AP U.S. Government and Politics

Mrs. Alfaro

Lynwood High School

remind101

Google Classroom

SYLLABUS

Course Description: AP U.S. Government and Politics explores the political theory and everyday practice that direct the daily operation of our government and shape our public policy. This course will familiarize students with various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. government and politics.

The express purpose of this course is to prepare students to take the AP Exam for U.S. Government and Politics. As a college level course, it requires students to take on a substantial amount of reading and preparation every class.

Goals:

Students successfully completing this course will:

-Know important facts, concepts, and theories pertaining to U.S. Government and Politics

-Understand typical patterns of political processes and behavior and their consequences (including the components of political behavior, the principles used to explain or justify various government structures and procedures, and the political effects of these structures and procedures).

-Be able to analyze and interpret basic data relevant to U.S. Government and Politics

To help students reach these goals, the following themes will be covered in the following order:

  1. Constitutional Underpinnings
  2. Political Beliefs
  3. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and the Mass Media
  4. Institutions of National Government
  5. Public Policy
  6. Civil Right and Civil Liberties

Course Readings:

Robert L. Lineberry, Martin P. Wattenberg, and George Edwards III. Government in America: People, Politics and Policy. AP* Edition. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. (TEXTBOOK)

Woll, Peter, ed. American Government: Readings and Cases. 18th Edition. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009.

Conrad, Jessamyn. What You Should Know about Politics…But Don’t. New York: Arcade Publishing, 2008.

Grading and Course Requirements

Students who wish to be successful in this class must pay close attention to the following Grade Requirements… (these requirements might change with notice)

Percentage %
UNIT Exams ( Multiple Choice, Free Response Questions)
Chapter Tests (Multiple Choice, T/F, Completion)Daily Reading Quizzes / 40
Writing Assessments/Projects / 30
Class Assignments/Homework / 30
TOTAL / 100%

Unit Exams will be similar to released Exams from AP* Central so that students can become familiar with the structure of the AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam. These tests will include timed sections of multiple choice questions and free-response questions. (UNIT)

Chapter tests and Daily Reading Quizzes will assess students of their knowledge on the Lineberry Textbook. (CH TEST)

Vocabulary, Legislation, Court Cases… In AP U.S. Government and Politics, students must have a strong background on a variety of vocabulary, legislation and court cases. (ASSESSMENT)

Class Assignments will vary from day to day depending on the Unit and topic… This can include analyzing charts, graphs and/or political cartoons or other primary sources. It may also include group activities, writing activities or other small projects that deal with understanding government. (CLASS ASSIGNMENT)

Projects: Students in AP will be asked to complete a group project using the concepts and terms in the course. This project(s) will be based on knowledge of government/politics and application on the everyday world of students. (HOMEWORK)

Notebook Requirement: 1 or 3 subject Notebook/ Binder with Sections of line paper

This Notebook will require students to complete notes both on their own and in the classroom. Notes at home will be made on reading assignments for each day. Each note must have title, pgs., and date. I will check notes to check student effort in class (PARTICIPATION)

PARTICIPATION will depend on attendance, answering questions, and participation in class activities and discussion.

MAKE UP EXAMS

Students will only be able to make up 2 exams per semester. Students must be able to stay after school/before school or show improvement in scores as required by the AP Course Contract.

Course Outline

  1. Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government

Students will examine the kind of government established by the Constitution, paying particular attention to federalism, the separation of powers, and checks and balances.

Estimated Time: 3 Weeks

Readings Due:

Lineberry et al, Government in America. Chapters: 1, 2, 3

Woll, Chapter 1: Second Treatise on Civil Government

Woll, Chapter 1: Federalist 51

Key Vocabulary: federalism, linkage institutions, policy agenda, policymaking, Connecticut Compromise, writ of habeas corpus, Federalist Papers, judicial review, supremacy clause, enumerated powers, implied powers, elastic clause, categorical grants, block grants

Key Court Cases:

Marbury v. Madison… ESTABLISHED judicial review

McCullough v. Maryland… ESTABLISHED national supremacy, implied powers, use of elastic clause

Project: Students will create a Public Opinion poll or Survey based on the American public understanding of the Constitution.

  1. Political Beliefs and Political Behaviors

Students will examine the various beliefs citizens have about their government and how these beliefs form political culture. This unit will focus on the demographic features of the American population and the different views that people hold on the political process. This will help students become aware of the differences in political beliefs and behaviors.

Estimated Time: 3-4 Weeks

Readings Due:

Lineberry et al, Government in America.Chapters 6,9,10

Woll, Chapter 4: Voting Behavior… Democratic Practice and Democratic Theory

Key Vocabulary: demography, census, reapportionment, political socialization, sample, political ideology, political participation, civil disobedience, national party convention, super delegates, frontloading, national primary, party platform, soft money, political action committees, referendum, suffrage, civic duty, electoral college

Key Court Cases or Legislation:

Federal Election Campaign Act

  1. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and the Mass Media

Students will understand the mechanisms that allow citizens to organize and communicate their interests and concerns. Students will examine the various linkage institutions which include political parties, political action committees, elections, interest groups and the mass media. Students will study the roles each of these plays in the American political system.

Estimated Time: 5 weeks

Lineberry et al, Government in America. Chapters 8, 11, 7

Woll, Chapter 4: Federalist 10

Key Vocabulary: political party, closed/open primaries, blanket primaries, national convention, party realignment, third parties, winner-take-all system, proportional representation, interest group, pluralist theory, single-issue group, lobbying, political action committees, class action lawsuits, mass media, chains, sound bites, policy agenda

  1. Institutions of National Government

Students will become familiar with the organization and powers, both formal and informal, of the major political institutions in the United States—the Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the federal courts. Students will understand that these are separate institutions which share the powers of government and the importance of their roles in government.

Estimated Time: 12 weeks

Lineberry et al, Government in America. Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

Woll, Chapter 8: Congress and the Quest for Power (Congress)

Woll, Chapter 6: Federalist 70 (Presidency)

Woll, Chapter 9: Federalist 78 (Supreme Court)

Key Vocabulary: (12) incumbents, pork barrel, bicameral legislature, House Rules Committee, filibuster, majority leader, standing/joint committees, legislative oversight, caucus, (13) impeachment, veto, National Security Council, pocket veto, legislative veto, War Powers Resolution, (14) deficit, revenues, federal debt, Senate Finance Committee, budget resolution, appropriations bill, (15) bureaucracy, independent regulatory commission, government corporations, administrative discretion, regulation/ deregulation, executive orders, (16) justiciable disputes, district courts, courts of appeal, Supreme Court, precedent, judicial review, judicial restraint/ activism, original intent

Key Court Cases or Legislation:

Twenty-second Amendment, 1951

Twenty-fifth Amendment, 1967

War Powers Resolution, 1973

Social Security Act, 1935

Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act, 1974

Marbury v. Madison, 1803

U.S. v. Nixon, 1974

  1. Public Policy

Students will become familiar with the formation of policy agendas, the enactment of public policy by Congress and the President, and the implementation and interpretation of policies by the bureaucracy and the courts.

Estimated Time: 4 Weeks

Lineberry et al, Government in America.Chapters 17, 18, 19, 20

Key Vocabulary: capitalism, mixed economy, collective bargaining, inflation, laissez-faire, World Trade Organization, antitrust policy, (18) social welfare policies, poverty line, income, progressive/proportional tax, Social Security Trust fund, (19) Medicare, Medicaid, Environmental Protection Agency, (20) foreign policy, United Nations, isolationism, tariff, containment doctrine

Key Court Cases or Legislation:

Social Security Act of 1935 (18)

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, 1996 (18)

Clean Air Act of 1970 (19)

  1. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Students will study the development of individual rights and liberties and their impact on citizens. Students should become familiar with the workings of the Supreme Court and the most significant decisions made by the Court dealing with civil rights and liberties.

Estimated Time: 4 Weeks

Lineberry et al, Government in America. Chapters 4, 5

Key Vocabulary: (4) civil liberties, Bill of Rights, due process clause, establishment/ free exercise clause, libel, exclusionary rule, right to privacy, probable cause, (5) civil rights, equal protection of the laws, poll taxes, comparable worth

Key Court Cases or Legislation:

1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 14th Amendments

Gitlow v. New York (1925)

Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Schenck v. U.S. (1919)

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)

13th Amendment

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Civil Rights Act of 1964

24thAmenment

Voting Rights Act of 1965

19th Amendment, Equal Rights Amendment (not yet)

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

UC Regents v. Bakke (1978)

Group Project

Civic Action Project.

All government courses this year will have a major project requiring students to do something civic and positive for their community. A civic action project is an assignment that allows students to be aware of issues in their everyday lives and encourages them to take action on any number of issues.