Date

Topic/Activity

Reading/Assignment

(Reading due at beg. of period unless indicated)

T

Sept. 2

Course Intro; Syllabus; Book Checkout

 

W

Sept. 3

Questions for Me

 

TH

Sept. 4

The AP Test & Multiple Choice Questions

 

F

Sept. 5

Politics Matter; The Policymaking System

Ch. 1; 2-16

M

Sept. 8

Democracy & the Scope of Government

Ch. 1; 16-20

T

Sept. 9

The Revolution; Origins of the Constitution; The Articles of Confederation

Ch. 2; 28-38; Locke

W

Sept. 10

The Founders & The Constitutional Convention

Ch. 2; 38-45

TH

Sept. 11

No Class

 

F

Sept. 12

Madison’s Model; Separation of Powers/Checks & Balances

Ch. 2; 45-48 Understanding Federalist 51

M

Sept. 15

More on Checks & Balances; Ratification Politics; Amending the Constitution

Ch. 2; 48-57

T

Sept. 16

Federalism & the Constitution: Division of Power & Establishing National Supremacy

Ch. 3; 66-78

W

Sept. 17

Federalism Today

Ch. 3; 78-88

TH

Sept. 18

No Class

 

F

Sept. 19

Understanding Federalism

Ch. 3; 88-94

M

Sept. 22

FR writing guide, grading rubric & FR examples; handout vocab list

“American Federalism: Half Full or Half Empty?” due 9/28

T

Sept. 23

No Child Left Behind FR & Discussion

Special Readings

W

Sept. 24

(ER)

Unit 1 Jeopardy

Review Unit One notes

TH

Sept. 25

No Class

 

F

Sept. 26

Vocab Quiz (Ch. 1-3)

Hand out practice MC exam & study guide

“American Federalism” due

M

Sept. 29

Go over practice MC exam; review

Practice MC exam due

T

Sept. 30

Unit 1 Exam

STUDY!!

W

Oct. 1

Go over exam; (hand out FR correction assignment)

 

TH

Oct. 2

No Class

 

F

Oct. 3

No School (LID Inservice)

 

M

Oct. 6

American Demographics, Political Socialization; American Political Culture

FR correction due; Ch. 6; 176-187

T

Oct. 7

Polls & Political Ideology Survey

Ch. 6; 188-196: Reading on polling

W

Oct. 8

Political Ideologies & Participation

Ch. 6; 197-206

TH

Oct. 9

No Class

 

F

Oct. 10

Elections American Style

Ch. 10; 298-304

M

Oct. 13

Voting & Voting Behavior

 

Ch. 10; 304-316;

2000 Exit Polls; 2004 Exit Polls

T

Oct. 14

The Electoral College

Electoral College FR & Discussion

Ch. 10; 316-319;

EC: Pros & Cons

W

Oct. 15

The Nomination Game

Ch. 9; 268-278

TH

Oct. 16

No Class

 

F

Oct. 17

Campaigns & Campaign Finance

Ch. 9; 279-289

M

Oct. 20

Campaign Finance, cont.; FR practice on campaign finance

Special reading on campaign finance

T

Oct. 21

“Surprise” FR practice; The War Room

 

W

Oct. 22

Unit 2 Jeopardy

STUDY!!

TH

Oct. 23

No Class

 

F

Oct. 24

Vocab Quiz (Ch. 6, 9, 10)

 

M

Oct. 27

Mr. Shockley; Political Party intro & organization

Ch. 8; 240-251

T

Oct. 28

Unit 2 Test

 

W

Oct. 29

(ER)

(Return & go over test)

Political Party Eras; Third Parties & Understanding the Role of Parties;

Ch. 8; 251-263

TH

Oct. 30

No Class

 

F

Oct. 31

Role & Theories of Interest Groups; What makes a group successful? (Assign Interest Group reports)

Ch. 11; 322-332

M

Nov. 3

How Interest Groups shape policy;

Ch. 11; 333-341

Handout “Lobbyists—Why the Bad Rap?”

T

Nov. 4

Types of Interest Groups; Interest Group Presentations

Ch. 11; 342-349

W

Nov. 5

Federalist #10; Interest Group presentations

Federalist # 10

Understanding Federalist 10

TH

Nov. 6

No Class

 

F

Nov. 7

Watch “The Unelected: Lobbies” segment; Political Action Committees; 527s; Interest Group Presentations

 

M

Nov. 10

Discussion of lobbyists; Media & Politics

“Lobbyists—Why the Bad Rap?” due

Ch. 7; 212-222

T

Nov. 11

Veteran’s Day

 

W

Nov. 12

Reporting the News; Watch “The Unelected: Media” segment

Ch. 7; 222-231

TH

Nov. 13

No Class

 

F

Nov. 14

The News & Public Opinion; Free Response practice; handout practice MC test

Ch. 7; 231-236

M

Nov. 17

 

 

T

Nov. 18

Jeopardy Review

 

W

Nov. 19

(ER)

Vocab Quiz (Ch. 7, 8, 11)

Unit 3 Exam after school

 

TH

Nov. 20

 

 

F

Nov. 21

 

 

M

Nov. 24

No School (parent conferences)

Go over exam; (handout FR correction)

 

T

Nov. 25

(55 min classes) An Overview of Congress; Congressional Elections; Incumbency Advantage; Watch “Congress: The Constant Campaign”

Ch. 12; 354-363

W

Nov. 26

(30 min classes) Organization of Congress

Ch. 12; 363-375

TH

Nov. 27

Thanksgiving

 

F

Nov. 28

Thanksgiving How a Bill Becomes a Law & Powers of Congress overview; Handout Mock Congress bills

Ch. 12; 375-386

M

Dec. 1

“Congress: Power in Congress”; Go over Mock Congress

 

T

Dec. 2

Mock Congress: Present bills

 

W

Dec. 3

Mock Congress

 

TH

Dec. 4

No Class

 

F

Dec. 5

Mock Congress

 

M

Dec. 8

Mock Congress

 

T

Dec. 9

Mock Congress

 

W

Dec. 10

Mock Congress

 

TH

Dec. 11

No Class

 

F

Dec. 12

Mock Congress

 

M

Dec. 15

Assessing Congress

Handout Congress Reading

T

Dec. 16

Review

 

W

Dec. 17

Review (handout Midterm review)

 

TH

Dec. 18

 

 

F

Dec. 19

 

 

 

Dec. 22-Jan. 2

 

 

M

Jan. 5

Review Quiz; Review of Lawmaking Process

 

T

Jan. 6

Review Quiz; Constitution Power Grab

 

W

Jan. 7

Vocab Quiz

 

TH

Jan. 8

Overview of the Presidency; Evolution of the Presidency

Ch. 13; 390-400

F

Jan. 9

Midterm Exam (Units 1-3 ½)