AP® United States Government & Politics



AP United States Government & Politics

Benjamin A. Peterson

Course Overview/Description

The express purpose of this one year course is to prepare students to take the AP Exam for U.S Government and Politics. By the end of the course you will be able to articulate how the United States government is structured; analyze it in terms of its strengths and weaknesses; frame it in the larger political system which includes the roles of political parties, the influence of public opinion on policy-making decisions, and the expansion and contraction of civil rights and civil liberties. In addition, you will actively seek out current events that correspond with the major themes of each unit. Textbook readings will be supplemented by articles and readings from such sources as Washington Post, New York Times, The Economist, Christian Science Monitor, U.S. News and World Report and The Week as well as articles taken from the National Public Radio web site. Students will be supplied with a list of different possible articles for each unit which will then be discussed periodically as it progresses.

Course Outline

The AP Government and Politics curriculum as defined by the College Board is comprised of the following units:

Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings of the US government (5-15%)

Unit 2: Political Beliefs and Behaviors (10-20%)

Unit 3: Political Parties, Interest Groups and the Mass Media (10-20%)

Unit 4: Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, the

Bureaucracy and the Federal Courts (35-45%)

Unit 5: Public Policy (5-15%)

Unit 6: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (5-15%)

Course Goals

Students successfully completing this course will:

Know important facts, concepts, and theories pertaining to US government and politics

Understand typical patterns of political processes and behavior and their consequences (including the components of political behavior, the principles used to explain or justify various government structures and procedures and the political effects of these structures and procedures).

Be able to analyze and interpret basic data relevant to US government and politics

Course Readings

Required texts for this course are:

Edwards George C., Wattenberg Martin P and Lineberry, Robert L. Government in

America People, Politics and Policy. 12th Ed. Pearson 2006.

Woll, Peter, ed. American Government: Readings and Cases. 14th ed. New

York: Pearson Longman, 2002. (selections)

These readings will be supplemented with readings taken from various publications as well as the internet throughout the year (see course overview/description).

Grading – Point System

Tests (multiple choice) up to 100 points each

Free Response Questions (given as quizzes) typically 20-30 points each

Homework (study guides and current events) points will vary

Research Paper on a public policy 100 points

Final Exam

United States Government and Politics

Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings and Federalism (4 weeks):

This unit is designed to introduce students to the basic fundamental democratic concepts and undergirding theories necessary to analyzing the constitution. What were the results of the first attempts at creating a formal democratic government? How did the failures of that initial government lead to our current republican form of government? How was problem of concentrated power ultimately resolved?

Readings for this unit:

Lineberry Chapters 1-3, The US Constitution and its Amendments, Federalist #10 and #51

“Landmark Cases” Web Site McCulloch V. Maryland, and Marbury v. Madison ( & )

Activities: Democracy Critical Thinking, Mock Constitutional Convention; Debates on Federal mandates

FRQ Assessments:

2001 Question 1 (Centralization and decentralization of Government)

2000 Question 1 (Amending and changing the Constitution)

Unit 2: Political Beliefs and Behaviors (2 weeks):

This unite is designed to introduce students to the symbiotic relationship between governance and public opinions, beliefs and perspectives. How do we come to our political beliefs? What are the sources of public opinion? What is “political culture,” and is there a unique American political culture? What is the “political spectrum”? How do these political beliefs define who we are as citizens? What does it mean to be a citizen? What is the role of the citizen in a civil society? Which citizens vote and why? What is the relationship between individual rights and the needs of the larger community? Is democracy in America healthy and viable today?

Readings for this Unit:

Lineberry Chapter 6

Activities: Political Ideology Quiz; Chart analysis from Congressional Quarterly on Political Beliefs and Behaviors as well as Vital Statistics on American Culture

FRQ Assessments:

2003 Question 2 (Voter Turnout)

2003 Question 4 (Trust and Confidence in Government)

Unit 3: Political Parties, Campaigns and Elections, Interest Groups, and Mass Media (6 weeks):

This unit is designed to introduce students to the different methods of democratic involvement undertaken by citizens of the United States. What is the role of third parties in the political process? What is the impact of proportional representation voting systems? How are Democrat and Republican Presidential Candidates selected? Describe the American political campaign for President. How do interest groups influence government decisions and policy? What are the techniques and resources that interest groups use? What is the role of money in the political process and is it positive or negative? Identify and describe campaign finance rules and regulations? What is the role of Buckley v. Valeo decision? What role do the media play in elections and as a check on our political leaders?

Readings for this Unit:

Lineberry Chapters 7-11

Woll, Chapter 5: “Interest Groups and the American Political System,” “The

Misplaced Obsession with PACs,” “Buckley v. Valeo”

Activities: Proportional Representation – an examination, Political Ads – An examination; data analysis of elections according to demographics using Vital Statistics on American Culture

FRQ Assessments:

1999 Question 2 (Interest Groups)

2004 Question 3 (Third Parties)

2005 Question 4 (Campaign Finance)

Unit 4: Institutions of National Government (10 weeks)

This unit is designed to introduce students to the three branches of the United States government, their roles and functions in governance, and their relationships to the public.

Congress: How does Congress represent and reflect the interest and desires of the nation? Is Congress representative of the nation as a whole? Is this the most efficient and effective way to make policy? Compare and contrast the makeup and operations of the House and Senate. How has Congress’s role in policy formulation changed over time in relation to the other branches? How is public policy made? Does the “system” work as intended? Does the “system” work for citizens today? Presidency: What are the formal and informal powers of the presidency? How does the president use these powers to influence policy? What is the nature of the relationship between the executive and the legislative branches and how has this changed? Bureaucracy How is the bureaucracy organized? What is its role in public policy implementation? Is the bureaucracy an implementer or a formulator? What is an Iron Triangle,” does it exist and if so how does it influence policy implementation? Who controls the bureaucracy? Courts: What is the purpose of having Judges serve a life term? What is the process and what are the politics in judicial appointments? How is the US Court system organized? What cases have original jurisdiction in the US Supreme Court? What is Supreme Court procedure? What is the impact of Court rulings? How does public opinion impact the court?

Readings for this Unit:

Lineberry Chapters 12-16

Woll Chapter 6 “The Two Presidencies” Aaron Wildavsky

Activities: Capitol Hill Field trip, Chart/Political Cartoon Analysis, Congressional Committee hearing Simulation, Interview a federal government employee, Video – The Clarence Thomas Nomination

FRQ Assessments:

2000 Question 2 (Nomination of Supreme Court Justices)

2001 Question 1 (Divided Government)

2006 Question 3 (Bureaucracy and Public Policy)

Unit 5: Public Policy (4 weeks):

This unit is designed to introduce students to the processes and means by which laws are implemented, public funds are generated and allocated, and the wider debates influence them. Who sets policy agendas for our nation? How does federalism affect public policy? How is the federal budget made? Where does the government spend most of its money? Where does the government draw most of its revenue? What is social policy, fiscal policy, regulator policy, etc?

Readings for this Unit:

Lineberry Chapters 17-20

Activities: Chart interpretation, electronic budget simulation, Public Policy research papers small group presentations

FRQ Assessments:

2001 Question 4 (Public Policy)

2006 Question 2 (Social Security)

Unit 6: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (4 weeks):

This unit is designed to introduce students to civil liberties and civil rights, their differences, and the ways in which they have been expanded (or reduced) over the past 60 years. How was the Bill of Rights Nationalized? Freedom of Speech, the Press, and Assembly: What forms of speech are protected? How is the 1st Amendment affected in times of crisis? Religion: What constitutes “establishment”? What are the limits of “free exercise”? What is “equal protection” under the law? Life, Liberty and Property: What is procedural due process? Is there a right to privacy? What do property rights mean in relation to community interests? Equal Protection and the 14th Amendment: How has the interpretation of the equal protection clause changed over time? How have laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and affirmative action influenced our understanding of the clause?

Readings for this Unit:

Lineberry Chapters 4-5

Selected Supreme Court Case Abstracts from the Oyez Project on line

Activities: Supreme Court case research; Mock Supreme Court simulation

FRQ Assessments:

2001 Question 3 (14th Amendment)

2003 Question (Selective Incorporation)

Review + Final Exam (2 weeks)

Review for AP U.S. Government & Politics Exam and in-class final exam

Final exam

Simulation of AP Grading

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