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Standards
"President For A Day," "Inside The Voting Booth" and "How Does Government Affect Me?" relate to the following national curriculum standards for grades 3-6, as established by McREL. (These build upon National Standards for Civics and
Government, Civics Framework for the 1998 National Assessment of Educational Progress, NCSS standards, and NCHS standards.)
Purpose, Structure, and Function of Different Levels of Government:
- Knows various people and groups who make, apply, and enforce rules and laws for others and who manage disputes about rules and laws (e.g., courts at all levels)
- Knows the major things governments do in one's school, community, state, and nation (e.g., make, carry out, and enforce laws; manage conflicts; provide national security)
- Knows how to distinguish among national, state, and local governments
- Knows the major responsibilities of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of his/her state government
- Knows major services provided by national, state, and local governments (e.g., state services such as education and health services and local services such as transportation, education, recreation, public safety, public utilities), and knows how these services are paid for (e.g., taxes, fees, licenses)
- Knows how state and local government officials are chosen (i.e., by election or appointment)
National Government:
- Knows that Congress passes laws to protect individual rights (e.g., laws protecting freedom of religion and expression, and preventing unfair discrimination) and promote the common good (e.g., laws providing for clean air, national parks, and the defense of the nation)
- Knows that the executive branch carries out and enforces laws to protect individual rights (e.g., voting rights, equal opportunities to attain an education) and promote the common good (e.g., enforcement of pure food and drug laws, enforcement of clean air laws)
- Knows that the judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court, makes decisions concerning the law that aim to protect individual rights (e.g., the right to a fair trial, to vote, to practice one's religious beliefs) and promote the common good (e.g., upholding laws that protect the rights of all people to equal opportunity)
- Understands the major responsibilities of the national government for domestic and foreign policy, and understands how government is financed through taxation
- Knows the major ways nations interact with each other such as trade, diplomacy, cultural contacts, treaties or agreements, and use of military force
Citizen Involvement:
- Knows the fundamental principles of American democracy (e.g., the people are sovereign; the power of government is limited by law; people exercise their authority directly through voting; people exercise their authority indirectly through elected representatives)
- Knows that a citizen is a legally recognized member of the United States who has certain rights and privileges and certain responsibilities (e.g., privileges such as the right to vote and hold public office and responsibilities such as respecting the law, voting, paying taxes, serving on juries)
- Knows how the values and principles of American democracy can be promoted through participating in government (e.g., voting, keeping informed about public issues, writing to legislators, serving on juries)
- Knows how people can participate in their state and local government (e.g., being informed, taking part in discussing issues, voting, volunteering their time), and understands why it is important that people participate in their state and local government (e.g., improve the quality of life in their community, gain personal satisfaction, prevent officials from abusing power)
- Understands why it is important for citizens to monitor their local, state, and national governments; and knows ways people can monitor the decisions and actions of their government such as reading about public issues, watching television news programs, discussing public issues, and communicating with public officials
- Knows ways people can influence the decisions and actions of their government such as voting; taking an active role in interest groups, political parties, and other organizations that attempt to influence public policy and elections; attending meetings of governing agencies (e.g., city council, school board); working in campaigns, circulating and signing petitions; taking part in peaceful demonstrations; and contributing money to political parties, candidates, or causes
- Knows how to contact his/her representatives and which levels of government he/she should contact to express his/her opinions or get help on a specific problem (e.g., the environment, crime, stray or wild animals)
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