Florida Civic Literacy Exam Resources Guide: Competency One

Analyze how Enlightenment ideas, including Montesquieu’s view of separation of powers and John Locke’s theories related to natural law and Locke’s social contract, influenced the Founding.

Motivations, purpose, and practice, with a demonstrated understanding of constitutional implications and role

What are the limits on the use of power by government? The United States government is based on an idea of a democracy where people have power—but citizens do not actually vote on every issue. Rather, they elect people (representatives) who vote on matters for them.

How does the justice system work? The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States provides that “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.”

Example: LGBTQ equal treatment under the law argued by AG before Supreme Court

Connect these ideas to the founding documents; the concept of "We the People", etc.

Students will recognize the influence of the Judeo-Christian tradition, republicanism, the English Constitution and common Law, and the European Enlightenment in establishing the organic laws of the United States in primary documents (e.g., Magna Carta (1215); the Mayflower Compact (1620); the English Bill of Rights (1689); Common Sense (1776); Declaration of Independence (1776); the Constitution of Massachusetts (1780); the Articles of Confederation (1781); the Northwest Ordinance (1787); U.S. Constitution (1789)).

How has federalism influenced the development of the United States Government?

What religious liberty looks like over time and in contemporary practice.

What are the origins of the ideas of democracy and the republic? What are the differences between republican and democratic (small "r", small "d") forms of government? How does the United States functions as a constitutional republic? Why did the Founders not favor a purely democratic form of government?

Philosophical and practical foundations

No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.

What are the reasons for and ways in which rights and liberties guaranteed under the Bill of Rights may be limited?

How do elections work at the state and federal levels?