Alabama Social Studies SS24.6.14
The Standard
Outline the process of selecting political leaders of the United States as established in the Constitution and its amendments.
2024 Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students trace how voters choose House members and senators. They show how voters choose electors, who vote separately for president and vice president. They identify amendments that changed Senate elections and expanded voting rights.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can draw the path from voters to each office and show where electors are involved. They explain that voters now choose senators instead of state legislatures. They can name an amendment that expanded voting rights, such as the 19th or 26th.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think the national popular vote directly elects the president. They may think senators have always been chosen by voters or that the Electoral College chooses members of Congress. Some mistake party primaries for steps required by the Constitution.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Draw arrows showing how a House member, senator, president, and vice president are chosen. Label the amendment that changed Senate elections, and name one amendment that expanded voting rights.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs voter, state legislature, elector, House, Senate, president, and vice president cards; have them build election paths before and after the 17th Amendment.
Ask students why voters choose House members directly but choose a president through electors; have them draw one path for each office.
Play election path sort: students place office cards under direct vote or Electoral College, then explain each choice.
Show a sample ballot with House, Senate, and presidential races; students circle direct candidate votes and box the presidential vote tied to electors.
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Related Standards
- SS24.USG.3b
Summarize the formal process of amending the Constitution of the United States.
- SS24.USG.6b
Outline and explain the process of appointing Supreme Court Justices and other federal judges.
- SS24.2.3
Explain the voting process.
- SS24.USG.10
Outline major characteristics and functions of contemporary political parties in the United States, including the role of state and national conventions as well...
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