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UNIT 1: BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE US CONSTITUTION

ESSENTIAL QUESTION 1.1: What are basic principles found in the US Constitution and the history, rationale, and modern
examples of them?
Unit Theme: How the American people govern themselves at national, state and local levels of government is the basis
for this course. Students can impact issues addressed by local governments through service learning and senior projects.
Unit Topic: Basic Principles of the U.S. Constitution - Principles related to representative democracy are reflected in the
articles and amendments of the U.S. Constitution and provide structure for the government of the United States.
AG 05: As the supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution incorporates basic principles which help define the
government of the United States as a federal republic including its structure, powers and relationship with the
governed.
(What is the purpose of government? / How do governments keep order in society? / What principles are ingrained in
US government?)
- AG 05.01 Explain where the basic principles found in the Constitution came from (popular sovereignty, limited
government, federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances), and evidence of them in modern
government.
- AG 05.02 Show evidence of federalism being used to divide the powers of our government as well as settle disputes
that may arise.
- AG 05.03 What is the role and responsibility of government in todays society? What does that look like?
- AG 05.04 How does the government in the US compare to other types of government around the world?
McGraw-Hill: Networks; Chapter 1-Lesson 4: Forms of Government
McGraw-Hill: Networks; Chapter 3-Lesson 4: Principles of the Constitution
McGraw-Hill: Networks; The Constitution

AG 06: The Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers framed the national debate over the basic principles of
government encompassed by the Constitution of the United States.
(How strong should the government be? / Compare and contrast the views of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists)
- AG 06.01 Explain why the framers felt there was a need to transition from the Articles of Confederation to the
Constitution.
- AG 06.02 Describe the main arguments included in the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers.
- AG 06.03 How does our Constitution allow for both a strong and limited national government at the same time?
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- AG 06.04 Describe the areas of conflict and compromise when developing the new constitution.
McGraw-Hill: Networks; Chapter 3-Lesson 1: The Countrys First Governments
McGraw-Hill: Networks; Chapter 3-Lesson 2: Creating a New Constitution

AG 08: The Bill of Rights was drafted in response to the national debate over the ratification of the Constitution of the
United States.
- AG 08.01 What were some of the reasons people were hesitant to change to a new form of government?
- AG 08.02 What are arguments against listing guaranteed rights of the people?
- AG 08.03 How was compromised used throughout the creation of the Constitution, as well as during the ratification
process?
McGraw-Hill: Networks; Chapter 3-Lesson 1: The Countrys First Governments
McGraw-Hill: Networks; The Constitution