General Course Description
Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics will give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific contemporary examples. It also requires students to familiarize themselves with the various institutions, groups, beliefs and ideas that constitute our political system. The major topics to be examined are:
- Constitutional Underpinnings - Institutions of National Government of U.S. Government - Public Policy
- Political Beliefs and Behaviors - Civil Rights and Civil Liberties - Political Parties, Interest Groups and
Mass Media
Because this course is the equivalent of a college course and in order for students to perform well on the National AP Exam, students must meet the high expectations for the course and share the responsibility for mastery of the course objectives. This involves the careful reading of the
textbook, class participation, cooperation and collaboration, as well as the knowledge and application of current examples of contemporary American politics.
Curricular Requirements
Summer Public Policy Research Assignment: Students are to research a pre-selected policy
initiative. Example: Medicaid Prescription Drug Act of 2003. A three to five page word-processed paper will be turned in on the first day of class tracking a specific policy initiative through all of the following:
• U.S. House of Representatives • U.S. Senate
• President • Federal Courts
• Federal agency charged with implementation of the policy. More than one agency may be responsible for providing regulations or bureaucratic oversight. Please select only one. • Two relevant private organizations or interest groups impacted by the policy.
• Two news organizations, either print or broadcast • Public Opinion
• Democratic Party • Republican Party • Two state governments
Student is to briefly explain how each of these impacted the policy, were impacted by the policy or responded to the policy.
Reading: The Edwards text is designed for college and university students. In order to be
successful in a course of this type, students need to maximize their time, through proper
organization and time management skills. The required reading, along with class discussion, will figure prominently in your formal evaluation. In addition to the survey text, students will be required to read portions of the supplemental readers.
AP US Government and Politics Course Syllabus 2007
Group Work: For the purpose of presentations over assigned readings from the reader and
class handouts, and certain classroom assignments, students will be placed in groups. Group work is a course requirement. Establishing a positive and cooperative attitude within the group, properly dividing work responsibilities and effective time management has proven to be the key to success in managing the amount of work required for the course.
Reading Quizzes: After each group presentation over assigned articles from the Readers or from
class handouts, each student in the class will take a 5-question quiz (with the exception of the first reading assignment because there will be no presentation before hand) that addresses the key concepts of the reading. Students will be provided with the questions ahead of time over the readings and may use their notes on the quiz.
Class Discussion: Students will be evaluated on class participation and discussion. Be prepared
when called upon. Student discussion grades will be daily grades.
Required Readings List:
Unit I: Introduction to Government In America Edwards text Chapter. 1
Bernard Berelson, “Democratic Practice and Democratic Theory” in Woll Unit II: Constitutional Foundations and Underpinnings
Edwards text Chapters 2 & 3
Declaration of Independence (see Appendix in Edwards)
John Locke, “Second Treatise of Government” selected highlights in Woll Paul Peterson, “The Price of Federalism” in Enduring Debate
United States v. Lopez (1995), class handout Unit III: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Edwards text Chapters 4 & 5
Bill of Rights and Fourteenth Amendment (see Appendix in Edwards) Santa Fe ISD v. Jane Doe (class handout)
Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena in Woll Unit IV: Socialization, Parties & Interest Groups
Edwards: Chapters 6, 8, & 11 (note order!)
Morris Fiorina, “The Decline of Collective Responsibility in American Politics,” in Enduring Debate
David Truman, “The Governmental Process,” in Woll Unit V: Campaigns, Elections & the Media
Edwards Chapters 9, 10 & 7 (again, note order!!) V.O. Key, “The Responsible Electorate,” in Woll
Norman Ornstein, “Five Point Reform Plan to Fix Campaign System” (class handout) Peggy Ellis, “Ten Big Lies about Campaign Finance Reform” (class handout)
Unit VI: Congress Edwards Chapter 12
Morris Fiorina, “The Rise of the Washington Establishment,” in Woll
Richard Fenno, “If…Congress is the Broken Branch, Why Do We Love Our Congressman?” in Woll
Required reading list continued
Jonathan Cohn, “Roll Out the Barrel: The Case Against the Case Against Pork” in Enduring Debate
Unit VII: The Presidency, Policy Making & the Bureaucracy Edwards Chapters 13, 14 & 15
AlexanderHamilton, “Federalist 70,” in Woll
Peter Woll, “Constitutional Democracy and Bureaucratic Power,” in Woll Richard Neustadt, “The Power to Persuade,” in Enduring Debate
Unit VIII: The Judiciary Edwards Chapter 16
Alexander Hamilton, “Federalist 78,” in Woll
R. Carp, “Implementation and Impact of Judicial Decisions (class handout)
Unit Assessment: Each unit assessment will attempt to mirror the national exam format as
closely as possible. To that end, each unit test will consist of 60 multiple choice questions given in 45 minutes, followed by 2 free response questions in 45 minutes. Unit I will be an exception with 45 multiple choice questions in 45 minutes only.
Instructional Materials
Text: Government in America: People, Politics and Policy, 10th edition, 2002, George C. Edwards, Martin P. Wattenberg and Robert L. Lineberry, editors.
Readers: Readings and Cases in American Government, 15th ed. Edited by Peter Woll. The Enduring Debate, 3rd ed. Edited by David Canon, et al.
Course Outline – A/B Block Schedule 90 minute periods
Unit I – Introduction to Political Science Days 1-3
Day 1: Syllabus, reading list, contract due next class Political System introduction
Politics matters Homework read Berelson essay
begin reading chapter 1 Edwards text
Day 2: Berelson quiz
Schattsneider and Laswell political models application to two current news stories Power theories notes and discussion
Democracy theories notes and discussion Day 3: Unit I Exam (45 question multiple choice) Establish working groups.
AP US Government and Politics Course Syllabus 2007
Unit II – Constitutional Underpinnings and Federalism Day 4-10
Day 4: Review Unit I exam results
Overview of Enlightenment thinkers
Compare Dec. of Independence and Locke’s 2nd Treatise Locke group presentation
Constitution scavenger hunt homework
Begin reading chapters 2 and 3 in Edwards text Day 5: John Locke 2nd Treatise reading quiz
Articles of Confederation comparison in working groups
Day 6: Constitutional structure notes and discussion Federalist 10 and 51 notes and discussion
Clearing up concerns of anti federalists group assignment
Peterson panel assigned
Day 7: Federalist vs. anti-federalists group assignment completed Peterson panel discussion on federalism
Chickens and the constitution? Commerce clause interpretation notes and discussion. Day 8: Peterson reading quiz
Timeline of modern federalism notes – civil rights/current interstate commerce clause interpretation
Lopez vs. U.S. presentation assigned Day 9: Lopez reading presentation
Fiscal federalism/federal money chart – types of grants
Free response writing practice by looking at released exam material Day 10: Unit II Exam, 60 multiple choice and 2 free response questions
Unit III – Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Days 11-15
Day 11: Unit II exam post mortem
Federal court decision rules notes and discussion Selective incorporation notes and discussion Introduction to free exercise clause cases
Religion in public schools reading assignment homework Begin reading chapter 4 and 5 in Edwards text
Day 12: Religion in public schools discussion
Establishment clause and free speech cases notes and discussion
Santa Fe ISD vs. Doe case brief presentation and class homework assigned
Day 13: Santa Fe case brief presentation
Search and seizure law notes and discussion Privacy rights “penumbras” notes and discussion Adarand vs. Pena case assigned
Day 14: Adarand case brief presentation
Affirmative action notes and discussion – Does it apply to you? Day 15: Unit III Exam, 60 multiple choice and 2 free response questions Fiorina political party panel questions assigned for next class Political ideology survey homework
Unit IV – Public Opinion, Political Parties and Interest Groups Days 16-19
Day 16: Unit III exam post mortem
Political socialization and public opinion notes and discussion Graphing political ideology – understanding ideological labels Fiorina parties presentation
Truman interest group panel questions assigned
Begin reading chapters 6, 8 and 11 in that order in Edwards text Day 17: Fiorina parties reading quiz
Party structure and why two political parties notes and discussion Truman interest groups panel discussion
Party platform assignment homework– determining which quote is from Democratic or Republican platforms
Day 18: Review party platform labels Truman reading quiz
Interest group characteristics, differences & similarities to political parties, success factors and examples notes and discussion
Day 19: Unit IV Exam, 60 multiple choice and 2 free response questions
Unit V – Campaigns, Elections and Media Days 20-25
Day 20: Unit IV exam post mortem
Presidential nomination timeline notes and discussion Primaries vs. caucuses notes and discussion
Key campaign reading assigned
Begin reading chapters 9, 10 and 7 in that order in Edwards text
Day 21: Key campaign presentation
electoral college notes and debate: necessary check or constitutional relic? Ornstein-Ellis campaign finance debate assigned
Day 22: Key campaign reading quiz
Debate between groups Ornstein and Ellis groups over campaign finance proposals Campaign finance top ten notes and discussion
Allen J. Lichtman’s keys to White House victory homework assigned
Day 23: Analyzing voting data in groups – writing questions for anther group to answer Assessment of news articles reading assignment – straight new, analysis or editorial?
AP US Government and Politics Course Syllabus 2007
Day 24: Role of media notes and discussionContinue news article analysis
Discussion of Lichtman’s keys to victory
Day 25: Unit V Exam, 60 multiple choice, 2 free response questions
Unit VI – Congress Days 26-30
Day 26: Unit V exam port mortem
Congress concepts and organization notes and discussion Congress scavenger hunt homework
Fiorina Congressional policy making and Fenno Congressional representation group presentations assigned
Begin reading chapter 12 in Edwards text Day 27: Congress scavenger hunt due, go over in class
Fiorina Washington Establishment and Fenno Broken Branch presentations Power diffusion in Congress notes & discussion
House member election internet research assignment Cohn pork barrel spending reading assigned
Day 28: Congress member research assignment du, go over in class, spot patterns in election support
Fiorina-Fenno quiz
Cohn presentation – pork barrel spending discussion
Fenno’s concept of representation – concentric circles graph Day 29: Congress is a Status Quo institution notes & discussion
Public policy creation in Congress – how Bill of Rights limits policy making in Congress
Other congress trivia (discharge petition, committee of the whole, Calendar Wednesday) Day 30: Unit VI Exam, 60 multiple choice, 2 free response questions
Unit VII – Presidency and Bureaucracy Days 31-35
Day 31: Unit VI exam post mortem
Public policy making chart notes and discussion
Constitutional roles & limitations of president – Article II and amendments Federalist 70 presentation reading assigned
Begin reading chapters 13 and 15 in Edwards text Day 32: Federalist 70 presentation
President and congress struggle group work
Complete checks on presidential power chart for homework Neustadt presidential persuasion presentation reading assigned
Day 33: Neustadt presentation
Power chart homework due, go over in class
John David Barber’s defining presidential character notes and discussion Chapter 14 budget outline and questions homework assigned
Woll bureaucracy presentation reading assigned Day 34: Chapter 14budget outline due
Neustadt quiz
Woll bureaucracy presentation
Bureaucratic policy making chart notes and discussion
Day 35: Unit VII Exam, 60 multiple choice, 2 free response questions
Unit VIII – Federal Courts Days 36-40
Day 36: Unit VII exam post mortem Federal and state court comparison Federal courts map review
Federal court operation and structure notes and discussion Federalist 78 presentation reading assigned
Begin reading chapter 16 in Edwards text Day 37: Federalist 78 presentation
Supreme Court operations notes and discussion Judicial decision making notes and discussion Judicial policy making packet reading assigned
Federal Courts in the News homework - analysis of current federal courts news event Day 38: Judicial policy making presentation
Federal Courts in the News discussion
Read and discuss Supreme Court justices’ biographies
Day 39: Unit VIII Federal Courts exam, 60 multiple choice, 2 free response questions Day 40: Unit VIII post mortem
Begin AP government and politics national exam review – making concepts chart, seeing how course units interconnect
