Dearborn Educational Curriculum

Describe, compare, and contrast political philosophers views on purposes of government(s) including but not limited to Aristotle, Locke, Hobbes, Montesquieu, and Rousseau.

Identify, provide examples of, and distinguish among different systems of government by analyzing similarities and differences in sovereignty, power, legitimacy, and authority.

Compare, contrast, and evaluate models of representation in democratic governments including presidential and parliamentary systems.

Compare and contrast federal, confederal, and unitary systems of government by analyzing similarities and differences in sovereignty and distribution of governmental powers.

Analyze the historical and philosophical origins of American Constitutional Democracy and analyze the influence of ideas found in the Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and John Locke’s Second Treatise.

Identify and analyze various Democratic Values of the United States as found in the Declaration of Independence.

Explain the impact of the major debates and compromises underlying the drafting and ratification of the American Constitution including the Virginia and New Jersey plans, the Great Compromise, debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, debates concerning slavery, and the promise for a Bill of Rights after ratification.

Analyze relationships between Democratic Values and Constitutional Principles.

Analyze how influential historical speeches, writings, cases, and laws express Democratic Values and influenced changes in American culture, law, and the Constitution.

Use examples to investigate why people may agree on Democratic Values and Constitutional Principles in the abstract, yet disagree over their meaning when they are applied to specific situations.