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Civic Education Benchmarks
Benchmarks for the State of Delaware
Civic education benchmarks in Delaware have been designed to cover
four basic categories of understanding with respect to civics for
grades K-12: government, politics, citizenship,
and participation.
Civics 1 (Government)
- Understand that leaders are sometimes chosen by election, and
that elected officials are expected to represent the interests
of the people who elected them.
- Understand that positions of authority, whether elected, appointed,
or familial, carry responsibilities and should be respected.
Civics 2 (Politics)
- Understand that respect for others, their opinions, and their
property is a foundation of civil society in the United States.
Civics 3 (Citizenship)
- Understand that American citizens have distinct responsibilities
(such as voting), rights (such as free speech and freedom of religion),
and privileges (such as driving).
Civics 4 (Participation)
- Acquire the skills necessary for participating in a group, including
defining an objective, dividing responsibilities, and working
cooperatively.
Civics 1 (Government)
- Understand that governments have a variety of structures and
exist for many purposes and that in America these are explained
in the United States and State constitutions.
- Understand that the United States government is divided into
executive, legislative, and judicial branches, each with specific
responsibilities and powers.
Civics 2 (Politics)
- Understand that the principle of “due process” means
that the government must follow its own rules when taking actions
against a citizen.
- Understand that a society based on the ideal of individual liberty
requires a commitment on the part of its citizens to the principles
of civic responsibility and personal civility.
Civics 3 (Citizenship)
- Identify the fundamental rights of all American citizens as
enumerated in the Bill of Rights.
- Apply the protections guaranteed in the Bill of Rights to an
analysis of everyday situations.
Civics 4 (Participation)
- Understand that in order to select effective leaders, citizens
have to become informed about candidates’ qualifications
and the issues of the day.
- Identify and employ the formal and informal methods by which
democratic groups function.
Civics 1 (Government)
- Understand that governments have the power to make and enforce
laws and regulations, levy taxes, conduct foreign policy, and
make war.
- Analyze the different functions of federal, state, and local
governments in the United States and examine the reasons for the
different organizational structures each level of government employs.
Civics 2 (Politics)
- Understand that the concept of majority rule does not mean that
the rights of minorities may be disregarded and will examine and
apply the protections accorded those minorities in the American
political system.
- Understand the principles and content of major American state
papers such as the Declaration of Independence; United States
Constitution (including the Bill of Rights); and the Federalist
Papers.
Civics 3 (Citizenship)
- Understand that civil rights secure political freedom while
property rights secure economic freedom and that both are essential
protections for United States citizens.
- Understand that American citizenship includes responsibilities
such as voting, jury duty, obeying the law, service in the armed
forces when required, and public service.
Civics 4 (Participation)
- Follow the actions of elected officials, and understand and
employ the mechanisms for communicating with them while in office.
Civics 1 (Government)
- Analyze the ways in which the structure and purposes of different
governments around the world reflect differing ideologies, cultures,
values, and histories.
Civics 2 (Politics)
- Examine and analyze the extra-Constitutional role that political
parties play in American politics.
- Understand that the functioning of the government is a dynamic
process which combines the formal balances of power incorporated
in the Constitution with traditions, precedents, and interpretations
which have evolved over the past 200 years.
Civics 3 (Citizenship)
- Understand that citizens are individually responsible for keeping
themselves informed about public policy issues on the local, state,
and federal levels; participating in the civic process; and upholding
the laws of the land.
Civics 4 (Participation)
- Develop and employ the skills necessary to work with government
programs and agencies.
- Understand the process of working within a political party,
a commission engaged in examining public policy, or a citizen’s
group.
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