AP U.S. Government & Politics

 

Congratulations! You have decided to accept the challenge! And a challenge it will be. This class is an intensive study of the formal and informal structures of the U.S. government and the processes of the American political system, with an emphasis on policy-making. Basically, we will be studying how our government works, why it is set up the way it is set up, and how policy is made and changed. This is a demanding course that will require you to put forth your best effort on a daily basis. When you enter this classroom be prepared to think, ask questions, and make contributions. The effort you put in will determine your success.

 

The goals of this course are:

Ø     to increase your understanding of the American political system;

Ø     to inspire you to get actively involved in politics;

Ø     to prepare you to pass the AP Exam

 

Textbook:

Edwards, George C., Martin P. Wattenberg, and Robert L. Lineberry. Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy. New York: Longman, 12th ed., 2006.

 

Supplemental Texts

Cigler, Allan J., Loomis, Burdett A., ed. American Politics: Classic and Contemporary Readings. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 5th ed., 2002.

 

Serow, Ann G., ladd, Everett C., ed. The Lanahan Readings in American Polity. Baltimore: Lanahan Publishers, Inc., 3rd ed., 2003.

 

Other Required Readings

Summer Reading: Matthews, Chris. Hardball: How Politics Is Played Told by One Who Knows the Game. New York: Touchstone, 1988.

 

Assigned and used in class: articles from current newspapers and news magazines; news footage and documentaries; numerous Web sites.

 

Course of Study:

An Introduction to Politics

Unit 1: Constitutional Foundations of American Government (5-15%)

·        Historical development and adoption of the Constitution

·        Separation of Powers

·        Checks & Balances

·        Federalism

·        Theories of Modern Government

 

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

·        The theories of modern government

·        Views that people have about government & their elected officials

·        Characteristics and impact of public opinion

·        Voting patterns

·        Characteristics of political beliefs & differences between liberals and conservatives

 

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

·        Characteristics, organization, and history of political parties

·        Impact of key elections

·        Voting patterns and the effect on the political process

·        Legislation affecting elections & the political process

·        Interest groups and political action committees

·        The mass media and its effect on politics

 

Unit 4: Policymaking Institutions: The Congress, The Presidency,

       The Judiciary, The Federal Bureaucracy (35-45%)

·        Characteristics and power of each institution

·        Relationships among each institution

·        Linkage between these institutions and the political process, political parties, interest groups, the media, and public opinion

·        How public policy is formulated and implemented

 

Unit 5: Public Policy (5-15%)

·        The nature and creation of public policy

·        The impact of the three branches of government on public policy

·        The impact of the bureaucracy on public policy

·        The relationship between public policy and linkage institutions

 

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

·        The Bill of Rights

·        The incorporation of the Fourteenth Amendment

·        Judicial review and key Supreme Court cases

·        The fight for minority rights

 

Course Expectations:

1. Notebook. Each student will be required to keep a notebook for the course. The binder needs to be organized using tab dividers for each of the above units. Notebooks will be checked periodically (Daily Quiz grade).

 

2. Attendance, Participation & Homework. Regular attendance and active participation are ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. Students should expect nightly reading assignments as well as miscellaneous reading assignments.

 

4. Quizzes. There will be daily quizzes. These will consist of about 8 questions based on the previous night’s reading assignment. Students will be given 5 minutes to take the quiz, which will be open note. There will also be a vocabulary quiz at the end of each unit. There will also be frequent chart & map analysis on these quizzes.  

 

5. Unit Exams. Unit exams will be styled on the AP Exam and will be given at the conclusion of each unit. Each exam will consist of 40 Multiple Choice Questions and 2 Free Responses. There will also be a midterm examination which will consist of 60 MC and 4 Free Responses.

 

5. Projects & Essays. There will be a couple of projects and simulations throughout the course. Additionally, there will be Free Response assignments due approximately every other week as well as several in class Free Response activities.

 

6. Final Exam. The final will be comprehensive and will be exactly like the AP Exam with 60 MC questions and 4 Free Responses. It will be taken in one 3 hour sitting. A 5 will raise your grade 15%;        a 4 = +10%; a 3 = +5%; a 2 = No change; a 1 = -5%.

 

Grading:

       Daily Quizzes/Notebook Checks        30%

       Vocabulary Quizzes                            20%

       Unit Exams                                    35%

       Projects, Essays                                15%

             

       My grading scale remains the same:

       90% = A                 70% = C

       87% = A-                 67% = C-

       83% = B+                60% = D+

       80% = B                 55% = D

       77% = B-                 Below 55% = F

       73% = C+

 

Anyone completing all assignments and has less than 5 absences will receive nothing less than a C-.

 

 

 

Miscellaneous:

A.     If you miss a daily quiz due to an excused absence, you can make up the points by turning in a detailed outline of the reading. The quizzes will be timed and will occur in the first 5 minutes of class, so don’t be tardy.

B.     Vocabulary quizzes and unit exams must be made up after school the next day you are present. Only excused absences allow you to make up the quiz or exam.

C.     All other work must be in on time to receive full credit.

D.     There will be several opportunities for extra credit. They will consist of reading books or articles on the supplemental reading list, attending political events around town, watching movies.

E.     Movie Nights! We will be having at list 6 movie nights. Attendance is not required but writing a review of the movie will earn you extra credit (20 pts; equal to about 2 daily quizzes).

F.      This class will proceed at a brisk pace. In class we will discuss the previous night’s reading to clarify items you may not have understood, but it will be assumed that you did read the material. We will also spend time examining current examples of what we’re studying & doing activities to deepen your understanding of the concepts. Please come in after or before school if you find yourself falling behind. Obviously, if there are times where the majority of the class is lost, we will have to slow down. Just remember, you are responsible for your own learning; I am here as a coach.

G.    My website is full of useful stuff. All the reading assignments and due dates are listed, study guides for each chapter, online practice quizzes for each chapter, lists of vocabulary, laws, and  cases to know, as well as links to several helpful websites, free response writing guides and lots of practice online quizzes tied to each topic area. I can only do so much, so the more you use the resources I make available to you the better off you will be.