•  Please click on the following document to view the United States Government SOLs.

  • U.S Government SOLs

     

    GOVT 1  The student will demonstrate mastery of the social studies skills citizenship requires, including the ability to

                a.  analyze primary and secondary source documents;

                b.  create and interpret maps, diagrams, tables, charts, graphs, and spreadsheets;

                c.  analyze political cartoons, political advertisements, pictures, and other graphic

                            media;

                d.  distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information;

                e.  evaluate information for accuracy, separating fact from opinion;

                f.  identify a problem, weigh the expected costs and benefits and possible

                            consequences of proposed solutions, and recommend solutions, using a

                            decision-making model;

                g.  select and defend positions in writing, discussion, and debate.

     

     

    GOVT 2  The student will demonstrate knowledge of the political philosophies that shaped the development of Virginia and United States constitutional government by

                a.  describing the development of Athenian democracy and the Roman republic;

                b.  explaining the influence of the Magna Carta, the English Petition of Right,

                            and the English Bill of Rights;

                c.  examining the writings of Hobbes, Locke, and Montesquieu;

                d.  explaining the guarantee of the rights of Englishmen set forth in the charters

                            of the Virginia Company of London;

                e.  analyzing the natural rights philosophies expressed in the Declaration of

                            Independence.

                f.  examining George Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights, Thomas Jefferson’s

                            Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom, and James Madison’s leadership role

                            in securing the adoption of the Bill of Rights by the First Congress.

     

    GOVT 3  The student will demonstrate knowledge of the concepts of democracy by

                a.  recognizing the fundamental worth and dignity of the individual;

                b.  recognizing the equality of all citizens under the law;

                c.  recognizing majority rule and minority rights;

                d.  recognizing the necessity of compromise;

                e.  recognizing the freedom of the individual.

     

    GOVT 4  The student will demonstrate knowledge of the Constitution of the United States by

                a.  examining the ratification debates and The Federalist;

                b.  identifying the purposes for government stated in the Preamble;

                c.  examining the fundamental principles upon which the Constitution of the

                            United States is based, including the rule of law, consent of the

                            governed, limited government, separation of powers, and federalism;

                d.  illustrating the structure of the national government outlined in Article I,

                            Article II, and Article III;

                e.  describing the amendment process.

     

     

    GOVT 5  The student will demonstrate knowledge of the federal system described in the Constitution of the United States by

                a.  explaining the relationship of the state governments to the national

                            government;

                b.  describing the extend to which power is shared;

                c.  identifying the powers denied state and national governments;

                d.  examining the ongoing debate that focuses on the balance of power between

                            state and national governments.

     

    GOVT 6  The student will demonstrate knowledge of local, state, and national elections by

                a.  describing the organization, role, and constituencies of political parties;

                b.  describing the nomination and election process;

                c.  examining campaign funding and spending;

                d.  analyzing the influence of media coverage, campaign advertising, and

                            public opinion polls, and Internet-based communications on elections;

                e.  examining the impact of reapportionment and redistricting;

                f.  identifying how amendments extend the right to vote;

                g.  analyzing voter turnout.

                h.  evaluating the degree to which interest groups influence political life;

                i.  participating in simulations of local, state, and/or national elections.

     

    GOVT 7  The student will demonstrate knowledge of the organization and powers of the national government by

                a.  examining the legislative, executive, and judicial branches;

                b.  analyzing the relationship between the three branches in a system of

                            checks and balances;

                c.  examining the ways individuals and groups exert influence on the national

                            government.

     

    GOVT 8  The student will demonstrate knowledge of the organization and powers of the state and local governments described in the Constitution of Virginia by

                a.  examining the legislative, executive, and judicial branches;

                b.  examining the structure and powers of local governments: county, city,

                            and town;

                c.  analyzing the relationship among state and local governments and the roles of

                            regional authorities, governing boards, and commissions;

                d.  examining the ways individuals and groups exert influence on state and local

                            governments;

                e.  evaluating the effectiveness of citizen efforts to influence decisions of state and

                            and local governments by examining historical or contemporary events.

                                                               

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    GOVT 9  The student will demonstrate knowledge of the process by which public policy is made by

                a.  examining different perspectives on the role of government;

                b.  describing how the national government influences the public agenda and shapes

                            public policy;

                c.  describing how the state and local governments influence the public agenda and

                            shape public policy;

                d.  describing the process by which policy is implemented by the bureaucracy at

                            each level;

                e.  analyzing how individuals, interest groups, and the media influence public

                            policy;

                f.  formulating and practicing a course of action to address local and/or state issues.

     

    GOVT 10  The student will demonstrate knowledge of the operation of the federal judiciary by

                a.  describing the organization, jurisdiction, and proceedings of federal courts;

                b.  examining how John Marshall established the Supreme Court as an

                            independent, co-equal branch of government through his opinion

                            in Marbury v. Madison;

                c.  describing how the Supreme Court decides cases;

                d.  comparing the philosophies of judicial activism and judicial restraint;

                e.  evaluating how the judiciary influences public policy by delineating the power of

                            government and safeguarding the rights of the individual.

     

    GOVT 11  The student will demonstrate knowledge of civil liberties and civil rights by

                a.  examining the Bill of Rights, with emphasis on First Amendment freedoms;

                b.  analyzing due process of law expressed in the 5th and 14th Amendments;

                c.  explaining selective incorporation of the Bill of Rights;

                d.  exploring the balance between individual liberties and the public interest;

                e.  explaining every citizen’s right to be treated equally under the law.

     

    GOVT 12  The student will demonstrate knowledge of the role of the United States in a changing world by

                a.  describing the responsibilities of the national government for foreign policy

                            and national security;

                b.  assessing the role played by national interest in shaping foreign policy and

                            promoting world peace;

                c.  examining the relationship of Virginia and the United States to the global

                            economy;

                d.  examining recent foreign policy and international trade initiatives since

                            1980.

     

    GOVT 13  The student will demonstrate knowledge of how governments and economies in Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the People’s Republic of China compare with the government and economy in the United States by

                a.  describing the distribution of governmental power;

                b.  explaining the relationship between the legislative and executive branches;

                c.  comparing the extent of participation in the political process;

                d.  comparing the degrees of government involvement in the economies.

    GOVT 14  The student will demonstrate knowledge of economic systems by

                a.  identifying the basic economic questions encountered by all economic

                            systems;

                b.  comparing the characteristics of free market, command, and mixed

                            economies, as described by Adam Smith and Karl Marx;

                c.  evaluating the impact of the government’s role in the economy on

                            individual economic freedoms;

                d.  explaining the relationship between economic freedom and political

                            freedom;

                e.  examining productivity and the standard of living as measured by key

                            economic indicators.

     

    GOVT 15 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the United States market economy by

                a.  assessing the importance of entrepreneurship, the profit motive, and economic

                            independence to the promotion of economic growth;

                b.  comparing types of business organizations;

                c.  describing the factors of production;

                d.  explaining the interaction of supply and demand;

                e.  illustrating the circular flow of economic activity;

                f.  analyzing global economic trends and the relationship of Virginia and the United

                            States to the global economy.

     

    GOVT 16  The student will demonstrate knowledge of the role of government in the Virginia and United States economies by

                a.  analyzing the impact of fiscal and monetary policies on the economy;

                b.  describing the creation of government-provided goods and services that are not

                            readily produced by the market;

                c.  examining environmental issues, property rights, contracts, consumer rights,

                            labor-management relations, and competition in the marketplace;

                d.  understanding the types and purposes of taxation.

     

    GOVT 17  The student will demonstrate knowledge of personal character traits that facilitate thoughtful and effective participation in civic life by

                a.  practicing trustworthiness and honesty;

                b.  practicing courtesy and respect for the rights of others;

                c.  practicing responsibility, accountability, and self-reliance;

                d.  practicing respect for the law;

                e.  practicing patriotism;

                f.  practicing financial responsibility.

     

    GOVT 18  The student will understand that thoughtful and effective participation in civic life is characterized by

                a.  obeying the law and paying taxes;

                b.  serving as a juror;

                c.  participating in the political process;

                d.  performing public service;

                e.  keeping informed about current issues;

                f.  respecting differing opinions in a diverse society.

     

    GOVT 19  The student will explain the meaning of citizenship in the United States and how it relates to American civic life by

                a.  explaining how citizenship confers full membership in the American constitutional

                            system;

                b.  recognizing that American citizenship is defined by shared political and civic

                            beliefs and values;

                c.  describing how Americans are citizens of their locality, state, and nation;

                d.  recognizing that non-citizens can become citizens.