivethemtogetinvolvedinthe
community.Anotherweaknessisthatthereisnoformaassessmenttechnique.

Lesson Plan 2

Lesson Plan 2: Comparative Constituitons

Objective: If youve seen one constitution, have you seen them all? Compare
and contrast the provisions of the U.S. Constitution alongside the state
constitutions of Florida and Virginia and your state. Find common ways in
which state constitutions differ from (and are similar to) the U.S.
Constitution, and take a closer look at your own state constitution.

Source: http://teachingcivics.org/lesson/comparative-constitutions/

Minnesota State K-12 Social Studies Standards

9.1.4.6.7

The United States government has specific functions that are determined by
the way that power is delegated and controlled among various bodies: the
three levels (federal, state, local) and the three branches (legislative,
executive, judicial) of government.

Benchmarks: Explain the powers and operations of the state of Minnesota

government as defined in its Constitution and its relationship with the federal
government.

Strenths and Weaknesses

A strength of this lesson is it allows students to see the diffrences between

the state government and the federal government and examine the
diffrences in the constitution. You can also add a section to examine your
own states constitution. You get to compare and contrast your state
constitution to two other states and the US Constitution. A weakness of this
lesson is that it may be hard to have accmidations due to the strong
academic language and also the compare and contrasting skills. This
assignment also lacks a formal assessment.