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AK.SS.9-12.7
Alaska Social Studies Standards (2024) · Civics · Grade 9-12 · Sub-standard
Structures of government

Evaluate the structures, functions, and processes of federal, state, local, and sovereign tribal governments, analyzing how different governmental systems address public problems and serve citizens

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development · Alaska Social Studies Standards (2024) · Official source ↗
65
Aligned lessons
0
Crosswalks
2
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

65 lessons teach to this standard.

LessonCategoryAlignmentCoverage
Article I: The Legislative Branch
Congress debates infrastructure while bridges crumble. They threaten shutdowns over budgets. Article I created the most powerful branch—but also the most frustrating.
mechanism
7 min · beginner
Primary
92%comprehensive
Article II: The Executive Branch
Trump said he alone can fix it. Biden promised he would get it done. Presidents claim they can act alone but Congress blocks them. Article II creates the presidency while limiting its power.
mechanism
6 min · intermediate
Primary
92%comprehensive
What Presidents Can Actually Do
Executive orders, veto power, commander-in-chief. Discover what presidents can actually do and what's just political theater.
concept
6 min · beginner
Aligned
75%moderate
Executive Orders: Governing Without Congress
Trump signed 26 executive orders on his first day back in office. Federal judges immediately blocked several. Executive orders can change your workplace, healthcare, and student loans overnight.
mechanism
7 min · beginner
Aligned
75%moderate
The Cabinet and Executive Departments
The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary by a 50-50 tie. Three Republicans voted no against a Fox News host with no military leadership experience. Cabinet secretaries control how laws work in your life.
mechanism
6 min · intermediate
Aligned
75%moderate
War Powers: When Can the President Deploy Troops?
Biden launched airstrikes in Yemen without congressional authorization in 2024. The president can deploy troops under Article II powers, but Congress objects this violates the War Powers Resolution.
case_study
7 min · intermediate
Aligned
75%moderate
Presidential Pardons and Their Limits
Trump pardoned 1,500 people charged with January 6 crimes on his first day back in office. Biden pardoned his son Hunter. The pardon power is one of the least checked powers in the Constitution.
mechanism
6 min · advanced
Aligned
75%moderate
Presidential Succession and the 25th Amendment
After Biden's poor debate performance in 2024, 30 Democrats called him to withdraw. He withdrew voluntarily as a candidate, not as president. Presidential incapacity has happened 11 times in American history.
mechanism
7 min · advanced
Aligned
75%moderate
The House vs. Senate: How They Differ
Two chambers, one Congress—discover why the House and Senate were designed differently and how their rules shape which laws get passed.
concept
6 min · beginner
Aligned
75%moderate
How a Bill Really Becomes a Law
Congress introduced 20,000 bills but only 400 became law. Most die before ever reaching a vote. Understanding where bills really get killed reveals who has power.
mechanism
7 min · beginner
Aligned
75%moderate
Congressional Committees: Where Bills Die
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch shaped the $1.5 trillion tax overhaul in 2017. His committee held 23-hour markups over four days. By the full Senate vote, the most important decisions were already made behind closed doors.
mechanism
6 min · intermediate
Aligned
75%moderate
The Filibuster: The Senate's Most Powerful Tool
Democrats held 50 Senate seats and passed voting rights legislation. Republicans blocked it with the filibuster. 50 votes wasn't enough. The filibuster is a Senate rule that functions as the most powerful check on majority rule.
case_study
7 min · intermediate
Aligned
75%moderate
Principlecivic education through the news