Oklahoma Social Studies 3.C.1.1

3.C.1.1 is a cluster heading. These are the individual standards under it.

• 3.C.1.1.A

  Explain how representatives of the people make and carry out laws in our communities, state, and nation.

• 3.C.1.1.B

  Explain that the Constitution of the United States of America and the Oklahoma Constitution are written plans for organizing the functions of government, which ...

• 3.C.1.1.C

  Describe the structure of Oklahoma’s government, including the role of major elected and appointed leaders in each of its three branches, including governor, st...

• 3.C.1.1.D

  Identify basic responsibilities of state and local governments (e.g., public safety, education, public works) and explain how taxes pay for services provided by...

• 3.C.1.1.E

  Read and explain how the Preamble to the Oklahoma Constitution reflects the power of the people and their reliance on spiritual guidance.

01

What Students Need to Do

Students explain how voters choose representatives who make laws, while other leaders carry them out. They read the U.S. and Oklahoma constitutions as written plans for national and state government, then identify Oklahoma's three branches. They link taxes to local and state services and explain the Oklahoma preamble's references to the people and God's guidance.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

A student can place elected legislators, the elected governor, and appointed court justices in Oklahoma's three branches and explain each job. They can name a local or state service paid for by taxes and identify which constitution organizes state or national government. They can explain that Oklahoma's preamble gives authority to the people and asks for God's guidance.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may think voters decide every law directly or that the governor makes laws alone. They may confuse the U.S. and Oklahoma constitutions or think justices enforce laws like police officers. Some think taxes go only to national government or that the preamble tells everyone what to believe.

04

How to Assess It

On an exit ticket, ask: 'Which Oklahoma branch makes laws, which carries them out, and which decides what laws mean? Name one service state or local taxes pay for.' Give students the Oklahoma preamble and ask them to circle who creates the government and whose guidance it invokes.

1. 01

   Give groups cards labeled elected governor, elected legislators, and appointed justices; have them place each on a three-branch poster and act out its job.

2. 02

   Give pairs the opening of each constitution; ask, 'Who sets up government, and what guidance does Oklahoma's preamble invoke?'

3. 03

   Sort cards for city street repair, state highway patrol, and national defense into local, state, and national government columns.

4. 04

   Show a store receipt and a photo of a city fire truck; students find the sales tax and explain how taxes help pay firefighters.

• 4.C.1.1.C

  Explain why the United States of America is considered a constitutional republic by identifying the people as the source of authority and describing how the peo...

• USH.C.1.1.A

  Summarize the fundamental principles of the United States of America’s constitutional republic and how events of the post-war era affected the Constitution’s ba...

• USG.C.3

  Analyze the fundamental principles of the American republic, as established in the Constitution of the United States of America.

• 5.C.6.1.B

  Explain how the people are the ultimate source of government power in a constitutional republic..