Alabama State Standards for Social Studies: Grade 12

AL.1. Economics: Economics is a one-semester required course for the twelfth grade that focuses on the functions and institutions of modern-day economic systems and economic theory. Students use the knowledge and analytical-thinking skills learned in previous courses and grades to analyze issues and problems in contemporary economic systems.

1.1. Economics/Geography: Explain the role of scarcity in answering the basic economic questions of what, how, how much, and for whom to produce.

1.1.1. Identifying the positive and negative aspects of economic growth.

1.1.2. Explaining how voluntary trade between nations illustrates the benefits of comparative advantage.

1.1.3. Identifying how factors of production and the circular flow of goods and services meet market needs.

1.2. Economics/Geography/History/Political Science: Compare the development and characteristics of the world's traditional, command, and market economies.

1.2.1. Identifying contributors to modern economics.

1.2.2. Describing the struggle experienced by economies in transition from one type of economic system to another.

1.2.3. Explaining how the desire for growth potential, labor supplies, product supplies, and adaptive capability influence a country's choice of economic system.

1.2.4. Comparing the costs and benefits of economic growth.

1.2.5. Explaining why the characteristics of a market economy result in a thriving economy.

1.2.6. Contrasting economic systems of various countries with the market system of the United States.

1.3. Economics/Political Science: Analyze graphs to determine changes in supply and demand and their effect on equilibrium price and quality.

1.3.1. Illustrating how changes in the determinants of supply and demand affect the supply and demand for products in the market.

1.3.2. Explaining the impact of government-imposed price ceilings and floors and the impact of taxes and regulations on the market demand for a product.

1.4. Economics/Geography: Explain the impact of the labor market on the market economy of the United States.

1.4.1. Identifying regional characteristics of the labor force of the United States.

1.4.2. Explaining how supply and demand for labor affect wages.

1.4.3. Describing characteristics that are most likely to increase wages and non-wage benefits.

1.5. Economics: Explain the competitive nature of the market system.

1.5.1. Comparing the structures of sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, and cooperatives.

1.5.2. Describing costs and benefits of entrepreneurial decisions.

1.5.3. Describing how market exchange serves as a means of economic planning for producers.

1.5.4. Describing the structure and functions of financial markets, including the stock market and the bond market.

1.6. Economics/History/Political Science: Explain the costs and benefits of government intervention in the economy of the United States.

1.6.1. Identifying economic goals for the economy of the United States.

1.6.2. Tracing the impact of government regulations on business and labor relations.

1.6.3. Explaining conditions under which government intervention may be chosen.

1.6.4. Comparing principles and systems of taxation at national, state, and local levels.

1.6.5. Predicting the effect of public policy decisions on the individual.

1.6.6. Explaining costs and benefits of running a deficit and large national debt in an economy.

1.6.7. Describing the effect of the patent system of the United States on the number of inventions produced by American inventors.

1.7. Economics/Geography: Describe methods by which the United States measures domestic output, national income, and price level.

1.7.1. Identifying the contribution of final goods and services to the computation of the GDP.

1.7.2. Comparing data from various regions of the United States and other national economies.

1.7.3. Describing the function and construction of the CPI.

1.8. Economics/Geography/Political Science: Describe the effect of fluctuations in national output and its relationship to the causes and costs of unemployment and inflation.

1.8.1. Identifying factors involved in the business cycle.

1.8.2. Contrasting monetary, cost-push, and demand-pull inflation.

1.8.3. Contrasting frictional, structural, seasonal, and cyclical unemployment.

1.8.4. Describing components of the unemployment statistic as defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

1.8.5. Identifying reasons for regional differences in unemployment statistics.

1.8.6. Discussing the pros and cons of government policies affecting unemployment and underemployment.

1.8.7. Comparing causes for unemployment in Alabama to those of the nation.

1.9. Economics/Political Science: Describe economic stabilization policies of the United States.

1.9.1. Explaining how the levels of taxes, government spending, and interest rates affect consumer consumption and saving.

1.9.2. Explaining fiscal policy options for manipulating levels of output and inflation.

1.10. Economics/History/Political Science: Explain the role of money and the structure of the banking system of the United States.

1.10.1. Contrasting the effectiveness of bartering and money exchange in an economic system.

1.10.2. Explaining the creation of money through the multiplier effect.

1.10.3. Explaining the origins of the Federal Reserve and its influence on inflation and deflation.

1.10.4. Explaining the function of federally funded insurance programs in protecting consumers' savings.

1.11. Economics/History: Explain the past and present impact of the Federal Reserve on the economy of the United States.

1.11.1. Describing the structure and monetary policies of the Federal Reserve.

1.11.2. Describing tools available to the Federal Reserve to stabilize the economy.

1.11.3. Identifying primary responsibilities of the Federal Reserve.

1.12. Economics/Geography/Political Science: Explain the basic elements of international trade.

1.12.1. Analyzing the impact of developing nations on the global economy.

1.12.2. Analyzing the impact of the trade deficit on the economy of the United States.

1.12.3. Explaining how trading according to the Law of Comparative Advantage affects both poor and wealthy trading nations.

1.12.4. Analyzing the impact of trade policy on international trade.

1.12.5. Describing political and economic alliances.

AL.2. United States Government: United States Government is a one-semester required course for Grade 12. Its goal is to develop civic competence and participation in all students. In this course, students use the knowledge and analytical thinking skills learned in the Grades 10-11 United States History courses to focus on the origins, structure, and functions of government at all levels in the nation.

2.1. History/Political Science: Identify the origins and functions of government.

2.1.1. Comparing essential characteristics of limited and unlimited governments throughout the world, including constitutional, authoritarian, and totalitarian governments.

2.2. History/Political Science: Analyze the purposes, organization, functions, and principles of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

2.2.1. Comparing government structure under the Articles of Confederation with government structure under the Constitution of the United States.

2.2.2. Comparing arguments for establishing a government with three separate branches, including the views presented in the Federalist Papers regarding the branches of government.

2.2.3. Explaining the necessity for and inclusion of a system of checks and balances.

2.2.4. Explaining the necessity for including a Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the United States.

2.2.5. Outlining the process of amending the Constitution.

2.3. Economics/History/Political Science: Explain how the federal system of the United States divides powers between national and state governments, including the areas of taxation, revenue distribution, federal grants, distribution of entitlements, regulation of interstate commerce, and enforcement of contracts.

2.4. Economics/History/Political Science: Describe the specific functions, organization, and purposes of state and local governments.

2.4.1. Analyzing the Alabama Constitution of 1901 to determine its impact on local funding and campaign reform.

2.4.2. Describing the influence of special interest groups on state government.

2.5. History/Political Science: Trace the expansion of suffrage and its effect on the political system of the United States.

2.5.1. Describing implications of participation of large numbers of minorities and women in parties and campaigns.

2.5.2. Describing the impact of the Selma-to-Montgomery march on the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

2.6. Economics/History/Political Science: Describe the functions and development of special interest groups.

2.6.1. Identifying the impact of campaign contributions by political action committees on the election processes at the state and national levels.

2.6.2. Analyzing rulings by the United States Supreme Court regarding campaign financing to determine their effect on the election process.

2.7. Geography/History/Political Science: Trace the development and impact of the media on the political process and public opinion in the United States.

2.7.1. Explaining the effect of media consolidation on public opinion and access to various viewpoints.

2.7.2. Describing regional differences in public opinion in the United States.

2.7.3. Analyzing the impact of television on the election process and campaign spending.

2.7.4. Explaining the effect of attack advertisements on voter selection of candidates.

2.8. History/Political Science: Identify the roles political parties play in the functioning of the political system of the United States.

2.8.1. Describing the role of third-party candidates in political elections in the United States.

2.8.2. Explaining major characteristics of contemporary political parties in the United States, including the role of conventions, party leadership, formal and informal memberships, and regional strongholds.

2.8.3. Describing the changing influence of political parties on individuals and elected officials.

2.9. History/Political Science: Identify constitutional provisions of the legislative branch of the government of the United States.

2.9.1. Comparing rules of operation and hierarchies of the House and Senate.

2.9.2. Tracing the legislative process, including types of votes and committee action, from a bill's presentation to presidential action.

2.9.3. Identifying committee structure and types of committees.

2.9.4. Discussing problems concerning redistricting as populations shift.

2.10. History/Political Science: Identify constitutional provisions of the executive branch of the government of the United States.

2.10.1. Identifying Constitutional provisions regarding the office of President of the United States.

2.10.2. Identifying informal powers of the President.

2.10.3. Identifying the influence of White House staff on the President.

2.10.4. Identifying powers held by the President's Cabinet.

2.10.5. Comparing the characteristics of the President of the United States with characteristics of the electorate.

2.10.6. Identifying factors that influence voters' choices of presidential candidates.

2.11. History/Political Science: Identify constitutional provisions of the judicial branch of the government of the United States.

2.11.1. Describing the structure of the court system of the United States.

2.11.2. Tracing the process by which a case goes to the Supreme Court.

2.11.3. Identifying the impact of landmark Supreme Court cases on constitutional interpretation.

2.11.4. Identifying landmark decisions arising from Supreme Court cases originating in Alabama.

2.11.5. Explaining the politics involved in the appointment process.

2.11.6. Describing the shifting political balance of the court system.

2.11.7. Identifying influences on court decisions.

2.11.8. Contrasting the strict and loose constructionist views of the Constitution.

2.11.9. Tracing the nationalization of the Bill of Rights from Gitlow versus New York to the present.

2.12. History/Political Science: Contrast the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a representative democracy.

2.13. Economics/Geography/History/Political Science: Explain the foreign policy of the United States and national security interests as they pertain to the role of the United States in the world community.

2.13.1. Discussing the changing role of the foreign policy of the United States.

2.13.2. Identifying the positive and/or negative consequences of foreign policy decisions.

2.13.3. Identifying traditional foreign policy allies of the United States and potential areas of current and future intervention.