individual - a person
interest group - a group of people who are concerned with a particular issue and who try to influence legislators to act in their
favor, also known as a special interest group
political party - an organization that tries to get political power by electing members to public office so that their political ideas
can become laws or policies
SS.7.C.2.13 Benchmark Clarification 1: Students will identify groups that influence public
perspectives.
Individuals, interest groups, and political parties each present different perspectives on
the direction that government should take. Students should be familiar with the rights,
powers, and responsibilities of each type of group. Students do not need to know the
perspectives of any specific group because the public perspectives will be presented in the
questions.
amend - to change
Anti-Federalists - a group of people in the early United States who opposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution because they
feared a strong national government and a lack of protection for individual rights
city council - the governing body of a city
Democratic Party - a political party that believes that the federal government should take a more active role in people's lives,
particularly those who are in need
Federalists - a group of people in the early United States who favored the establishment of a strong national government and
who worked for ratification of the U.S. Constitution
First Amendment - an amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibiting Congress from establishing a religion, and from interfering
with freedom of religious exercise, press, speech, assembly, or petition
Florida Supreme Court - the highest court in Florida
free exercise of religion - the right for citizens to practice the religion of their choice without government involvement;
guaranteed in the First Amendment
interest group – a group of people who are concerned with a particular issue and who try to influence legislators to act in their
favor, also known as a special interest group
party platform - a written statement of the goals of a political party
perspective - point of view
ratification - the process of formally approving something
Republican Party - a political party that believes that the federal government should play a less active role in people's lives and
that individuals can take care of themselves without government help
SS.7.C.2.13 Benchmark Clarification 2: Students will use scenarios to understand the
reaction or perspective of different groups.
Below are some scenarios that show the possible reactions or perspectives of different
groups:
a. A local army base is closing and the city council has not decided how to use the land
that will become available. City residents representing different interest groups hand
out flyers to people attending the city council meeting. They express multiple
perspectives on the best use of the land.
b. The Democratic and Republican parties both address health care issues in their
party’s platform.
c. Two interest groups place advertisements in a local newspaper taking opposing sides on
whether the Florida Constitution should be amended to change the size of the state
Supreme Court.
Questions that focus on multiple perspectives may ask students to identify a common
perspective among two or more perspectives. Finding similarities and differences among the
perspectives is the best strategy for identifying the correct response.
The focus of the benchmark is “public and current” issues. Historical issues, such as the
multiple perspectives expressed by the Federalists and Anti-Federalists over the ratification
of the U.S. Constitution, will not be part of multiple perspectives questions because the
Federalist/Anti-Federalist debate was “public” but is not “current”. On the other hand, a family
discussing how to use their First Amendment right to the “free exercise of religion” by
choosing where to worship asks students to consider multiple perspectives on a “current” issue,
but not a “public” issue.
citizen - a legal member of a state and/or country
First Amendment - an amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibiting Congress from establishing a religion, and from
interfering with freedom of religious exercise, press, speech, assembly, or petition
individual - a person
interest group – a group of people who are concerned with a particular issue and who try to influence legislators to act in their
favor, also known as a special interest group
lobbying – participating in activities in order to influence government officials
political party - an organization that seeks political power by electing members to public office so that their political ideas can
become laws or policies
public opinion – the views of the general public
public policy - government actions in the form of laws, rules, or regulations
SS.7.C.2.13 Benchmark Clarification 3: Students will examine how multiple perspective
shape participation in the political process.
Citizen participation in the political process is shaped by multiple perspectives. Citizens work
independently, join interest groups, or join political parties to share their perspectives on the
direction that the government should take.
Individuals show their multiple perspectives in the political process when they use their First
Amendment rights and when they vote. First Amendment rights give individuals the right to
express their political views through speech, press, peaceable assembly, and petitioning the
government. Voting rights give individuals the chance to express their perspectives by
choosing one candidate or public policy over another.
Interest groups also show multiple perspectives in the political process when they use their First
Amendment rights to peaceable assembly, free speech, and petitioning the government.
Interest groups form because of a common goal, and they try to influence people by working
together in support of that goal. Interest groups can work with members of Congress or with
other elected legislators to get laws passed. This is usually referred to as lobbying. They can
educate members of their interest group on key issues they want their members to support.
Through lobbying, making campaign contributions, and getting their message out to influence
public opinion, interest groups reflect multiple perspectives through their participation in the
political process.
Political parties also reflect multiple perspectives in the political process. A political party is a
group of citizens with similar views on public issues who work together to elect candidates who
represent their views. Competing political parties give voters a choice among candidates and
ideas.
interest group - a group of people who are concerned with a particular issue and who try to influence legislators to act in their
favor, also known as a special interest group
political party - an organization that tries to get political power by electing members to public office so that their political ideas
can become laws or policies
SS.7.C.2.13 Benchmark Clarification 1: Students will identify groups that influence public
perspectives.
Individuals, interest groups, and political parties each present different perspectives on
the direction that government should take. Students should be familiar with the rights,
powers, and responsibilities of each type of group. Students do not need to know the
perspectives of any specific group because the public perspectives will be presented in the
questions.
amend - to change
Anti-Federalists - a group of people in the early United States who opposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution because they
feared a strong national government and a lack of protection for individual rights
city council - the governing body of a city
Democratic Party - a political party that believes that the federal government should take a more active role in people's lives,
particularly those who are in need
Federalists - a group of people in the early United States who favored the establishment of a strong national government and
who worked for ratification of the U.S. Constitution
First Amendment - an amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibiting Congress from establishing a religion, and from interfering
with freedom of religious exercise, press, speech, assembly, or petition
Florida Supreme Court - the highest court in Florida
free exercise of religion - the right for citizens to practice the religion of their choice without government involvement;
guaranteed in the First Amendment
interest group – a group of people who are concerned with a particular issue and who try to influence legislators to act in their
favor, also known as a special interest group
party platform - a written statement of the goals of a political party
perspective - point of view
ratification - the process of formally approving something
Republican Party - a political party that believes that the federal government should play a less active role in people's lives and
that individuals can take care of themselves without government help
SS.7.C.2.13 Benchmark Clarification 2: Students will use scenarios to understand the
reaction or perspective of different groups.
Below are some scenarios that show the possible reactions or perspectives of different
groups:
a. A local army base is closing and the city council has not decided how to use the land
that will become available. City residents representing different interest groups hand
out flyers to people attending the city council meeting. They express multiple
perspectives on the best use of the land.
b. The Democratic and Republican parties both address health care issues in their
party’s platform.
c. Two interest groups place advertisements in a local newspaper taking opposing sides on
whether the Florida Constitution should be amended to change the size of the state
Supreme Court.
Questions that focus on multiple perspectives may ask students to identify a common
perspective among two or more perspectives. Finding similarities and differences among the
perspectives is the best strategy for identifying the correct response.
The focus of the benchmark is “public and current” issues. Historical issues, such as the
multiple perspectives expressed by the Federalists and Anti-Federalists over the ratification
of the U.S. Constitution, will not be part of multiple perspectives questions because the
Federalist/Anti-Federalist debate was “public” but is not “current”. On the other hand, a family
discussing how to use their First Amendment right to the “free exercise of religion” by
choosing where to worship asks students to consider multiple perspectives on a “current” issue,
but not a “public” issue.
citizen - a legal member of a state and/or country
First Amendment - an amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibiting Congress from establishing a religion, and from
interfering with freedom of religious exercise, press, speech, assembly, or petition
individual - a person
interest group – a group of people who are concerned with a particular issue and who try to influence legislators to act in their
favor, also known as a special interest group
lobbying – participating in activities in order to influence government officials
political party - an organization that seeks political power by electing members to public office so that their political ideas can
become laws or policies
public opinion – the views of the general public
public policy - government actions in the form of laws, rules, or regulations
SS.7.C.2.13 Benchmark Clarification 3: Students will examine how multiple perspective
shape participation in the political process.
Citizen participation in the political process is shaped by multiple perspectives. Citizens work
independently, join interest groups, or join political parties to share their perspectives on the
direction that the government should take.
Individuals show their multiple perspectives in the political process when they use their First
Amendment rights and when they vote. First Amendment rights give individuals the right to
express their political views through speech, press, peaceable assembly, and petitioning the
government. Voting rights give individuals the chance to express their perspectives by
choosing one candidate or public policy over another.
Interest groups also show multiple perspectives in the political process when they use their First
Amendment rights to peaceable assembly, free speech, and petitioning the government.
Interest groups form because of a common goal, and they try to influence people by working
together in support of that goal. Interest groups can work with members of Congress or with
other elected legislators to get laws passed. This is usually referred to as lobbying. They can
educate members of their interest group on key issues they want their members to support.
Through lobbying, making campaign contributions, and getting their message out to influence
public opinion, interest groups reflect multiple perspectives through their participation in the
political process.
Political parties also reflect multiple perspectives in the political process. A political party is a
group of citizens with similar views on public issues who work together to elect candidates who
represent their views. Competing political parties give voters a choice among candidates and
ideas.