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Delaware Department of Education

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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.

Benchmarks for Grades K-3

Grades 4-5 | Grades 6-8 | Grades 9-12

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.

Benchmarks for Grades 4-5

Grades K-3 | Grades 6-8 | Grades 9-12 | top of page

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.

Benchmarks for Grades 6-8

Grades K-3 | Grades 4-5 | Grades 9-12 | top of page

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.

Benchmarks for Grades 9-12

Grades K-3 | Grades 4-5 | Grades 6-8 | top of page

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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