Government
Unit description: The political systems of the Western Hemisphere vary in structure and organization across time and place. In this unit, students will study how government structures, functions, and founding documents vary from place to place in the countries of the Western Hemisphere. Students will explore legal, political, and historic documents that define the values, beliefs, and principles of constitutional democracy and how across time and place, different groups of people in the Western Hemisphere have struggled and fought for equality and civil rights or sovereignty. In addition, students will investigate Multinational organizations and nongovernmental organizations in the Western Hemisphere who seek to encourage cooperation between nations, protect human rights, support economic development, and provide assistance in challenging situations.
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Standards
Standards: 5; Themes: GOV, CIV
Essential Questions and Big Ideas
Big idea of the Unit: The political systems of the Western Hemisphere vary in structure and organization across time and place.
How do government structures, functions, and founding documents vary from place to place in the countries of the Western Hemisphere?
- The basic structure of the federal government, including how the leader is chosen, how laws are created and how laws are enforced differ in countries across the world.
- The United States has a federal government, including the president,Congress, and the courts.
Which legal, political, and historic documents define the values, beliefs, and principles of constitutional democracy?
- The Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights, the British North America Act, and the Canadian Bill of Rights highlight key values, beliefs, and principles of each constitutional democracy.
Across time and place, who are the people in the Western Hemisphere who have struggled and fought for equality and civil rights or sovereignty?
- Groups such as Native Americans, African Americans, women, or another cultural, ethnic, or racial minority in the Western Hemisphere, who have struggled or are struggling for equality and civil rights or sovereignty.
What role do multinational organizations and nongovernmental organizations play in promoting cooperation, peace, and cultural understanding?
- Multinational organizations and nongovernmental organizations in the Western Hemisphere seek to encourage cooperation between nations, protect human rights, support economic development, and provide assistance in challenging situations.