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AK.SS.9-12.8
Alaska Social Studies Standards (2024) · Civics · Grade 9-12 · Sub-standard
Alaska state and local government

Analyze the structure and functions of Alaska state and local government including the Alaska Constitution, borough and municipal governments, and unique characteristics of governance in Alaska

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development · Alaska Social Studies Standards (2024) · Official source ↗
18
Aligned lessons
0
Crosswalks
6
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

18 lessons teach to this standard.

LessonCategoryAlignmentCoverage
Article III: The Judicial Branch
Nine unelected judges blocked Biden's student loan plan and upheld abortion restrictions. Judges who never face voters have power over elected officials.
mechanism
7 min · intermediate
Primary
92%comprehensive
Judicial Review: The Court's Power
The Supreme Court gave Trump absolute immunity for official acts but allowed state prosecution for unofficial conduct. Nine unelected judges decide what presidents can and cannot do.
mechanism
7 min · beginner
Primary
92%comprehensive
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Police read you Miranda rights because of Supreme Court decisions. Schools integrate because of Brown v. Board. These cases create the rules that govern daily life for millions of Americans.
concept
8 min · intermediate
Primary
92%comprehensive
Marbury v Madison: Judicial Review
Federal judges strike down laws with power that appears nowhere in the Constitution. The Supreme Court gave itself this power in 1803 and still uses it today.
case_study
7 min · beginner
Primary
92%comprehensive
Required SCOTUS Cases for AP Gov
Every court decision you see today stems from these cases. They established how rights work, who has power, and what the Constitution actually means.
concept
6 min · beginner
Primary
92%comprehensive
The Constitution: America's Rulebook
When Trump claimed absolute authority during COVID and Biden tried to cancel student debt, courts blocked both. Understanding the Constitution explains why America constantly fights with itself.
concept
6 min · beginner
Primary
92%comprehensive
Environmental Justice: Who Bears the Burden?
If you live in a wealthy suburb, your park probably doesn't have a petrochemical plant next door. In low-income Black and Latino neighborhoods, the odds go up dramatically. Who decides where pollution happens and who lives with it?
case_study
7 min · advanced
Aligned
75%moderate
Gideon v Wainwright: Right to Counsel
Every public defender you see in court represents Gideon v. Wainwright. Before 1963, poor people had to defend themselves or hire lawyers. One drifter's handwritten petition created the modern public defender system.
mechanism
6 min · intermediate
Aligned
75%moderate
Judicial Activism vs Restraint
Liberals called overturning Roe judicial activism. Conservatives called the original Roe decision activism. Judicial activism almost always means a court decision I disagree with.
comparison
8 min · advanced
Aligned
75%moderate
Political Socialization: Where Beliefs Come From
High school students spend 48 hours a week consuming media, more than school. Your political beliefs were shaped by family, school, media, and peers, not pure reason.
concept
7 min · intermediate
Aligned
75%moderate
Standing, Jurisdiction, and Access to Courts
The Supreme Court threw out a student loan forgiveness challenge because plaintiffs couldn't prove they were harmed. Before courts decide if laws are constitutional, they ask if you even have the right to be there.
mechanism
7 min · intermediate
Aligned
75%moderate
The Court Packing Debate
The Constitution says nothing about how many Supreme Court justices there should be. Congress decides and has changed the number seven times. Court packing sounds radical but it's happened repeatedly throughout American history.
comparison
8 min · advanced
Aligned
75%moderate
Principlecivic education through the news