Be Responsible 
Be Prepared Be Respectful
7th Grade Level Expectations.
The nature and purpose of Government.
- Apply the ideas and principles of the American system of government to historic and contemporary examples.
- Explain why limiting the powers of government is essential for the protection of individual rights.
- Identify the core ideals and principles of American government by citing documents.
- Analyze the major arguments for and against representative government as distinguished from direct democracy, and discuss how, in a representative democracy, minority rights are protected.
- Apply criteria for evaluating the effectiveness and fairness of rules and laws at the local, state, or federal levels.
- Differentiate among the major forms of limiting and unlimited governments.
Structure and function of United States and New Hampshire
- Illustrate ways in which government in the US is founded on the conviction that Americans are united by the principles they share.
- Define the organization and responsibilities of federal government that are set forth in the NH Constitution, the US Constitution, and their amendments.
- Identify and illustrate the heritage that early settlers brought to the development and establishment of American democracy.
- Compare and contrast the structure and major responsibilities and services of government at the local, state, and federal levels as set forth in the NH and US Constitution.
- Describe ways in which particular events and documents contributed to the evolution of American government.
- Explain the legislative and political process by which a bill becomes a law or government policy is established at the local, state, and federal levels.
The world and the United States’ place in it.
- Identify other countries in the world and their different forms of government.
- Illustrate the importance of countries working together to resolve problems.
- Describe the ways in which countries interact with each other culturally, economically, diplomatically, or military.
- Analyze environmental, economic, and technological developments and their impact on society.
- Discuss the reasons for conflicts between and among countries and peoples.
Rights and Responsibilities.
- Evaluate those characteristics that promote good citizenship.
- Describe and analyze ways Americans can effectively participate on civic and political life at the local, state, and federal levels.