The Foundations of Government and

American Political Beginnings

Civics
Reading Guide – Chapters 1, 2, 4

Use this to guide your reading through the unit. There will be a Schoology quiz on the nights as
indicated in the boxes. It is strongly recommended that you take notes, as they will assist you for quizzes
and tests. The reading guides are dated so that you will read information prior to going over the
material in class. The calendar indicates what we will be covering in class on specific dates.

Learning Objectives
 1.A – Define government and the basic powers every government holds?
 1.B – What is politics and how does it relate to the work of government.
 1.C – Describe the four characteristics of the state.
 1.D – Identify the four theories that attempt to explain the origin of the state.
 1.E – Classify governments according to three characteristics.
 1.F – Define systems of government based on who can participate.
 1.G – Identify different ways that power can be distributed geographically, within a state.
 1.H – Describe the 5 basic concepts of democracy.
 2.A – Analyze the influence of John Locke in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
 2.B – Evaluate common features of State constitutions and their influence on the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
 2.C – Describe the structure of government set up under the Articles of Confederation.
 2.D – Identify weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of Confederation.
 2.E – Describe how weaknesses of the Articles led to turmoil and a growing need for stronger national government.
 2.F – Summarize the major compromises that the delegates made at the Constitutional Convention.
 2.G – Identify the opposing sides in the fight for ratification and describe the major arguments for and against the constitution.
 3.A – Understand the basic outline of the Constitution.
 3.B – Identify and describe the basic principles of the Constitution.
 3.C - Define Federalism and explain why the Framers chose this system.
 3.D – Analyze the different types of powers created in the Constitution and evaluate how these powers inadvertently create conflict.
 3.E – Examine how the Constitution functions as the supreme law of the land.
 3.F – Examine the many and growing areas of cooperative federalism.
 3.G – Summarize the obligations of the National government for the States.
 3.H – Describe Cooperative Federalism and evaluate how the federal government influences the States.
 3.I - Explain how provisions of the Constitution attempt to address how States interact with one another.

Reading Guide
Wednesday 1/19-Thursday 1/10  Learning Objectives: Vocabulary
Topic 1: LO Island Simulation  1.A through 1.H Government
Legislative Power
 1.A – Define government and the basic powers every government holds? Executive Power
 1.B – What is politics and how does it relate to the work of government. Judicial Power
 1.C – Describe the four characteristics of the state. Dictatorship democracy
 1.D – Identify the four theories that attempt to explain the origin of the state. Sovereignty
Confederate gov’t.
 1.E – Classify governments according to three characteristics. Unitary gov’t.
 1.F – Define systems of government based on who can participate. Federal gov’t.
 1.G – Identify different ways that power can be distributed geographically, within a state. Presidential gov’t.
 1.H – Describe the 5 basic concepts of democracy. Parliamentary gov’t

Friday 1/11  Learning Objective: Vocabulary

Topic 2 Lesson 2  2.A and 2.B limited government
Declaration of Independence(pg784)
 2.A – Analyze the influence of John Locke in the Declaration of Independence and the
U.S. Constitution.
 2.B – Evaluate common features of State constitutions and their influence on the
Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
 The Foundations of Government and
American Political Beginnings
Civics
Reading Guide – Chapters 1, 2, 4

Tuesday 1/15  Learning Objective: Vocabulary

Topic 2 Lesson 3  2.C, 2.D, 2.E
 2.C – Describe the structure of government set up under the Articles of Confederation.
 2.D – Identify weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of
Confederation.
 2.E – Describe how weaknesses of the Articles led to turmoil and a growing need for
stronger national government.

 *TARGETED READING NOTES IN NOTEBOOK*

Friday 1/18  Learning Objective: Vocabulary

Topic 2 Lesson 4  2.F, 2.G bicameral
New Jersey Plan
 2.F – Summarize the major compromises that the delegates made at the Constitutional Virginia Plan
Convention. Connecticut Compromise
 2.G – Identify the opposing sides in the fight for ratification and describe the major 3/5 Compromise
arguments for and against the constitution. commerce and slave trade
compromise
*TARGETED READING NOTES IN NOTEBOOK (DUE Tues. 1.22)* federalists
anti-federalists

Wednesday 1/23  Learning Objective: Vocabulary

Topic 3 Lesson 1  3.A + 3.B Federalism
division of powers
 3.A – Understand the basic outline of the Constitution. Expressed
 3.B – Identify and describe the basic principles of the Constitution. implied
 *TARGETED READING NOTES IN NOTEBOOK* Inherent
exclusive
Concurrent
reserved

Thursday 1/24  Learning Objective: Vocabulary

Topic 3 Lesson 3  3.C, 3.D, and 3.E Federalism
division of powers
 3.C – Define Federalism and explain why the Framers chose this system. Expressed
 3.D – Analyze the different types of powers created in the Constitution and evaluate how implied
these powers inadvertently create conflict. Inherent
 3.E – Examine how the Constitution functions as the supreme law of the land. exclusive
Concurrent
 *TARGETED READING NOTES IN NOTEBOOK* reserved

Friday 1/25  Learning Objective: Vocabulary

Topic 3 Lesson 4  3.F, 3.G, and 3.H Grants-in-aid
 3.F – Examine the many and growing areas of cooperative federalism. block grant
 3.G – Summarize the obligations of the National government for the States. Categorical grant
 3.H – Describe Cooperative Federalism and evaluate how the federal government
influences the States.

Tuesday 1/29  Learning Objective: Vocabulary

Topic 3 Lesson 4  3.I extradition
 3.I – Explain how provisions of the Constitution attempt to address how States interact Full faith and credit
with one another. clause
Privileges and
immunities clause
 The Foundations of Government and
American Political Beginnings
Civics
Reading Guide – Chapters 1, 2, 4
VOCABULARY:
Chapter 3
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Federalism division of powers
Government Legislative Power Limited gov’t. bicameral Expressed implied
Executive Power Judicial Power New Jersey Plan Virginia Plan Inherent exclusive
Dictatorship democracy Connecticut Compromise Concurrent reserved
Sovereignty Confederate gov’t. 3/5 Compromise Grants-in-aid block grant
Unitary gov’t. Federal gov’t. commerce and slave trade Categorical grant extradition
Presidential gov’t. compromise Full faith and credit clause
Parliamentary gov’t. Federalists Anti-Federalists Privileges and immunities clause

Unit 1 In-Class Calendar

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1/7 1/8 1/9 1/10 1/11 1/12
Syllabus Civics Points Electronic LO Island LO Island
Resources Unit 1 Vocab
Book Checkout Opens
Reading Guide Topic 1 Quiz
LO Island Opens

1/13 1/14 1/15 1/16 1/17 1/18 1/19

2.A+2.B 2.A+2.B 2.C + 2.D 2.C + 2.D + 2.E 2.F
Targeted
Topic 1 Quiz Reading Notes Topic 2 Quiz
Closes Due Opens

1/20 1/21 1/22 1/23 1/24 1/25 1/26

No School 2.F + 2.G 2.G 3.A + 3.B 3.C + 3.D +3.E
Targeted Targeted Targeted
Reading Notes Topic 2 Quiz Reading Notes Reading Notes
Due Closes Due

1/27 1/28 1/29 1/30 1/31 2/1

3.C + 3.D +3.E 3.F + 3.G + 3.H 3.I Unit 1 Exam

Unit 1 Vocab
Quiz Closes

STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL INFORMATION PRESENTED IN CLASS, READINGS, NOTES, AND HOMEWORK