By Caroline Harris
The 2010 Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies divides the seventh grade year into two separate subjects: geography and civics education. Each subject is devoted to one semester.
During its respective semester, “The goal of education in civics and government is informed, responsible participation in political life by competent citizens committed to the fundamental values and principles of the constitutional democracy that established the republic of the United States of America.”
The seventh grade civics and government course of study is composed of thirteen standards where students gain a working knowledge of participation and responsibility as a member of a community, whether it be family, classroom, community, state or country.
Standard 5 prescribes for students to be able to:
5. Compare duties and functions of members of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Alabama’s local and state governments and of the national government.
Locating political and geographic districts of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Alabama’s local and state governments and of the national government
Describing the organization and jurisdiction of courts at the local, state, and national levels within the judicial system of the United States
Explaining concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances among the three branches of state and national governments
Standard 6 prescribes for students to be able to:
6. Explain the importance of juvenile, adult, civil, and criminal laws within the judicial system of the United States.
Explaining rights of citizens as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights under the Constitution of the United States
Explaining what is meant by the term rule of law
Justifying consequences of committing a civil or criminal offense
Contrasting juvenile and adult laws at local, state, and federal levels
Standard 11 prescribes for students to be able to:
11. Compare changes in social and economic conditions in the United States during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Determining benefits of Alabama’s role in world trade
Tracing the political and social impact of the modern Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to the present, including Alabama’s role
Content related to the standard is listed below in a bulleted format, identifying additional minimally required content.
The Johnson Institute sits at the intersection of history and the U.S. Constitution Article III’s Judiciary. Working in partnership with the Middle District Federal Court of Alabama in the Frank Johnson Courthouse, we are thrilled to offer opportunities to seventh graders to that touch on each of the bulleted standards underneath Standards 5, 6, and 11 by:
Exploring the differences between the state and federal courts and how at each level the branches of government work together
Diving into the landmark case of Gomillion v. Lightfoot, a 1960 United States Supreme Court case out of Tuskegee, Alabama over voting districts.
Tracing political and social impact for modern Civil Rights Movement
Come and visit the courthouse to sit in “America’s Courtroom” where the landmark case, Gomillion v. Lightfoot, a 1960 case out of Tuskegee, Alabama over voting districts, was first argued. On your visit, students will also sit inside a modern federal courtroom where we would discuss the structure of the U.S. Constitution by analyzing the first three Articles, explore the structure of the judiciary, and immerse yourself in the roles of the courtroom.
If available, a federal judge might even pop in to say ‘hello’!
Click here to schedule your 7th grade visit!