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9th grade · Social Studies · Unit 4 of 10

Foundations of Democracy

Ideas behind the Constitution

What your child practices

Practices the founding ideas of the US government (natural rights, popular sovereignty, the social contract, limited government and the rule of law) and why democratic values matter for fair elections.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 9.1.2.1; 9.1.2.2 · the founding ideas of the US government, and democratic values

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Natural rights come from being human, not from government. Classical liberalism stresses individual rights and limited government.
  2. Popular sovereignty and the social contract: power comes from the people, who agree to be governed.
  3. The rule of law means everyone, including leaders, must follow the law. Montesquieu inspired separation of powers.

Example: Where do natural rights come from, according to the idea? Governments did not create these rights. People have them simply by being human. Answer: being human, not from government

Foundations of Democracy in Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 4 of 10 in 9th grade Social Studies, after Minnesota's Government and before Three Branches.

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: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

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

    The rule of law means…

    • only judges follow laws
    • leaders can break laws
    • laws are optional
    • everyone, including leaders, must follow the law

  2. Question 2

    The Constitution balances majority rule with…

    • protection of individual and minority rights
    • royal power
    • rule by the wealthy only
    • no limits on majorities

  3. Question 3

    The Founders created checks and balances because they believed…

    • people in power can abuse it
    • government should have no limits
    • only kings are trustworthy
    • leaders are always perfect

  4. Question 4

    The idea of separation of powers in the US Constitution came largely from…

    • Montesquieu
    • Machiavelli
    • Hammurabi
    • Confucius

  5. Question 5

    The Declaration of Independence says governments are created to…

    • secure people's unalienable rights
    • collect taxes only
    • make kings rich
    • control trade

  6. Question 6

    An example of shared powers is…

    • courts electing Congress
    • states printing money
    • the president writing all laws
    • the Senate confirming the president's nominees

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