Alabama Social Studies Course of Study includes content standards for representative democracy, law, personal economics and civic responsibility, which includes language about (1) "civic problem-solving" including identifying a problem, gathering information, generating possible solutions, developing and implementing an action plan; and (2) evaluating the responsibilities of citizens, including civic responsibilities such as obeying the law, paying taxes, being informed, participating in the political process through such activities as voting, working in a campaign, holding office, attending rallies, writing letters and petitioning. Students are also expected to discuss the influence of the media on voters and consumers. 7th-grade focus is on citizenship; 12th-grade focus is on American government.

Social Studies Course of Study prescribes a course sequence that includes one semester on Citizenship at grade 7 and one semester on American Government at grade 12. The Course of Study (the standards) encompasses four program goals that lead toward civic responsibility: historical, geographic, economic and political literacy. The Course of Study includes a position statement supporting the use of service-learning.