• Context
• Lesson-Specific Standards
• Teaching the Lesson
• Assessment
• Lesson Materials
• Resources

This lesson addresses the national standards listed below.

From the Center for Civic Education's National Standards for Civics and Government (1994):

Students should be able to evaluate, take, and defend positions on:

• the contemporary role of organized groups in American social and political life.
• issues concerning the disparities between American ideals and realities.
• issues regarding the purposes, organization, and functions of the institutions of the national government.
• issues regarding the major responsibilities of the national government for domestic and foreign policy.
• issues regarding how government should raise money to pay for its operations and services.
• the formation and implementation of public policy.
• issues regarding civic responsibilities of citizens in an American constitutional democracy.
• the importance to American constitutional democracy of dispositions that facilitate thoughtful and effective participation in public affairs.
• the relationship between politics and the attainment of individual and public goals.

Students should be able to explain the importance of knowledge to competent and responsible participation in American democracy.

From the National Council for the Social Studies's Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (1994):

Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of:

• how people create and change structures of power, authority, and governance.
• ideals, principles, and practices of citizenship in a democratic republic.