AP US Government and Politics



AP US Government and Politics

Course outline

“All politics are local”

Tip O’Neill, former Speaker of the House

“This I Believe”

I cannot teach you anything. Your learning will come from your experiences.

I fully expect you to disagree with me, if you do not, this will be one boring class. Be prepared.

Learning is an interactive process, not only can you be a receiver of information you must also be a giver. Information is just that, information, without application information is meaningless. For example, memorizing the Presidents of the United States has no meaning unless I ask you then to use that information to rank them.

There are such things as “Dumb” questions.

Textbooks are important to a point, as a giver of information, but in no way can they ever replace the learning that comes from experience, from touching, manipulating, challenging what you know or think, from reading primary source materials, getting “dirty”. Therefore, I believe simulations, debates, and individual research about government, its meaning, purpose, actions, etc. are most important.

Discussion is critical to understanding.

We all can learn from each other, although we may not always agree with each other. I strongly believe in the adage of “Disagreeing with the idea, not the person”.

Baseball is a thinking person’s game.

Although admitting you, “Do not know”, may be the beginning of wisdom, you must take steps to “Know”

Ignorance may be bliss it may also be deadly.

Blind loyalty is dangerous.

Question everything!

Multiple guess tests and quizzes are not as important as writing; you will do a lot of writing!!!

Education is a dirty, messy business. It does not fit neatly into little boxes.

Every event is somehow connected.

Unorthodox teaching styles are OK.

Knowing the “Other sides” is a valuable weapon. Sun Tzu

Your success or failure is overwhelmingly dependent on you, very little on me.

This course is a mostly about you! Government is in our everyday life, from the time we get up in the morning to the time we go to sleep at night. Everything we eat, drink, see, read, breathe, put in our vehicles, the list goes on and on is somehow or someway regulated by the government. The best way for a citizen to understand their relationship to the government is to study it, manipulate it, interact with it, wrestle it, etc.

Expectations:

1. PARTICIPATE - Discussion and active participation are critical to the success of this class and your success, there are no free rides in this class. If you are not aware or informed about a topic discussed in class, it is your responsibility to ask about it or get informed.

2. Do ALL assigned readings

3. Watch ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, Fox, C-Span nightly news or read a major paper, e.g. New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, or listen to NPR, etc. every day.

4. Watch Meet the Press, Face the Nation, GPS with Fareed Zakaria, or This Week - all available online

5. Be positive!! What we do may not make sense immediately, give it time.

6. You are responsible for your own learning, the less I do the more you learn.

Course format: This is not a lecture style course, it is very interactive, seminar style, discussion based, using the Socratic method. If you are looking for a traditional, notes, textbook, multiple guess quizzes and tests, mid term, and final exam class, this is not the class for you. There is a textbook available for each student.

I believe the less I do the more you learn. If you are willing to challenge yourself and others, willing to question who you are, what you believe, and why you believe what you believe. If you are willing to listen to an opposite point of view, stretch your brain, write, write, and write some more then you will find great success and actually learn. As we focus on each specific area, essay questions will be drawn from the broad general questions in each area. Be prepared to write an average of one 2-3 page paper each week of the course.

Grading: To be very clear I do not like to grade, but…

Papers and projects 75%

Homework 25%

You may rewrite any paper until you receive the grade you desire. You must consult with the teacher prior to rewriting any paper.

Plagiarism: Do not do it. If you are unsure of whether to cite or not – cite. SCASD research help

The course:

Political Socialization and Identity: 6 - 8 Days

How do we come by our political beliefs? How do we know what we know? What are the sources of public opinion? What is “political culture,” and is there a unique American political culture? What is the “political spectrum”? What does it mean to be a citizen? What is the role of the citizen in a civil society? Which citizens vote and why? How do we balance the relationship between individual rights and the needs of the larger community? Is democracy in America alive and well?

Readings: Plato The Cave

Political Compass

Assign: Book Thoughts

Foundations of American Government: Political theory 15 – 17 Days

What is the purpose of government? What was the founders’ view of the purpose of government and the role of the citizen in the American Republic? Are these views still relevant today? How does the constitution underpin U.S. government? The concept of “checks and balances” was a novel idea in the 18th century. Why? What is the strongest argument for a Federal system? Weakest?

Readings: Hobbes Leviathan

Locke 2nd treatise of Government

Jefferson Declaration of Independence

Madison Federalist 10 and 51

Mills Power elite

Pluralist theory

Debate: Electoral College: Is there a better way?

Simulations: Constitution 2010

Federalism: 5-7 Days

What are the powers of state and local governments in an era of “new federalism” and devolution? What influence should the federal government have over state and local issues such as

education, affirmative action, abortion, and the environment? Is Federalism dead?

Readings: de Tocqueville Why Federal system is superior

Various newspaper and magazine articles on federalism

Mass Movement Politics: 15 Days

Political Parties, Interest Groups, Campaigns and Elections, Public opinion, Role of the Media in a democracy:

Is American Democracy for sale? Is there a significant difference between a Democrat and a Republican? Can 3rd parties ever really win? Is America truly a Democracy? Political parties and interest groups are not mentioned in the constitution yet they play a critical role. How? Why? Do they serve our democracy or are they an obstacle? How do interest groups influence government decisions and policy making?

What is the best system to develop and select leaders? What roles do these groups play in the electoral process? What role should political parties, PACS, and special interest groups play n the democratic process? How does public opinion polling influence voter behavior? Is there too much reliance of campaigns on polling? In what ways are polls misleading?

Readings: de Tocqueville

Simulation: Campaign simulation

Public Policy and the Institutions of National Governance: Approx 17 Days

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?

Readings: de Tocqueville

Simulation: Senate

Public Policy and the Institutions of National Governance: Presidency: Approx 7 Days

How is public policy made? Does the “system” work as intended? Does the “system” work

for citizens today? What are the formal and informal powers of the presidency? How does the

president use these powers to influence policy? Is the president too powerful or not

powerful enough vis-a-vis the legislative and judicial branches?

Readings: de Tocqueville

Simulation: So you want to be President

Public Policy and the Instruments of National Governance: Judiciary: Approx 4 Days

How is public policy made? Does the “system” work as intended? Does the “system” work

for citizens today? What role do the courts play in interpreting the Constitution and implementing public policy? What is the proper role for the judicial branch in the public policy process? Judicial activism: Fact or fiction?

Readings: de Tocqueville

Min-ulation: Pick the next Supreme

Public Policy and the Instruments of National Governance: Bureaucracy: Approx 3 Days

How is public policy made? Does the “system” work as intended? Does the “system”

work for citizens today? What are the specific issues addressed in public policy making? What is the difference between Iron Triangles and Issue Networks? Who controls the bureaucracy: The president? Congress? The people? Does a largely permanent professional bureaucracy serve democracy?

Readings: de Tocqueville

Min-ulation: Policy

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights: Throughout the course: 4 Days

What is the difference between civil rights and civil liberties? What constitutes free speech? What is incorporation? Do the courts “legislate from the bench”: Judicial activism – Fact or Fiction?

What is the evolving relationship between the courts and “civil rights”?

Freedom of Speech, the Press, and Assembly: What forms of speech are protected? How is the 1st Amendment affected in times of crisis?

Religion: Where does “Establishment” begin and “Free exercise” end?

Part II: What is “equal protection” under the law? Do the courts “legislate from the bench”?

Life, Liberty and Property: What is procedural due process? What is Privacy and is there an absolute right to it? How does recent legislation like the PATRIOT Act fit in privacy matters? 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?

Note: All focus areas are supplemented with various video, internet, newspaper, news, and other relevant materials

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