The course is a one-semester grade 12 government course. It covers every one of the California standards for Principles of American Democracy, 12.1 through 12.10, and the build fails if any substandard is not cited in at least one lesson. The alignment matrix published with the course shows exactly where each is taught. The grades 9-12 Historical and Social Sciences Analysis Skills — chronological and spatial thinking, historical research, evidence and point of view, and historical interpretation — are taught inside the lessons rather than separately, and the CCSS literacy standards for grades 11-12 (reading history, writing, and speaking and listening) carry the course’s writing and discussion.

The four units. Unit 1 covers the Constitution’s origins, separated powers and federalism, rights and obligations, and civil society, closing with an argument essay and a civic address on whether Federalist 51’s design still protects liberty. Unit 2 covers the three branches and the Supreme Court’s landmark cases, closing with a moot court brief and oral argument. Unit 3 covers federalism, California’s government and budget, tribal sovereignty, direct democracy and policymaking, closing with testimony on a current California bill or ballot measure. Unit 4 covers parties, elections, money, redistricting, the press and comparative government, closing with a civic analysis project and defense.

A-G area A. UC expects a history/social science course to use primary and secondary sources, develop analytical writing, and teach students to evaluate evidence and interpretation. Each unit’s performance task is a substantial piece of evidence-based writing that goes through planning, peer review and revision, and three of the four also include an oral component. The course syllabus generated with the course follows the structure of a UC course submission.

The five-part unit. Every unit has the same shape: an inquiry launch with sources, a concepts-and-skills lab, a deliberation lab, an evidence-based writing workshop, and a culminating performance task. Students learn the rhythm by Unit 2, which lets you spend less time on logistics and more on the content.

Pairing with Economics. California requires one semester of American government and civics and one semester of economics in grade 12. This course pairs with the charter curriculum’s Economics course, which has its own teacher guide. Students who complete the stand-alone Personal Finance course may elect an exemption from the economics semester; the government requirement is unaffected.

Sources. Every anchor text is public domain or openly licensed: founding documents, Supreme Court opinions, state constitutional text and official government sources. You can print, project and excerpt them freely.