AP United States Government and Politics

Course Syllabus Course Overview

This course is designed to prepare students for the AP US History Government and Politics exam. Students are expected to keep up with demanding course requirements which include daily reading assignments, written analysis, critical analysis of current political events, seminar discussions, analysis of quantitative and visually presented data. Students will gain a basic understanding of the formation, structure and application of government, develop appreciation of their rights and responsibilities as citizens, and critically analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the American political system.

Texts and Supplementary Materials

Remy, Richard C., Ph.D., et al. United States Government: Democracy in Action. Congressional Quarterly. Glencoe McGraw-Hill. New York, New York. 2010. Woll, Peter. American Government: Readings and Cases.
CR8-The course includes supplemental readings, including primary source materials (such as The Federalist Papers) and contemporary news analyses.

17th ed. Pearson Longman. New York. 2008. [CR8] Wood, Ethel, Princeton High School, Princeton, New Jersey, et al. Multiple Choice Questions in Preparation for the AP United States Government and Politics. 6th ed. D & S Marketing Systems.Brooklyn, New York. 2004.

These texts will be supplemented with handouts, newspaper and magazine articles, and primary sources throughout the semester.
[CR8]

Course Calendar
Week 1 Constitutional Underpinnings [CR1]
CR1-The course provides instruction in the constitutional underpinnings of the U.S. government

Political Theories Montesquieu, Locke Democratic principles limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review James Madison: Danger of Factions

Due this Week: Remy, Chapter 1, Section 1; Chapter 2 Sections 1,4; Chapter 3,Section 1. Woll, Chapter 1: Second Treatise on Civil

CR8-The course includes supplemental readings, including primary source materials (such as The Federalist Papers) and contemporary news analyses.

Government,Framing the Constitution US Constitution: Articles 1-3 Federalist #51 [CR8] Vocabulary Quiz
CR7-The course provides students with practice in analyzing and interpreting data and other information relevant to U.S. government and politics.

Week 2-3 Federalism: Federalism and Politics Relations Among the States National and State Powers

CR9-The course requires students to answer analytical and interpretive free-response questions on a frequent basis.

Commerce Clause Elastic Clause Supremacy Clause Federal Grants and Mandates

Due this Week: Remy, Chapter 4. Woll, Chapter 2: The Merits of the Federal System, McCulloch v. Maryland McCulloch v. Maryland [CR8] Federal Grants/Aid Chart [CR7] Unit Exam/Free Response [CR9]

Week 4 Political Socialization and Identity [CR2]

CR2-The course provides instruction in political beliefs and political behaviors.

Formation of Political Beliefs Political Culture Political Participation Voter Turnout Voter Behavior Senatorial Elections 2010 (Project)

Due this Week: Remy, Chapter 17, Sections 1,4

CR7-The course provides students with practice in analyzing and interpreting data and other information relevant to U.S. government and politics.

Woll, Chapter 4: Democratic Practice and Democratic Theory, The Responsible

Electorate. Chart: 2008 Presidential Election Results

[CR7]

Present results from Public Opinion Polls (Group Project) [CR2] Vocabulary Quiz Week 5 Political Parties/Interest Groups/Media [CR3] Impact of Interest Groups Types of Interest Groups

CR3-The course provides instruction in political parties, interest groups, and mass media.

Trace Rise, Decline, Impact and Function of Political Parties Party Platforms PACs Medias Affect on Opinion Senatorial Elections 2010 (Project)

Due this Week: Remy, Chapter 18, Chapter 19 Woll, Chpater 5 The Governmental Process, Interest Groups and the American Political System Project Presentation Unit Exam-Free Response; Current Event Analysis

CR9-The course requires students to answer analytical and interpretive free-response questions on a frequent basis

[CR9] [CR8]

CR8-The course includes supplemental readings, including primary source materials (such as The Federalist Papers) and contemporary news analyses

Week 6 Institutions -Congress [CR4]

CR4-The course provides instruction in institutions of national government.

Overview of Congress Influences/Interest Groups Process of Legislation Congressional Committees Current Legislation Analysis

Due this Week: Remy, Chapter 5-8 Woll, Chapter 7: Congress and the Quest for Power. Vocabulary Quiz Representative Investigation (Essay) Week 7 Institutions Presidency [CR4]
CR9-The course requires students to answer analytical and interpretive free-response questions on a frequent basis

Overview of Presidency Presidential Powers Formal/Informal Leadership Bush v. Obama Executive Privilege

Due this Week: Remy, Chapters 8-9 Woll, Chapter 6: Federalist 10, Presidential Powers in Times of Emergency Vocabulary Quiz Free Response [CR9] Week 8 Institutions Judiciary [CR4]
CR8-The course includes supplemental readings, including primary source materials (such as The Federalist Papers) and contemporary news analyses

Overview of Federal Judicial Branch Landmark Cases Judicial Review Judicial Activism/Judicial Restraint

Due this Week: Remy, Chapters 11-12 Woll, Chapter 9: Federalist 78, Judicial Self-Restraint, Marbury v Madison [CR7} Vocabulary Quiz Free-Response [CR9]

Week 9 Institutions Bureaucracy [CR4]

CR4-The course provides instruction in institutions of national government.

Bureaucratic Organization Civil Service Growth of Bureaucracy Influences on/of Bureaucracy

Due this Week: Remy, Chapter 10

CR7-The course provides students with practice in analyzing and interpreting data and other information relevant to U.S. government and politics.

Woll, Chapter 7: Constitutional Democracy and Comparative Chart Analysis [CR7] Unit Exam-Free Response Week 10 Public Policy [CR5] Overview of Public Policy Taxing and Spending Environmental Policy Health and Education

Bureaucratic Power

CR5-The course provides instruction in public policy.

Due this Week: Remy, Chapter 22 Comparative Chart: Federal Deficit [CR7] Summary Tables: Budget of US Government, 2010 [CR7] Vocabulary Quiz

Week 12

Public Policy [CR5] Managing the Economy Environmental Policy Health Care and Education Foreign Policy

Due this Week Remy, Chapter 22 Political Parties/Public Policy Notebook [CR5] Unit Exam Free Response

Week 13
CR6-The course provides instruction in civil rights and civil liberties.

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights [CR6] Freedoms of Press Freedom of Religion Freedom of Assembly Freedom of Speech Due this Week: Remy, Chapter 13, 14 Woll, Chapter 3: The Need to Maintain a Free Marketplace of Ideas Vocabulary Quiz Week 14 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights [CR6]
CR9-The course requires students to answer analytical and interpretive free-response questions on a frequent basis

Struggle for Equal Rights Equal Protection Under the Law Due Process Right to Privacy Rights of the Accused

Due this Week Woll, Chapter 3: Gideon v. Wainright, Plessy v Ferguson, Brown v Board of Education I and II, Roe v. Wade Wood, Unit 1 Multiple Choice/Free Response Unit Exam All Free Response

Week 15 AP & Final Exam Preparation Due this Week: Wood, Unit 2-6 Multiple Choice/Free Response Week 16 Take Semester Final and AP Exam