Overall Goals and Desired Understandings of the Unit

Goals:
MCSS United States Government
2. Understand the roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established
by the U.S. Constitution. (Applying it to state government)
3. Understand the meaning, scope, and limits of rights and obligations of democratic citizenship
and that the relationships among democratic citizens and government are mutable.
a. Explain the individuals legal obligations to obey the law, serve as a juror, and pay
taxes. (DOK 1)
b. Explain the obligations of civic-mindedness, including voting, being informed on civic
issues, volunteering and performing public service, and serving in the military
or alternative service. (DOK 1)
C3 Frameworks:
D2.Civ.1.9-12. Distinguish the powers and responsibilities of local, state, tribal, national, and
international civic and political institutions.
D2.Civ.12.9-12. Analyze how people use and challenge local, state, national, and international
laws to address a variety of public issues.
D2.Civ.7.9-12. Apply civic virtues and democratic principles when working with others

ELA Frameworks:
WHST.1112.2e. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the
information or explanation provided (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the
topic).
WHST.1112.4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and
style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
WHST.1112.8. Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources,
using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms
of the specific task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to
maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and over-reliance on any one source and
following a standard format for citation.
WHST.1112.9. Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and
research.

Desired Understandings:
Understand state constitutions
Understand some history of state constitutions
Be able to explain how state constitutions are changed
Understand how people have a say in government legislation
Understand state legislatures
Understand the legislative processes at the state level
Be able to Describe the main features of the office of governor
Understand a governors roles, powers, duties, and the limitations of the office
Be able to Describe the other executive offices at the state level
Understand the kinds of laws applied in state courts
Be able to Compare and Contrast criminal and civil law
 Be able to Describe the purposes of juries
Be able to Examine the different ways judges are selected
Understand what the Missouri Plan did