7th Grade Civics Benchmarks
# 1: CITIZENSHIP
SS.7.C.2.1: Define the term “citizen,” and identify legal means of becoming a United States citizen.
SS.7.C.2.2: Evaluate the obligations citizens have to obey laws, pay taxes, defend the nation, and serve on juries.
*SS.7.C.1.9: Define the rule of law and recognize its influence on the development of the American legal, political, and governmental systems.
*SS.7.C.2.3: Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.
# 2: PUBLIC OPINION AND GOVERNMENT
SS.7.C.2.10: Examine the impact of media, individuals, and interest groups on monitoring and influencing government.
SS.7.C.2.11: Analyze media and political communications (bias, symbolism, propaganda).
*SS.7.C.2.13: Examine multiple perspectives on public and current issues.
# 3: ELECTIONS/POLITICAL PARTIES
SS.7.C.2.8: Identify America’s current political parties and illustrate their ideas about government.
SS.7.C.2.9: Evaluate candidates for political office by analyzing their qualifications, experience, issue-based platforms, debates, and political ads.
SS.7.C.2.7: Conduct a mock election to demonstrate the voting process and its impact on a school, community, or local level.
# 4: FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
SS.7.C.1.1: Recognize how Enlightenment ideas including Montesquieu’s view of separation of power and John Locke’s theories related to natural law and how Locke’s social contract influenced the Founding Fathers.
SS.7.C.1.2: Trace the impact that the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” had on colonists’ views of government.
SS.7.C.1.3: Describe how English policies and responses to colonial concerns led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.
SS.7.C.1.4: Analyze the ideas (natural rights, role of the government) and complaints set forth in the Declaration of Independence.
# 5: CREATING THE CONSTITUTION
SS.7.C.1.5: Identify how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to the writing of the Constitution.
SS.7.C.1.8: Explain the viewpoints of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists regarding the ratification of the Constitution and inclusion of a bill of rights.
# 6: U.S. CONSTITUTION STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
SS.7.C.1.6: Interpret the intentions of the Preamble of the Constitution.
SS.7.C.1.7: Describe how the Constitution limits the powers of government through separation of powers and checks and balances.
SS.7.C.3.3: Illustrate the structure and function (three branches of government established in Articles I, II, and III with corresponding powers) of government in the United States as established in the Constitution.
SS.7.C.3.8: Analyze the structure, functions, and processes of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
** SS.7.C.1.9: Define the rule of law and recognize its influence on the development of the American legal, political, and governmental systems.
#7: BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
SS.7.C.3.3: Illustrate the structure and function (three branches of government established in Articles I, II, and III with corresponding powers) of government in the United States as established in the Constitution.
SS.7.C.3.8: Analyze the structure, functions, and processes of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
*SS.7.C.3.11: Diagram the levels, functions, and powers of courts at the state and federal levels.
SS.7.C.3.9: Illustrate the law making process at the local, state, and federal levels.
#8: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
SS.7.C.2.4: Evaluate rights contained in the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution.
*SS.7.C.2.5: Distinguish how the Constitution safeguards and limits individual rights.
SS.7.C.3.5: Explain the Constitutional amendment process.
SS.7.C.3.6: Evaluate Constitutional rights and their impact on individuals and society.
SS.7.C.3.7: Analyze the impact of the 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th amendments on participation of minority groups in the American political process.
#9: IMPACTS OF LAW
SS.7.C.3.10: Identify sources and types (civil, criminal, constitutional, military) of law.
**SS.7.C.3.11: Diagram the levels, functions, and powers of courts at the state and federal levels.
SS.7.C.2.6: Simulate the trial process and the role of juries in the administration of justice.
**SS.7.C.2.5: Distinguish how the Constitution safeguards and limits individual rights.
SS.7.C.3.12: Analyze the significance and outcomes of landmark Supreme Court cases including, but not limited to, Marbury vs. Madison, Plessy vs. Ferguson, Brown vs. Board of Education, Gideon vs. Wainwright, Miranda vs. Arizona, in re Gault, Tinker vs. Des Moines, Hazelwood vs. Kuhlmeier, United States vs. Nixon, and Bush vs. Gore.
** SS.7.C.1.9: Define the rule of law and recognize its influence on the development of the American legal, political, and governmental systems.
#10: FEDERALISM
SS.7.C.3.4: Identify the relationship and division of powers between the federal government and state governments.
SS.7.C.3.13: Compare the constitutions of the United States and Florida.
SS.7.C.3.14: Differentiate between local, state, and federal governments’ obligations and services.
**SS.7.C.3.9: Illustrate the law making process at the local, state, and federal levels.
#11: FORMS/SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT
SS.7.C.3.1: Compare different forms of government (direct democracy, representative democracy, socialism, communism, monarchy, oligarchy, autocracy).
SS.7.C.3.2: Compare parliamentary, federal, confederal, and unitary systems of government.
#12 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
SS.7.C.4.1: Differentiate concepts related to United States domestic and foreign policy.
SS.7.C.4.2: Recognize government and citizen participation in international organizations.
SS.7.C.4.3: Describe examples of how the United States has dealt with international conflicts.
#13 CITIZEN ACTION
SS.7.C.2.12: Develop a plan to resolve a state or local problem by researching public policy alternatives, identifying appropriate government agencies to address the issue, and determining a course of action.
**SS.7.C.2.3: Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.
**SS.7.C.2.13: Examine multiple perspectives on public and current issues.
# 1: CITIZENSHIP
SS.7.C.2.1: Define the term “citizen,” and identify legal means of becoming a United States citizen.
SS.7.C.2.2: Evaluate the obligations citizens have to obey laws, pay taxes, defend the nation, and serve on juries.
*SS.7.C.1.9: Define the rule of law and recognize its influence on the development of the American legal, political, and governmental systems.
*SS.7.C.2.3: Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.
# 2: PUBLIC OPINION AND GOVERNMENT
SS.7.C.2.10: Examine the impact of media, individuals, and interest groups on monitoring and influencing government.
SS.7.C.2.11: Analyze media and political communications (bias, symbolism, propaganda).
*SS.7.C.2.13: Examine multiple perspectives on public and current issues.
# 3: ELECTIONS/POLITICAL PARTIES
SS.7.C.2.8: Identify America’s current political parties and illustrate their ideas about government.
SS.7.C.2.9: Evaluate candidates for political office by analyzing their qualifications, experience, issue-based platforms, debates, and political ads.
SS.7.C.2.7: Conduct a mock election to demonstrate the voting process and its impact on a school, community, or local level.
# 4: FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
SS.7.C.1.1: Recognize how Enlightenment ideas including Montesquieu’s view of separation of power and John Locke’s theories related to natural law and how Locke’s social contract influenced the Founding Fathers.
SS.7.C.1.2: Trace the impact that the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” had on colonists’ views of government.
SS.7.C.1.3: Describe how English policies and responses to colonial concerns led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.
SS.7.C.1.4: Analyze the ideas (natural rights, role of the government) and complaints set forth in the Declaration of Independence.
# 5: CREATING THE CONSTITUTION
SS.7.C.1.5: Identify how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to the writing of the Constitution.
SS.7.C.1.8: Explain the viewpoints of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists regarding the ratification of the Constitution and inclusion of a bill of rights.
# 6: U.S. CONSTITUTION STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
SS.7.C.1.6: Interpret the intentions of the Preamble of the Constitution.
SS.7.C.1.7: Describe how the Constitution limits the powers of government through separation of powers and checks and balances.
SS.7.C.3.3: Illustrate the structure and function (three branches of government established in Articles I, II, and III with corresponding powers) of government in the United States as established in the Constitution.
SS.7.C.3.8: Analyze the structure, functions, and processes of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
** SS.7.C.1.9: Define the rule of law and recognize its influence on the development of the American legal, political, and governmental systems.
#7: BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
SS.7.C.3.3: Illustrate the structure and function (three branches of government established in Articles I, II, and III with corresponding powers) of government in the United States as established in the Constitution.
SS.7.C.3.8: Analyze the structure, functions, and processes of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
*SS.7.C.3.11: Diagram the levels, functions, and powers of courts at the state and federal levels.
SS.7.C.3.9: Illustrate the law making process at the local, state, and federal levels.
#8: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
SS.7.C.2.4: Evaluate rights contained in the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution.
*SS.7.C.2.5: Distinguish how the Constitution safeguards and limits individual rights.
SS.7.C.3.5: Explain the Constitutional amendment process.
SS.7.C.3.6: Evaluate Constitutional rights and their impact on individuals and society.
SS.7.C.3.7: Analyze the impact of the 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th amendments on participation of minority groups in the American political process.
#9: IMPACTS OF LAW
SS.7.C.3.10: Identify sources and types (civil, criminal, constitutional, military) of law.
**SS.7.C.3.11: Diagram the levels, functions, and powers of courts at the state and federal levels.
SS.7.C.2.6: Simulate the trial process and the role of juries in the administration of justice.
**SS.7.C.2.5: Distinguish how the Constitution safeguards and limits individual rights.
SS.7.C.3.12: Analyze the significance and outcomes of landmark Supreme Court cases including, but not limited to, Marbury vs. Madison, Plessy vs. Ferguson, Brown vs. Board of Education, Gideon vs. Wainwright, Miranda vs. Arizona, in re Gault, Tinker vs. Des Moines, Hazelwood vs. Kuhlmeier, United States vs. Nixon, and Bush vs. Gore.
** SS.7.C.1.9: Define the rule of law and recognize its influence on the development of the American legal, political, and governmental systems.
#10: FEDERALISM
SS.7.C.3.4: Identify the relationship and division of powers between the federal government and state governments.
SS.7.C.3.13: Compare the constitutions of the United States and Florida.
SS.7.C.3.14: Differentiate between local, state, and federal governments’ obligations and services.
**SS.7.C.3.9: Illustrate the law making process at the local, state, and federal levels.
#11: FORMS/SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT
SS.7.C.3.1: Compare different forms of government (direct democracy, representative democracy, socialism, communism, monarchy, oligarchy, autocracy).
SS.7.C.3.2: Compare parliamentary, federal, confederal, and unitary systems of government.
#12 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
SS.7.C.4.1: Differentiate concepts related to United States domestic and foreign policy.
SS.7.C.4.2: Recognize government and citizen participation in international organizations.
SS.7.C.4.3: Describe examples of how the United States has dealt with international conflicts.
#13 CITIZEN ACTION
SS.7.C.2.12: Develop a plan to resolve a state or local problem by researching public policy alternatives, identifying appropriate government agencies to address the issue, and determining a course of action.
**SS.7.C.2.3: Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.
**SS.7.C.2.13: Examine multiple perspectives on public and current issues.