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Standards·Alaska Social Studies Standards (2024)·Civics·AK.SS·AK.SS.9-12.13
AK.SS.9-12.13
Alaska Social Studies Standards (2024) · Civics · Grade 9-12 · Sub-standard
Political processes and participation

Analyze political processes including elections, campaigns, and policy-making, and evaluate the roles of political parties, interest groups, and media in shaping democratic participation

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development · Alaska Social Studies Standards (2024) · Official source ↗
7
Aligned lessons
0
Crosswalks
0
Primary alignments
5
Siblings
Parent
AK.SS
Alaska Social Studies Standards

Alaska Social Studies Standards adopted December 2024 by Alaska State Board of Education - newest standards in nation. Developmentally appropriate and grade-banded (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) covering four main disciplines: Civics/Government, Economics, Geography, History. Built on C3 Framework (College, Career, and Civic Life) with inquiry-based practices foundation. Standards 1-5 are Inquiry Anchor Standards; Standards 6-25 are Content Anchor Standards. Civics content incorporates different systems of government (local, state, federal, sovereign tribal) and analysis of politics and procedures for meaningful civic engagement in representative democracy. Alaska context integrated throughout K-12 with Alaska Cultural Standards interwoven. Supporting resources include 9-12 Standards Excel Spreadsheet, Glossary, crosswalks for civics standards and Alaska Studies/History, and playlists for civics instructional materials.

Principle content that aligns

7 lessons teach to this standard.

LessonCategoryAlignmentCoverage
What Is a Ballot Initiative? How Direct Democracy Came to America
California voters passed Proposition 13 in 1978, slashing property taxes by 57%. No legislature voted for it. Millions of homeowners decided for themselves and it became law.
concept
6 min · beginner
Aligned
75%moderate
How Ballot Initiatives Get on the Ballot: Signatures, Money, and Strategy
Interest groups spent $1.12 billion on ballot initiatives in 2024. Gathering signatures alone can cost $8 million in California. Direct democracy now costs a fortune.
mechanism
7 min · beginner
Aligned
75%moderate
Direct Democracy vs. Representative Democracy: The Fundamental Tension
In 2008, California voters banned same-sex marriage while electing Obama. Voters passed laws legislatures wouldn't. But federal courts struck down those voter decisions. Majority vote is not the last word.
comparison
7 min · intermediate
Aligned
75%moderate
Who Funds Ballot Initiatives — and Why Power Follows the Money
Uber, Lyft and DoorDash spent $205 million on California Proposition 22. They funded a ballot initiative to exempt their businesses from regulations the legislature had already passed. Corporations now use direct democracy to bypass legislatures.
mechanism
7 min · intermediate
Aligned
75%moderate
When Voters Win but Still Lose: Legislatures vs. Ballot Initiatives
58% of Missouri voters passed paid sick leave in 2024. Less than a year later, the legislature erased it entirely. Voters can win initiatives but legislatures keep tools to undo them.
case_study
9 min · intermediate
Aligned
75%moderate
More Cases: The National Pattern of Legislative Override
State legislators altered 33 of 282 citizen initiatives between 2010 and 2025. What voters approve in November, legislators often rewrite, delay, or kill the following year. This happens in both Republican and Democratic states.
case_study
8 min · advanced
Aligned
75%moderate
Why Some States Are Red and Others Blue
West Virginia voted Democratic from 1932 to 1996. Now it's one of the reddest states. The red-versus-blue map isn't fixed—it's shaped by demographics, economics, history, and culture.
comparison
8 min · advanced
Aligned
75%moderate
Principlecivic education through the news