Alabama Social Studies SS24.6.13c
The Standard
- SS24.6.13
- Describe major ideas, concepts, and limitations of the Constitution of the United States.
Analyze key elements of the Constitution that deal with citizenship and civic participation, including the path to citizenship and the process for amending the Constitution.
2024 Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students tell the difference between citizenship at birth and citizenship through naturalization. They explain the steps to naturalize and how a constitutional amendment is proposed and ratified.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can put application, interview and test, and oath in order. They can explain that two-thirds of each house of Congress can propose an amendment, or two-thirds of states can call a proposing convention. Either way, three-fourths of states must ratify it.
Common Misconceptions
- Some students think living in the United States or passing the civics test automatically makes someone a citizen. Others think the president can change the Constitution or that a simple majority in Congress is enough.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: A naturalization applicant passed the civics test, and 55% of each house of Congress voted for an amendment. What must the applicant do next, and what votes would the amendment still need?
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs cards for application, interview and test, oath, proposal, and ratification; have them build separate citizenship and amendment timelines.
Ask, “Why might an amendment need approval from three-fourths of states instead of just the president?”
Play a vote-count game: announce House, Senate, and state totals; students signal when the totals meet amendment requirements.
Show a voter registration form and ask students to find the citizenship question a newly naturalized adult must answer.
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Related Standards
- SS24.6.18b
Differentiate between the requirements, responsibilities, and rights for citizenship in the United States.
- SS24.6.17c
Identify constitutional amendments that expanded political rights for citizens and describe the efforts of citizens to secure these rights.
- SS24.6.18
Analyze how an individual’s civic participation can influence government, politics, and society.
- SS24.6.18c
Explain how an individual becomes a citizen of the United States, including birthright citizenship and naturalization, and identify moments in history in which ...
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