EBAS - Structures and Origins

TASK
- The student will demonstrate the ability to evaluate sources and use evidence.
- The student will evaluate the credibility of the sources by considering the authority, origin, type, context, and corroborative value of each source.
- The student will identify credible, relevant information contained in sources.

The student will demonstrate the ability to communicate and critique conclusions.
- The student will construct arguments using precise and knowledgeable claims, with evidence from multiple sources. 

The student will evaluate how the principles of government assist or impede the functioning of government by: 
- Explaining how the delegated, reserved, concurrent, and denied powers of government are divided in federalism and shared between national and state levels. 

Students will analyze historic documents to determine the basic principles of United States government and apply them to real world situations by: 
- Tracing the evolution of limited government and other principles from English common law through the Enlightenment philosophers to the foundations of American government. 
- Explaining representative democracy, popular sovereignty, and consent of the governed, and demonstrating how these concepts have ensured citizens’ power over time.
- Analyzing how the principles of government are applied to real world situations.

The student will evaluate how the principles of government assist or impede the functioning of government by: 
- Describing how the Constitution structures the government and provides for separation of powers, checks and balances, and judicial review, in such a way as to limit governmental power in favor of the people. 

The student will evaluate how the principles of government assist or impede the functioning of government by: 
- Evaluating the balance between majority rule and the protection of individual rights. Identifying the rights in the Bill of Rights and how they protect individuals and limit the power of government. 
- Analyzing the purpose of limited government and its impact on the structure, function, and processes of government. 
- Analyzing how principles are incorporated into the historic documents of American government and how those principles have been applied. 
- Analyzing how the principles of government are applied to real world situations.

INTRODUCTION
The US Constitution provides the structure of the US government, while the Bill of Rights provides individual rights to citizens in an effort to limit the government. The students’ compelling question is:

 Do the principles of government as outlined in the Constitution protect the rights of the individuals?

Use the sources provided below to answer the question.
BACKGROUND
The foundations of the government of the United States are oriented around the ideas of liberty and equality as articulated in the natural rights tradition of John Locke and others. This tradition holds that, by nature of their existence, human beings possess rights, independent of any governing or societal power. In the maintenance of these rights, natural rights thinkers saw the greatest possibility for individuals to flourish through the freedom to direct their own lives. The people maintain their freedom and rights through formal institutions of government and informal community traditions and institutions. This maintenance requires the people to be vigilant and informed in order to ensure that these institutions are directed towards their right ends. It was an understanding of these fundamental principles that informed the design of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. The principles contained below define the protections built into the Constitution for this purpose. In understanding these principles, We the People are better able to protect and advance freedom and opportunity for all. Source: Bill of Rights Institute

Articulated: Stated/said 
Vigilant-Careful watch

Which source provides the best evidence for the claim above?

How does the response of China in Source B contradict the information in Source C?

How does the information in Source B corroborate the information in Source A? 

Which statement below is true about the similarities between Source C and Source D? 

Which perspective summarizes the main idea of all the sources? 

Assume that the information provided in the sources is credible. Complete the following extended-response question: 
Do the principles of government as outlined in the Constitution protect the rights of the individuals?
-Develop a claim in response to the question.
-Cite evidence from the provided sources to support your claim. 
-Use your knowledge of government in your response.
-A rubric is added at the end of the page to assist you.