Search the California Content Standards

Overarching Standard:
HSS-4.5 Students understand the structures, functions, and powers of the local, state, and federal governments as described in the U.S. Constitution.

Standard:
Understand the purpose of the California Constitution, its key principles, and its relationship to the U.S. Constitution.

Overarching Standard:
HSS-4.5 Students understand the structures, functions, and powers of the local, state, and federal governments as described in the U.S. Constitution.

Standard:
Describe the similarities (e.g., written documents, rule of law, consent of the governed, three separate branches) and differences (e.g., scope of jurisdiction, limits on government powers, use of the military) among federal, state, and local governments.

Overarching Standard:
HSS-4.5 Students understand the structures, functions, and powers of the local, state, and federal governments as described in the U.S. Constitution.

Standard:
Explain the structures and functions of state governments, including the roles and responsibilities of their elected officials.

Overarching Standard:
HSS-4.5 Students understand the structures, functions, and powers of the local, state, and federal governments as described in the U.S. Constitution.

Standard:
Describe the components of California’s governance structure (e.g., cities and towns, Indian rancherias and reservations, counties, school districts).

Standard:
Students explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy.

Overarching Standard:
HSS-PoAD.12.1 Students explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy.

Standard:
Analyze the influence of ancient Greek, Roman, English, and leading European political thinkers such as John Locke, Charles-Louis Montesquieu, Niccolò Machiavelli, and William Blackstone on the development of American government.

Overarching Standard:
HSS-PoAD.12.1 Students explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy.

Standard:
Discuss the character of American democracy and its promise and perils as articulated by Alexis de Tocqueville.

Overarching Standard:
HSS-PoAD.12.1 Students explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy.

Standard:
Explain how the U.S. Constitution reflects a balance between the classical republican concern with promotion of the public good and the classical liberal concern with protecting individual rights; and discuss how the basic premises of liberal constitutionalism and democracy are joined in the Declaration of Independence as “self-evident truths.”

Overarching Standard:
HSS-PoAD.12.1 Students explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy.

Standard:
Explain how the Founding Fathers’ realistic view of human nature led directly to the establishment of a constitutional system that limited the power of the governors and the governed as articulated in the Federalist Papers.

Overarching Standard:
HSS-PoAD.12.1 Students explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy.

Standard:
Describe the systems of separated and shared powers, the role of organized interests (Federalist Paper Number 10), checks and balances (Federalist Paper Number 51), the importance of an independent judiciary (Federalist Paper Number 78), enumerated powers, rule of law, federalism, and civilian control of the military.