Civics & Economicsby Matthew Caggia

Essential Standards

Visit the DPI Website for the NC Essential Standards for Civics and Economics or hover over the standards listed below.

CE.C&G.2,Analyze government systems within the United States in terms of their structure, functions, and relationships.

CE.C&G.2.7,Analyze contemporary issues and governmental responses at the local, state, and national levels in terms of how they promote the public interest and/or general welfare.

CE.C&G.2.8,Analyze America's two-party system in terms of the political and economic views that led to its emergence and the role that political parties play in American politics.

CE.C&G.3,Analyze the legal system within the United States in terms of development, execution, and protection of citizenship rights at all levels of government.

CE.C&G.3.2,Compare lawmaking processes of federal, state, and local governments.

CE.C&G.3.3,Analyze laws and policies in terms of their intended purposes, who has authority to make them and how they are enforced.

CE.C&G.3.4,Explain how individual rights are protected by varieties of law (e.g. Bill of Rights, Supreme Court decisions, Constitutional law, criminal law, civil law, tort, administrative law, statutory law, and international law, etc.).

CE.C&G.3.6,Explain ways laws have been influenced by political parties, constituents, interest groups, lobbyists, the media and public opinion.

Handouts

Semester 1 Bell Ringers
Unit 1: Foundations of American Government
Unit 2: The Constitution
Unit 3A: Comparative Government- Legislative Branch
Unit 3B: Comparative Government- Executive Branch
Unit 3C: Comparative Government- Judicial Branch
Unit 4A: Citizenship, Voting, & Elections
Unit 4B: Political Parties & Influencing Government
Unit 5: Making Laws
Unit 6: Violating the Law
Unit 7: Personal Financial Literacy
Unit 8: Economic Fundamentals
Unit 9: Government in the Economy
Unit 10: International Economics
Review Materials
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Review Forum
Essential Discussions

Unit 5: Making Laws

Chapter 15 and Section 6.4

"... to insure domestic tranquility..." is one of the goals of government under the United States Constitution. For that purpose we have laws. Laws exist to protect people from each other, to provide some semblance of order to make sure that our Natural Rights are protected otherwise what is there to stop people from harming each other in their life, liberty, or property? This unit begins our investigation of the types of laws that exist in American legal culture and the origin of some of these ideas.

Study Tools

Online Textbook Resources

These pages contain the links to the online content for student practice. It includes Chapter Overviews, Web Activities, Self-Check Quizzes, ePuzzles and Games, Vocabulary Flashcards, Charts in Motion (to accompany diagrams in the textbook), and Interactive Graphic Organizers.

Chapter 15 Student Center: Legal Rights and Responsibilities

Vocabulary

Link to Quizlet! Vocabulary is the key to understanding any subject. Once you can break down the barrier of language the ideas and concepts are wide open. Here you can find the vocabulary for the unit to practice by using online flash cards and by practicing online generated vocabulary quizzes.

Unit 5 Vocabulary Quiz on Quizlet

When you get to the Quizlet Quiz page, you can adjust what type of quiz to take by using the check boxes on the right.

Slide Shows

The slideshows are best viewed full screen. Slideshows will be blocked until AFTER the homework is due to encourage students to read the required sections of the textbook.

How A Bill Becomes Law

General Overview of How a Bill Becomes a Law. Pay attention to all the places where a bill could die. This accompanies section 6.4 from the textbook.

How a Bill Becomes a Law Infographic

A little more complex than the textbook discusses, this diagram runs through the process by which an idea, proposed to Congress as a bill, can become a law (or not become a law). Click on the image for full size. (Image by Mike Wirth)

Types of Laws

To accompany section 15.2 this presentation introduces civil, criminal, and public law.

The American Legal System

This presentation, to accompany section 15.3, reviews earlier concepts such as habeas corpus, bill of attainder, and ex post facto laws. It also introduces aspects of the legal system: bail, and plea bargain.

Videos

Schoolhouse Rock: I'm Just A Bill

THE classic School House Rock video - "I'm Just A Bill." This short video traces the life of a bill from its creation through passage to a law. Although it is quick, it covers it all. It could not hurt to watch more than once.