Utah Code § 53E-4-205.2 — Utah Code / Title 53E / Chapter 53E-4 / § 53E-4-205.2
§ 53E-4-205.2. American constitutional government and citizenship course standards.
Status: in_force

7/4/2026 (1) Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, except as provided in Subsection (2)(e), and as part of the social studies requirement established under Section 53E-4-204, the state board shall require instruction on American constitutional government and citizenship. (2) In accordance with Subsections (3) and (4), the state board shall create standards for the course required under Subsection (1) that: (a) examine American founding principles, including: (i) classical republicanism, natural rights, and colonial religious traditions; and (ii) the text and principles of the Declaration of Independence and relationship to the United States Constitution; (b) examine the text of the United States Constitution, including: (i) structure, powers, and limits of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches; and (ii) the principles and operation of federalism and the state constitutional tradition; (c) examine the development of the United States Constitution through amendments, including: (i) the creation and application of the Bill of Rights; (ii) the adoption and enforcement of the Civil War and Reconstruction Amendments; and (iii) the adoption and enforcement of the voting rights amendments; (d) examine the practice of self-government at the state and local level, including: (i) the Utah Constitution and local government, including counties, municipalities, and tribal governments; (ii) state and local elections, including the current candidate nomination and selection processes; and (iii) the responsibilities of citizenship and participation in civil society; and (e) beginning no later than the 2027-2028 school year, examine the fundamental role of religion in United States history and the primacy of religious liberty to American constitutional government, including the optional topics described in Section 53E-4-205.4. (3) The course described in this section shall prioritize a close reading of the following primary source documents: (a) the Mayflower Compact; (b) the Declaration of Independence; (c) the Iroquois Constitution; (d) the United States Constitution; (e) George Washington's Farewell Address; (f) selected passages from the Federalist and Antifederalist Papers; (g) the Articles of Confederation; (h) speeches of Frederick Douglass; (i) the Lincoln-Douglas Debates; (j) speeches of Abraham Lincoln; (k) the Seneca Falls Declaration; (l) the Letter from Birmingham Jail; (m) the Utah Constitution; and (n) other essential documents from American constitutional history. (4) The state board shall, in collaboration with the Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative within the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University, develop standards that fulfill the requirements of this section.7/4/2026 (1) Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, except as provided in Subsection (2)(e), and as part of the social studies requirement established under Section 53E-4-204, the state board shall require instruction on American constitutional government and citizenship. (2) In accordance with Subsections (3) and (4), the state board shall create standards for the course required under Subsection (1) that: (a) examine American founding principles, including: (i) classical republicanism, natural rights, and colonial religious traditions; and (ii) the text and principles of the Declaration of Independence and relationship to the United States Constitution; (b) examine the text of the United States Constitution, including: (i) structure, powers, and limits of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches; and (ii) the principles and operation of federalism and the state constitutional tradition; (c) examine the development of the United States Constitution through amendments, including: (i) the creation and application of the Bill of Rights; (ii) the adoption and enforcement of the Civil War and Reconstruction Amendments; and (iii) the adoption and enforcement of the voting rights amendments; (d) examine the practice of self-government at the state and local level, including: (i) the Utah Constitution and local government, including counties, municipalities, and tribal governments; (ii) state and local elections, including the current candidate nomination and selection processes; and (iii) the responsibilities of citizenship and participation in civil society; and (e) beginning no later than the 2027-2028 school year, examine the fundamental role of religion in United States history and the primacy of religious liberty to American constitutional government, including the optional topics described in Section 53E-4-205.4. (3) The course described in this section shall prioritize a close reading of the following primary source documents: (a) the Mayflower Compact; (b) the Declaration of Independence; (c) the Iroquois Constitution; (d) the United States Constitution; (e) George Washington's Farewell Address; (f) selected passages from the Federalist and Antifederalist Papers; (g) the Articles of Confederation; (h) speeches of Frederick Douglass; (i) the Lincoln-Douglas Debates; (j) speeches of Abraham Lincoln; (k) the Seneca Falls Declaration; (l) the Letter from Birmingham Jail; (m) the Utah Constitution; and (n) other essential documents from American constitutional history. (4) The state board shall, in collaboration with the Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative within the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University, develop standards that fulfill the requirements of this section.