Syllabus for AP United States Government and Politics AP United States Government and Politics is an intensive study of the formal and informal structures of government and the processes of the American political system, with an emphasis on policymaking and implementation. This course is designed to prepare students for the AP Exam. We study government institutions and political processes and examine policy choices. The institutions and policies of the United States government will be considered in light of historical change, constitutional procedures, and comparative perspectives. As a college-level course, it is rigorous and demanding. It requires that students put forth their best effort on a daily basis, both in class and in reading and listening to the news outside of class. I welcome all students who are willing to work hard, but I encourage students to consider another course if they are not willing to read 10 to 15 pages a night, enhance their understanding of concepts by listening to or reading the news, spend time outside of class experiencing politics and government in action, and come to class consistently Text: Edwards, George C., Robert L. Lineberry, and Martin P. Wattenberg. Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy. New York: Pearson. Supplemental Text: Serrow, Ann G., and Everrett C. Ladd, eds. The Lanahan Readings in the American Polity. 6th ed. Baltimore: Lanahan, 2016. Other current event sources and commetary from newspapers, TV and internet sources as assigned. Grading Students earn a grade in the course based on straight points. We do NOT utilize weighted grades. Students can expect to complete the following types of assignments: Reading Notes 5 points Socratic Seminars 10 points Free Response questions 25 points Court Case Analysis 25 points Chapter Reading Quizzes 40-50 points Current Events Presentation 50 points Research Projects/Presentations 100 points Exams/Tests 100 points A.P. Governments is composed of the following units: I. Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government Federalism Constitutional de-construction
Historical context of the U.S. Constitution Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Pluralism, elitism Theory of republican government II. Political Beliefs and Behaviors U.S. political culture formation and beliefs Political socialization Political participation Differences in political beliefs Political demography III. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media Political mediums and mechanisms (parties, PAC s) Historical evolution of U.S. party system Campaigns Lobbying groups Mass media and influence IV. Institutions of National Government U.S. political institutions Responsibilities of U.S. political institutions Power balances and relationships Ties between government, political parties, interest groups and media V. Public Policy Interactions between political actors Implementation and interpretation of policies Bureaucracy Foreign Policy VI. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Citizen rights and responsibilities Supreme court decisions Supreme court interpretations Civil rights/minority rights Mitigating the tyranny of the majority Course Planner: Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government
Chapters 1, 2, & 3 Approximately August 18 September 11 Lesson 1: Introduction to the Course, Syllabus and Expectations Homework: Log in to Google Classroom Lesson 2: Pretest, Role of Government Homework: Read Ch 1 (all), Notes pgs 10-18 Lesson 3: Ch 1 Vocab activity, Lecture Homework: Review for Ch 1 Quiz Lesson 4: Intro Current Events, Ch 1 Quiz, Ch 1 FRQ Homework: Read Ch 2 pgs 30-48, Notes pgs 40-48 Lesson 5: History review, Mock Constitutional Convention Homework: Read Ch 2 pgs 48-65, Notes pgs 48-57 Lesson 6: Intent of the Founders, Changing the Constitution, FRQ Homework: Review for Ch 2 Quiz Lesson 7: Chapter 2 Quiz, Constution Structure, questions Homework: Read Ch 3 pgs 68-80, Notes pgs 74-80 Lesson 8: Constitution Quiz, Federalist Paper #10, Federalism cases Homework: Read Ch 3 pgs 81-96, Notes pgs 81-90 Lesson 9: Fiscal Federalism & No Child Left Behind, Chapter 3 Quiz Homework: Study for test Lesson 10: Unit 1 Test Unit 2: Political Beliefs and Behaviors Chapters 6, 10 Approximately September 15 October 12 Lesson 11: Demography, Census, lecture Homework: Read Ch 6 pgs 176-195, Notes pgs 185-190 Lesson 12: Polling and Validity, Pollingreport.com Homework: politicalcompass.org; Read Ch 6 196-208, Notes pgs 196-198 & 201-206
Lesson 13: Political compass discussion, Finish Ch 6 notes, Political tolerance Homework: Study for Ch 6 quiz Lesson 14: Ch 6 Quiz, Voting rights, voting gaps, why people don t vote Homework: Read Ch 10 pgs 296-310, notes pgs 304-310 Lesson 15: Electoral College, lecture Homework: Read Ch 10 pgs 310-319, notes pgs 310-316 Lesson 16: Elections and Voting behavior, Electoral College FRQ Homework: Study for Ch 10 quiz Lesson 17: Chapter 10 quiz, review for Unit 2 Test Homework: Study for Unit 2 Test Lesson 18: Unit 2 Test Unit 3: Linkage Institutions Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media Chapters 7, 11, 8 & 9 Approximately October 14 November 12 Lesson 19: Reporting the news, News analysis Homework: Read Ch 7 pgs 210-225, notes pgs 213-222 Lesson 20: Bias in the news, network comparisons Homework: Read Ch 7 pgs 225-237, notes pgs 228-235; Review for Ch 7 Quiz Lesson 21: Finish Ch 7, Ch 7 Quiz Lesson 22: Interest Group research Homework: Read Ch 11 pgs 322-333, notes pgs 324-330; finish interest group presentation? Lesson 23: Interest Group presentations Homework: Read Ch 11 pgs 333-350, notes pgs 335-347 Lesson 24: Interest Group presentations Lesson 25: Lecture, Review of Federalist Paper #10, Role of Parties, Party Promises Homework: Read Ch 8 pgs 240-253, notes pgs 243-244 & 249-253 Lesson 26: Party Eras & realignments, Critical elections Homework: Read Ch 8 pgs 254-265, notes pgs 254-259, Study for Ch 8 quiz
Lesson 27: Third parties, Ch 8 Quiz Homework: Read Ch 9 pgs 268-279, notes pgs 270-279 Lesson 28: Nomination Game Homework: Read Ch 9 pgs 279-283, notes pgs 279-283 Lesson 29: Campaign Game, Campaigns DBQ Homework: Study for Ch 9 Quiz, DBQ Lesson 30: Chapter 9 Quiz, Review for Unit 3 Test Homework: Study for Unit 3 Test Lesson 31: Unit 3 Test Unit 4: Institutions of National Government Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 Approximately November 16 March 3 Lesson 32: Overview of Congress, Congressional elections, Homework: Read Ch 12 pgs 352-364, notes pgs 357-362 Lesson 33: Congressional leadership, Role of Committees Homework: Read Ch 12 pgs 364-378, notes pgs 365-374 Lesson 34: Lawmaking process, Assign roles for mock congress, Bill writing Homework: Bill for Mock Congress Lesson 35: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Homework: Read Ch 12 pgs 378-387, notes pgs 377 & 380 Lesson 36: Finish Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, lecture Lesson 37: Mock Congress Homework: Study for Ch 12 Quiz Lesson 38: Chapter 12 Quiz Homework: Read Ch 13 pgs 390-407, notes pgs 393-398 & 401-407 Lesson 39: Presidential overview, Recent Presidents, Presidential powers Homework: Read Ch 13 pgs 408-421, notes pgs 412-416 & 418-421
Lesson 40: Structure of Executive Branch, Role of President Homework: Read Ch 13 pgs 422-433, notes pgs 423-425 & 427-430 Lesson 41: Presidential approval ratings, President & the press Homework: Approval ratings FRQ Lesson 42: Aspects of the Modern presidency, Secession & Impeachment Homework: Study for Ch 13 Quiz Lesson 43: Ch 13 Quiz Homework: Read Ch 14 pgs 434-444, notes pgs 437-444 Lesson 44: Ten Trillion & Counting, Budget Basics Homework: Read Ch 14 pgs 444-460, notes pgs 444-450 & 453-454 Lesson 45: Federal expenditures, Budget simulation Homework: Read Ch 15 pgs 466-480, notes pgs 472-480 Lesson 46: Intro to Bureaucracies, Types of Bureaucracies Homework: Bureaucracy in daily life Lesson 47: Iron Triangles, Revolving Door Homework: Read Ch 15 pgs 480-500, notes pgs 480-481, 489-493 & 496-497 Lesson 48: Cartoon analysis, Chap 14 & 15 quiz Homework: Read Ch 16 pgs 502-511, notes pgs 504-511 Lesson 49: Structure of the Courts, Who s Who in the Supreme Court Homework: Read Ch 16 pgs 511-527, notes pgs 516-520 & 522-527 Lesson 50: Judicial nomination and confirmation, Clarence Thomas Homework: Read Ch 16 pgs 527-537, notes pgs 528-530 & 534-536 Lesson 51: Judicial activism & Judicial restraint, Decisions, Case analysis & opinions Homework: Finish opinion, Study for Ch 16 quiz Lesson 52: Chapter 16 Quiz, Review for Unit 4 Test Lesson 53: Unit 4 Test Unit 5: Public Policy Chapters 17, 18, 19, 20 Approximately March 7 March 31
Lesson 54: Government and the Economy, Economic Policymaking Homework: Read Ch 17 pgs 541-561, notes pgs 556-559 Lesson 55: Unemployment & Inflation, public policy Homework: Read Ch 18 pgs 564-585, notes pgs 573-574 & 576-580 Lesson 56: Social Welfare policymaking, Social Security Homework: Study for Ch 17 & Ch 18 Quiz Lesson 57: Chapter 17 & 18 Quiz, Health Care policy Homework: Read Ch 19 pgs 590-600, notes pgs 592-596 Lesson 58: Health Care Policy, role of government in health care Homework: Read Ch 19 pgs 600-612, notes pgs 601-605 Lesson 59: Environmental policy, energy policy Homework: Read Ch 20 pgs 614-633, notes pgs 616-623 Lesson 60: Historical overview, National Security Policymaking Homework: Study for Ch 19 & Ch 20 Quiz Lesson 61: Chapter 19 and Chapter 20 Quiz Unit 6: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Chapters 4, 5 Approximately April 4 April 21 Lesson 62: Civil Rights & Civil Liberties, Bill of Rights Review Homework: Read Ch 4 pgs 98-122, notes pgs 102-122 Lesson 63: Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Expression, Supreme Court case assignment Homework: Read Ch 4 pgs 122-137, notes pgs 122-135 Lesson 64: Supreme Court Case presentations Homework: Read Ch 5 pgs 140-157, notes pgs 151-157 Lesson 65: Supreme Court Case presentations Homework: Read Ch 5 pgs 157-173, notes pgs 157-164 & 169-172 Lesson 66: Civil Liberties Lesson 67: Supreme Court DBQ Homework: Study for Ch 4 & 5 Quiz
Lesson 68: Chapter 4 & 5 Quiz, Begin Exam Review Exam Review Approximately April 25 May 9 Lesson 69: Review - Constitution Basics Lesson 70: Review - Unit 1 Lesson 71: Review - Unit 2 Lesson 72: Review Unit 3 Lesson 73: Review Unit 4 Lesson 74: Review Unit 5 Lesson 75: Review Unit 6 Lesson 76: Test tips