CITIZENSHIP STRAND V
DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES
Items in the Democratic Processes strand ask questions about how state and local governments operate. These items concern the functions of the various branches of government and the purposes of government.
13. Identify the function of each branch of state government.
There are three branches of state government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The primary function of the legislative branch is to make laws. Items addressing this learning outcome could use other expressions such as state legislature or Ohio General Assembly as well as legislative branch. The primary function of the executive branch is to enforce the laws of the state. Items addressing this learning outcome could use other terms such as governor or executive agencies as well as executive branch. The primary function of the judicial branch is to interpret the meaning of the laws and to apply the laws in specific cases. Items addressing this learning outcome could use other expressions such as state courts, judges, or state court system instead of judicial branch.
Students could be given a branch of the government and asked to identify its function. Students could be given a function and asked to identify the branch that exercises that function.
14. Identify the purposes of state government.
State government refers to the government of a state of the United States of America. State government serves several broad purposes. Those purposes include:
a. protecting the health and safety of citizens (e.g., state highway patrol, use of National Guard in emergencies);
b. providing and maintaining public services through the collection of taxes (e.g., road construction, wildlife preserves);
c. providing for a system of justice (e.g., state civil and criminal courts);
d. protecting the rights of individual citizens (e.g., rights guaranteed in the state constitution and laws); and
e. promoting the common welfare (e.g., providing funds for schools, trade missions to other nations).The items for this learning outcome could refer to the written or graphic material based upon the purposes listed above. Because some governmental activities may serve more than one purpose at the same time, students should always consider the primary purpose of government being served in any example provided as part of a test item. These items might use other wording to describe the purposes of state government.
Students could be given a purpose and asked to identify or describe an example of governmental activity appropriate to the purpose. Students could be given an example of governmental activity and asked to identify the purpose being served. Students could also be given information about governmental activities and asked to explain or interpret the information.
15. Identify or explain the purposes of local government.
Local government serves several broad purposes. Those purposes include:
a. protecting the health and safety of citizens (e.g., fire department, police, snow removal);
b. providing and maintaining public services through the collection of taxes (e.g., parks, libraries, public records);
c. providing for a system of justice (e.g., local courts);
d. protecting the rights of individual citizens (e.g., fair housing ordinances, zoning); and
e. promoting the common welfare (e.g., sponsoring day care facilities, providing public parking).The items for this learning outcome could refer to written or graphic material based upon the purposes listed above. Because some governmental activities may serve more than one purpose at the same time, students should always consider the primary purpose of a government service in any example provided as a part of a test item. The items might use other wording to describe the purposes of local government.
Students could be given a purpose and asked to identify or describe an example of governmental activity appropriate to the purpose. Students could be given an example of governmental activity and asked to identify the purpose being served or to explain how the activity is meant to achieve a given purpose. Students could also be given information about governmental activities and asked to explain or interpret the information.
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