N.NSCG.

N.NSCG.STRAND / ORGANIZATION
National Standards for Civics and Government (NSCG)
I.B.STANDARD / BENCHMARK
What are civic life, politics, and government? What are the essential characteristics of limited and unlimited government?
I.B.3.BENCHMARK / GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Civil society and government. Students should be able to explain and evaluate the argument that civil society is a prerequisite of limited government. To achieve this standard, students should be able to
I.B.3.2.GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Explain how civil society provides opportunities for individuals to associate for social, cultural, religious, economic, and political purposes
II.B.STANDARD / BENCHMARK
What are the foundations of the American political system? What are the distinctive characteristics of American society?
II.B.1.BENCHMARK / GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Distinctive characteristics of American society. Students should be able to explain how the following characteristics tend to distinguish American society from most other societies. To achieve this standard, students should be able to
II.B.1.1.GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Explain important factors that have helped shape American society, such as
II.B.1.1.j.EXPECTATION
Diversity of the population
II.B.1.1.k.EXPECTATION
Individualism
II.B.1.2.GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Compare the distinctive characteristics of American society with those of other countries
II.B.4.BENCHMARK / GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Diversity in American society. Students should be able to evaluate, take and defend positions on issues regarding diversity in American life. To achieve this standard, students should be able to
II.B.4.1.GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Identify the many forms of diversity found in American society, e.g., racial, religious, ethnic, socioeconomic, regional, linguistic
II.B.4.2.GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Explain the impact on American politics, both historically and at present, of the racial, religious, socioeconomic, regional, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of American society
II.B.4.3.GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Explain alternative ideas about the role and value of diversity in American life both historically and at present
II.B.4.4.GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Describe conflicts that have arisen from diversity and explain the means by which some have been managed and explain why some conflicts have persisted unabated
II.C.STANDARD / BENCHMARK
What are the foundations of the American political system? What is American political culture?
II.C.2.BENCHMARK / GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Character of American political conflict. Students should be able to describe the character of American political conflict and explain factors that usually tend to prevent it or lower its intensity. To achieve this standard, students should be able to
II.C.2.2.GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Explain some of the reasons why political conflict in the United States, with notable exceptions such as the Civil War, nineteenth century labor unrest, the 1950s and 1960s civil rights struggles, and the opposition to the war in Vietnam, has generally been less divisive than in many other nations. These include
II.C.2.2.k.EXPECTATION
A sense of unity within diversity
II.D.STANDARD / BENCHMARK
What are the foundations of the American political system? What values and principles are basic to American constitutional democracy?
II.D.3.BENCHMARK / GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Fundamental values and principles. Students should be able to evaluate, take, and defend positions on what the fundamental values and principles of American political life are and their importance to the maintenance of constitutional democracy. To achieve this standard, students should be able to
II.D.3.1.GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Explain the following values which are widely considered to be fundamental to American civic life
II.D.3.1.f.EXPECTATION
Diversity
II.D.4.BENCHMARK / GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Conflicts among values and principles in American political and social life. Students should be able to evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues in which fundamental values and principles may be in conflict. To achieve this standard, students should be able to
II.D.4.1.GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATION
Describe historical and contemporary issues which involve conflicts among fundamental values and principles and explain how these conflicts might be resolved
II.D.4.1.a.EXPECTATION
Liberty and equality