AP US GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS COURSE SYLLABUS

Mr. LaManna

West Broward High School

Contact information

Planning period: 4th

Phone: 754-323-2600

Email:

Websites:

Materials

  • Three Ring Binder w/ dividers (1 ½”)
  • Composition Notebook
  • Pens, highlighter
  • Looseleaf paper (college ruled)
  • AP Review Book

AP Exam Date: May 12th

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to prepare students for the AP Exam in U. S. Government and Politics. Taught on a college level, it requires substantial amounts of reading, and keen attention to current issues and analyses of these issues. Emphasis is placed not only on the understanding of how government works, but a critical look at the strengths and weaknesses of our political system. It requires familiarity with various institutions: branches, interest groups, political parties, and citizen views and behaviors.

Objectives

Students, on completion of this course, should be able to:

  • Understand the workings of the three branches of government
  • Evaluate theories pertaining to government and politics
  • Understand political behaviors and consequences of these that explain or justify government procedures and decisions.
  • Examine how institutions outside the government influence public policy
  • Analyze and interpret data from graphs, charts, political cartoon, and assorted written documents
  • Connect the issues and responsibilities to several levels and departments/ branches of the government plus non-governmental influences

With these objectives met, students should achieve the goal of passing the AP Exam in May while gaining an appreciation of the workings of our complex governmental system.

Course Readings

  • Student textbook: American Government: Roots and Reform,O’Connor, Karen, et al, 2011 Edition, Pearson.

Supplemental Materials:

  • Articles from “Wall Street Journal,” “Washington Post,” “N.Y. Times,” and assorted news programs and Internet sites.
  • Charts, graphs, maps, political cartoons pertinent to the AP Exam

Course Requirements:

Students are expected to complete the readings and actively participate in discussions and debates. Additionally, students are stronglyencouraged to purchase an AP Review book. These books are invaluable aids in helping students succeed on the AP exam. Students will be graded on the following assessments:

  • Unit tests
  • Reading Quizzes
  • Projects, presentations and debates
  • Data based/free response questions
  • Final Exam

Grading:

Grades will weighted as follows:

  • Unit Tests: 50%
  • Quizzes: 20%
  • Classowork/Projects: 20%
  • Homework/Discussion: 10%

Curriculum Outline

  1. Constitutional Underpinnings of U.S. Government……………….5-15 %
  2. Considerations that influenced the formation and adoption of the Constitution
  3. Basic principles of the Constitution: separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism
  4. Theories of democratic government
  1. Political Beliefs and Behaviors……………………………………….10-20 %
  2. Beliefs that citizens hold about their government and leadership
  3. Processes by which citizens learn about politics
  4. The nature, sources, and consequences of public opinion
  5. The ways in which citizens vote, and otherwise participate in political life
  6. Factors that influence citizens to differ from one another in terms of political beliefs and behaviors.

III. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media …………………….10-20 %

  1. Political parties and elections: functions, organization, development, effects on the political process, electoral laws and systems
  2. Interest groups, included PAC’s: the range of interests represented, the activities of interest groups, the effects of these on the political process, and the unique characteristics and roles of PACS in the political process
  3. Mass media: functions and structure of the news media, impact on politics, and the news media industry and its consequences.

IV. National Government Institutions: Congress, the Presidency, the Bureaucracy, and the Federal Courts…………………………………………. 35-45 %

  1. The major formal and informal institutional arrangements of power
  2. Relationships among these 4 institutions and varying balances of power
  3. Linkages between institutions and the following: public opinion and voters, interest groups, political parties, the media, and state and local governments

V. Public Policy ………………………………………………………………………5-15%

  1. Policymaking in a federal system
  2. Formation of policy agendas
  3. The role of institutions in the enactment of policy
  4. The role of the bureaucracy and the courts in policy implementation and interpretation
  5. Linkages between policy processes and the following: political institutions and federalism, political parties, interest groups, public opinion, elections, and policy networks.

VI. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties ………………………………………………5-15%

  1. The development of civil liberties and civil rights by judicial interpretation
  2. Knowledge of substantive rights and liberties
  3. The impact of the 14th Amendment on the constitutional development of rights and liberties

The Exam

The AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam is 2 hours and 25 minutes long. It includes a 45 minute multiple-choice section consisting of 60 questions and a 100 minute free response section with 4 mandatory questions.

Course Plan

The course is divided into 6 units of study. Due to the AB block schedule students will be responsible for much of the textbook information. Class time will involve discussions, additional documents and visuals, writing assignments, plus current political developments. Almost 40% of the course will focus on Unit IV, the Political Institutions.

Order of Topics

Topics / Chapters Covered / Start Date / Approximate Test Dates / Number of Days to Complete
Constitutional Underpinnings / 1-3 / 08/20 / 09/05 / 12
Political Socialization / 1,11,13 / 09/09 / 09/19 / 10
Linkage Institutions / 12-16 / 09/23 / 10/10 / 14
Congress / 7 / 10/14 / 10/29
Institutions of Government / 7-10 / 10/14 / 11/20 / 26
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights / 5-6 / 11/24 / 12/09 / 10

*Test dates are approximate and subject to change to make room for adjustments where necessary.

Assignments will be posted on my Quia website. Each day I will list what was done in class, what was assigned, due dates, and descriptions of those assignments, and any upcoming assignments, projects, tests, etc. If you are absent it is your responsibility to check the website to find out what you missed and ask me questions when you come back to class. Any work that was due while you were out is immediately turned in upon your return or it is late. Please make sure your absence is excused.

Policies and Information

Late Work Policy: Each assignment is due at the beginning of class.

The penalties for late work are as follows:

  • Turned in up to one day late – 25% off
  • Turned in two days late – 40% off
  • Turned in three days late – 50% off
  • Any longer than one week and it is a zero.

This is per day, not per class.

Tests: If you are not present for a test, your make-up test must be completed within one week of missing the test. If it is not completed in that time frame it will remain a zero. If you know you will be absent ahead of time speak to me in advance in order to avoid possibly having to take a different version of the test.

Quizzes: There will be unannounced reading quizzes throughout the semester. Make sure you are prepared by staying up to date with the reading! Additionally, there will be quizzes that you will be informed of well in advance.

Homework:It is imperative that you read and study for this course on a nightly basis. In addition to reading the textbook, you are required to take part in online discussions. Additionally, you will also be required to complete the corresponding section of “The Playbook” for each unit and it will be part of your test grade.

Students who are having difficulty keeping up with the class should notify me as soon as possible. I am available for tutoring every day before school and Monday through Thursday after school. Dates and times for formal tutoring and review sessions will be posted on my website and announced in class.