Alabama Social Studies SS24.CWI.4

SS24.CWI.4 is a cluster heading. These are the individual standards under it.

• SS24.CWI.4a

  Explain how foreign policy is created, how it can be influenced, and how it can be limited.

• SS24.CWI.4b

  Describe the various roles and functions of the modern American military.

01

What Students Need to Do

Students trace how the president, State Department, Defense Department, and Congress respond to an overseas crisis. They explain how public pressure, laws, and budgets affect the response. They identify military jobs beyond combat.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

Given a crisis, a student can name a distinct job for each office and explain who controls funding. They can identify a public influence and a legal limit on the response. They can name a military task beyond fighting, such as deterring attacks or moving disaster supplies.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may think the president can declare war or spend money without Congress. They may confuse State Department diplomacy with Defense Department operations. Some assume the military only fights wars, not deterrence or disaster relief.

04

How to Assess It

Exit ticket: After an attack on U.S. ships abroad, name one possible action each for the president, State, Defense, and Congress. Add one public influence, one legal or budget limit, and one noncombat military role.

1. 01

   Hand out embassy attack response cards, then have groups place each action under President, State, Defense, or Congress and defend two placements.

2. 02

   Ask students: Should the president send troops after an embassy attack? Write one influence, one legal limit, and an alternative to force.

3. 03

   Run a four-corner quiz with State, Defense, Congress, and President signs; read 'negotiate a ceasefire,' 'manage a deployment,' 'fund troops,' and 'set priorities.'

4. 04

   Show a Navy photo of 2010 Haiti earthquake relief; students label the military task and identify which branch controls the mission's funding.

• SS24.USG.5d

  Compare and contrast the structures of the federal bureaucracy, including cabinet departments, independent regulatory commissions, government corporations, and ...

• SS24.2.2a

  Compare the state and national governments in respect to their powers, roles, and leaders.

• SS24.6.10a

  Compare and contrast the division of power among levels of government in unitary, federal, and confederate styles of governance.

• SS24.USG.13a

  Compare specific functions, organizations, and purposes of local and state governments.