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9th grade · Social Studies · Unit 1 of 9

Foundations of Democracy

Ideas behind the Constitution

What your child practices

Greek, Roman, English and Enlightenment roots of American government, Tocqueville's view of American democracy, republican and liberal ideas, the Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights as a limit on government.

Arizona Academic Standards learning standard: HS.C3.1; HS.C1.1 · the ideas behind the US Constitution and the principles it is built on

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. American government has roots in Greek democracy, the Roman Republic (elected representatives), English rights and Enlightenment ideas.
  2. Popular sovereignty: the people are the source of power (“We the People”). The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation.
  3. The Founders added checks and balances and federalism because people in power can abuse it.

Example: What does popular sovereignty mean? “Sovereignty” means the highest power. “Popular” means of the people. Answer: The people are the source of government’s power

Foundations of Democracy in Arizona

In the Arizona Academic Standards, this is unit 1 of 9 in 9th grade Social Studies, before Rights & Responsibilities.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Arizona Department of Education

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Federalist No. 10, by James Madison, argued that a large republic…

    • controls the effects of factions
    • will always fail
    • needs a king
    • should be ruled by one party

  2. Question 2

    Which principle lets each branch limit the others?

    • checks and balances
    • laissez-faire
    • manifest destiny
    • judicial restraint

  3. Question 3

    The Roman Republic gave Americans the idea of…

    • no laws
    • absolute monarchy
    • rule by the pope
    • elected representatives

  4. Question 4

    Athenian democracy gave Americans the idea of…

    • military rule
    • citizens taking part in government
    • rule by one king
    • no written law

  5. Question 5

    The Bill of Rights limits…

    • the rights of citizens
    • the power of government over individuals
    • the number of states
    • voting

  6. Question 6

    Tocqueville saw both promise and peril in American democracy, including…

    • the danger of individualism weakening civic life
    • no elections
    • no newspapers
    • too many kings

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