AP US GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
AP U.S. Government and Politics studies the operations and structure of the U.S. government and the behavior of the electorate and politicians. Students will gain the analytic perspective necessary to critically evaluate political data, hypotheses, concepts, opinions, and processes. Along the way, they’ll learn how to gather data about political behavior and develop their own theoretical analysis of American politics. They’ll also build the skills they need to examine general propositions about government and politics, and to analyze the specific relationships between political, social, and economic institutions. The equivalent of an introductory college-level course, AP U.S. Government and Politics prepares students for the AP Exam and for further study in political science, law, education, business, and history.
The content aligns to the scope and sequence specified by the College Board and to widely used textbooks.
Prerequisites: U.S. History
Recommended Grades: For qualified AP students
Length: One semester
UNIT 1: FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
LESSON 1: POLITICS IN A DEMOCRACY
Study: Introduction to Politics
Explore political issues that concern Americans, the study of politics, and three theories of American democracy.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Discuss: Your Political Background
Discuss your political interests and background, your political biases in terms of how you view democracy, and your community in terms of its groups and its politics.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 25 points
Practice: Reading Political Science Material
Research theories of governance in America (Mills, Dahl). Complete study questions based on the reading and compare your work to an answer sheet.
Duration: 1hr
Discuss: What Is Unclear From the Reading?
Discuss the readings by Mills and Dahl with your classmates and instructor to help you prepare for writing your first course essay.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 25 points
Practice: Outlining and Writing Essays
Outline an essay answer in preparation for writing your first course essay.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 50 points
Practice: Theories of American Democracy
Decide which of three theories of democracy is the most accurate analysis of current American politics. Write a short essay supporting your choice with examples from the readings.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 50 points
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 2: CONSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS
Study: The Debate Over Ratification
Examine the process of ratification, the federalists and the anti-federalists, and the great debate.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Federalist No. 10
After tackling this key reading, prepare to write an essay with the help of study questions and an answer sheet.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Discuss: What Is Unclear From the Reading?
Discuss Federalist No. 10 with your classmates and instructor.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 25 points
Practice: The Constitutional Convention
Write a short essay on the following question: What were the principal events and factors that led to the call for a Constitutional Convention?
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 50 points
Study: Completion of the Constitution
Explore the following: ratification by the states, the amendment process, the rise of the federalists and anti-federalists, national vs. state government rule, separation of powers, and the development of judicial review.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Discuss: Amending the Constitution
Discuss with your classmates whether you think it's too difficult to amend the Constitution.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 25 points
Practice: How Democratic is the Constitution?
After reading about the intentions of the framers of the Constitution, write an essay on the following question: Is the Constitution an elitist document?
Duration: 2hr
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 3: FEDERALISM
Study: Federalism
Examine the establishment of federalism in the Constitution, the evolution of federal-state relationships, and federalism in the twentieth century.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Returning Power to the States
Answer the question: How has the debate over federal-state relations been affected by efforts to increase homeland security?
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 50 points
Practice: The New Federalism
Write a short essay on the Supreme Court's views on new federalism. Include a discussion of recent rulings on federalism.
Duration: 2hr
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 4: WRAP-UP
Review: Foundations of American Government
Review your studies of American politics, the Constitution, and federalism. Complete a question-outlining exercise.
Duration: 2hr
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to check your mastery of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Test (TS): Foundations of American Government
Take a 50-minute test covering American politics, the Constitution, and federalism.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 100 points
LESSON 5: DIAGNOSTIC
Diagnostic: Foundations of American Government
Test your understanding of the key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 39 points
UNIT 2: POLITICAL BELIEFS AND ATTITUDES
LESSON 1: POLITICAL CULTURE
Study: Political Culture
Examine political culture, political ideology, and political socialization.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Liberal and Conservative Views
Identify liberal and conservative positions on a range of issues. Explain how you characterize your own views on these issues.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 50 points
Discuss: Ideological Positions
Take an ideological test. Discuss your findings. (How did you rate? Were you surprised?)
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 25 points
Practice: Liberty and Equality
In a short essay, discuss the tensions between liberty and equality in American political culture. Include an example from current events where these two values are in conflict.
Duration: 1hr
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 2: PUBLIC OPINION IN AMERICA
Study: What Is Public Opinion?
Explore public opinion and how it's measured, the nature of the public, and the results of studying public opinion.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Public Opinion Polls
Examine poll results relating to the issue of genetic research. Interpret the results and write an essay commenting on the advantages and disadvantages of using polls to gauge public opinion.
Duration: 1hr 15min Scoring: 50 points
Discuss: Public Involvement in Politics
Support your opinion about what role public opinion should play in our political system.
Duration: 1hr 15min Scoring: 25 points
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 3: WRAP-UP
Review: Political Beliefs and Attitudes
Review your studies about political culture and public opinion in America. Complete a question-outlining exercise.
Duration: 2hr
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to check your mastery of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Test (TS): Political Beliefs and Attitudes
Take a 50-minute test covering political values in America, the process of political socialization, liberals, conservatives and public opinion polls.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 100 points
LESSON 4: DIAGNOSTIC
Diagnostic: Political Beliefs and Attitudes
Test your understanding of the key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 28 points
UNIT 3: POLITICAL PARTIES, ELECTIONS, INTEREST GROUPS, AND THE MEDIA
LESSON 1: POLITICAL PARTIES
Study: Political Parties
Explore the history of American political parties, their organization, how they work, and the changing nature of party identification.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Discuss: Party Differences
Locate Web sites for the Republican and Democratic parties. Explain how both parties are changing, why they're changing, and if there remains much of a difference between the two.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 25 points
Practice: Decline of Political Parties
Compose an essay about whether the role of political parties is in serious decline.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 50 points
Discuss: Third Parties
After reviewing a Web site for an American third party, discuss why their views are considered extreme or "not in the mainstream."
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 2: CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS
Study: Elections and Voter Turnout
Examine what elections mean to Americans, low voter turnout in America, and eight factors that explain low voter turnout.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Voter Behavior
Bring together information about voting expectations. Compare the opinions of people you know to the opinions of most Americans.
Duration: 2hr
Study: Electoral Systems
Look at the plurality, majority, and plurality runoff electoral methods. Examine proportional voting systems, and consider our controversial electoral college system.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Discuss: Alternative Voting Systems
Look at Web sites about voting issues and electoral methods. Discuss whether you think low voter turnout is a problem and what you think might be done to increase turnout.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points
Study: Campaigns and Voting
Examine the process of running for office. Consider the role and function of primaries, caucuses, and conventions, and look at how voting behavior is analyzed.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Campaign Finance
Analyze data on congressional candidates and read about campaign financing (Sullivan and Cressman). Answer the question: What are the intended and unintended consequences of legislation designed to reform our system of campaign finance?
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 50 points
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 3: INTEREST GROUPS
Study: Interest Groups
Explore the roles of interest groups, why they form, participation in interest groups, and the types of interest groups.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Interest Groups and the Democratic Process
After reading about the influence of interest groups on our democracy, answer the following question: How relevant is Madison's discussion of the "mischiefs of faction" to an analysis of contemporary interest groups?
Duration: 2hr
Study: Interest Group Strategies
Examine the direct and indirect techniques used by interest groups and political action committees in the democratic process.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Interest Group Research
Find Web sites for three political interest groups. Report on what their missions are, what techniques they use, what their budgets are, who their target audiences are, whether they have a PAC, and so on.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 50 points
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 4: THE MEDIA
Study: The Media
See the development of a free press in the United States, the rise of print and broadcast media, government regulation of broadcast media, and the media's effect on government.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Discuss: The Free Press
Discuss and compare your opinions about the free press with your classmates.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points
Study: The Media and Politics
Examine the national media's interest in political campaigns and political leaders' interest in the media.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Discuss: The Media and Campaigning
After reading about the media's role in campaigning (Sabato), comment on the following: Should the media's notion of "a marketplace of ideas" include everything, or are there subjects the media should avoid?
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points
Study: The Media and Campaigns
Examine media coverage of presidential campaigns and evaluate the media's role in the same.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: The Media and Voter Education
Answer the following question: Does the mass media do a sufficient job of educating voters during campaigns?
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 50 points
Practice: Comparing Media Coverage
Locate three articles from the mainstream media and three articles from alternative media sources covering a topic of your choice. Compare coverage of the topic.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 5: WRAP-UP
Review: Political Parties, Elections, Interest Groups, and the Media
Review your studies of political parties, elections, interest groups, and the media. Complete a question-outlining exercise.
Duration: 3hr
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to check your mastery of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Test (TS): Political Parties, Elections, Interest Groups, and the Media
Take a 50-minute test covering political parties, elections, interest groups, and the media.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 100 points
LESSON 6: DIAGNOSTIC
Diagnostic: Political Parties, Elections, Interest Groups, and the Media
Test your understanding of the key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 40 points
UNIT 4: INSTITUTIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
LESSON 1: CONGRESS
Study: Congress: Part 1
Explore the characteristics of the members of Congress and the powers and functions of Congress.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Discuss: Congressional Demographics
After using the Web to identify and characterize members of Congress, comment on how representative you think they are.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points
Study: Congress: Part 2
Learn about congressional organization and leadership, the committee system, and how a bill becomes a law.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Congressional Voting Decisions
Based on the readings about serving in Congress (Mayhew, Fenno, Starobin), explain the primary factors influencing legislative voting behavior.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 50 points
Practice: Researching Legislation
Select an issue that interests you. Using the Web, find a piece of congressional legislation that might affect your issue. Briefly summarize the legislation and track its legislative history.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 2: THE PRESIDENCY
Study: The Presidency: Part 1
Examine the president's role as Chief of State and Chief Executive. Consider other formal presidential roles, informal presidential roles, and public expectations of the president.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Discuss: The President's Roles
Support your opinion about President Bush's effectiveness in carrying out his many roles as president.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points
Study: The Presidency: Part 2
Explore the executive branch resources, presidential resources, and constraints on presidential power.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Presidential Power
After reading about presidential power (Neustadt), write an essay analyzing the effectiveness of presidential rhetoric.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 50 points
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 3: THE BUREAUCRACY
Study: The Bureaucracy: Part 1
Explore the theories of bureaucracy, the functions and organization of the federal bureaucracy, the size and cost of the bureaucracy, and the selection and characteristics of federal employees.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Discuss: Bureaucratic Organization
Participate in a discussion about the bureaucratic challenges confronting the new Department of Homeland Security.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points
Study: The Bureaucracy: Part 2
Examine the pathologies of the federal bureaucracy and their causes, the efforts to reform the bureaucracy, and the concept of incrementalism.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Bureaucratic Reform
Based on readings about bureaucracy and efforts to reform it, respond to the following questions: Why are Americans frequently critical of government bureaucracy? In what ways should the bureaucracy be reformed?
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 50 points
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 4: THE COURTS
Study: The Courts: Part 1
Explore the three types of laws, the organization of the judicial system, and the judicial process.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Discuss: You Be the Judge
Read about how the Supreme Court ruled in an important case. Do you agree or disagree with the court's decision?
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points
Study: The Courts: Part 2
Examine the processes of judicial review, appointment of Supreme Court justices, Supreme Court decision-making, judicial activism, and judicial restraint.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: The Power of Judicial Review
Read about the Supreme Court's power of judicial review (Rostow) and excerpts from the Supreme Court's decision in Bush v. Gore. Write about whether you think the power of judicial review is antidemocratic.
Duration: 2hr 30min Scoring: 50 points
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 5: CHECKS AND BALANCES
Study: Checks and Balances
Examine Congress and the presidency, domestic and foreign policy, Congress and the bureaucracy, and the courts. Consider these in terms of the Madisonian vision.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Do Checks and Balances Work?
After reading Federalist No. 51, write an essay on whether our contemporary system of checks and balances is working as Madison intended.
Duration: 2hr 30min Scoring: 50 points
Practice: Line-Item Veto
Write a short essay on whether the line-item veto is constitutional. Does it give the president too much power? Defend your position.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 6: WRAP-UP
Review: Institutions of American Government
Review your studies about the institutions of American government and complete a question-outlining exercise.
Duration: 3hr
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to check your mastery of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Test (TS): Institutions of American Government
Take a 50-minute test covering Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, the courts, and the system of checks and balances.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 100 points
LESSON 7: DIAGNOSTIC
Diagnostic: Institutions of American Government
Test your understanding of the key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 42 points
UNIT 5: CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS
LESSON 1: CIVIL LIBERTIES
Study: First Amendment Civil Liberties
Explore civil liberties and selective incorporation, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Discuss: National Security and Civil Liberties
Read about changes in our civil liberties since the 9/11 attacks (Posner). Discuss what you think the proper balance should be between individual liberty and national security during times of war or crisis.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points
Study: Rights of the Accused
Examine the concepts of unreasonable search and seizure, the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and capital punishment.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Civil Liberties Cases
Read summaries of 12 Supreme Court cases. Complete a worksheet identifying the issue and principle established in each case, and the decision of the Court.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 50 points
Practice: Rights of Criminal Defendants
Read about two famous Supreme Court cases. In an essay, explain whether you think the Supreme Court went too far in protecting the rights of the criminal defendants involved in these cases.
Duration: 2hr
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 2: CIVIL RIGHTS
Study: Civil Rights in America
Explore the process of defining civil rights, the movement from slavery to separate but equal, the history of school desegregation, the civil rights movement, and affirmative action.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Civil Rights Cases
Read summaries of seven civil rights court cases. Complete a worksheet identifying the issue and principle established in each case, and the decision of the Court.
Duration: 2hr Scoring: 50 points
Discuss: Affirmative Action
Read excerpts from Cornell West and Bron Taylor. Discuss whether you think affirmative action is still necessary.
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 25 points
Study: Rights for Women
Examine the history of women's rights, women in the political arena, women in the economic arena, and the politics of rights.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Equality for Women
Review Web-based information on women's issues. Write a short essay in response to a series of questions.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 3: WRAP-UP
Review: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Review your studies about civil liberties and civil rights. Complete a question-outlining exercise.
Duration: 2hr
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to check your mastery of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Test (TS): Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Take a 50-minute test covering civil liberties and civil rights.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 100 points
LESSON 4: DIAGNOSTIC
Diagnostic: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Test your understanding of the key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 29 points
UNIT 6: PUBLIC POLICY IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
LESSON 1: DOMESTIC POLICY
Study: Public Policymaking
Examine the policy cycle and the three types of policies, and consider a case study of tobacco policy.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Implementing Public Policy
Research the techniques the government employs to implement public policy.
Duration: 1hr 30min
Study: Distributive Policies
Look at distributive policies and politics and consider two examples: agricultural policy and defense policy.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Discuss: Entitlement Programs
Discuss solutions for reforming the social security program.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points
Study: Redistributive Policies
Examine redistributive policies and politics and consider two examples: welfare policy and tax policy.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Discuss: Government Involvement in the Economy
Discuss and support your opinions about the government's involvement in the economy.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points
Study: Regulatory Policies
Explore regulatory policies and politics and consider two examples: business regulation and environmental policy.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: Tax Policy
Research and write about the politics of tax cuts. Have recent tax cuts accomplished their intended goals? Do you agree with the policy of cutting taxes as a means of stimulating economic growth?
Duration: 1hr 30min Scoring: 50 points
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 2: FOREIGN AND DEFENSE POLICIES
Study: Foreign and Defense Policies
Examine the general principles of American foreign policy, how foreign policy is made, and how military policy is made.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Discuss: American Foreign Policy
After reading the introduction to the U.S. National Security Strategy, discuss what role the U.S. should play in world affairs. Do you support the Bush Administration's strategy document?
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 25 points
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
LESSON 3: WRAP-UP
Review: Public Policy in American Government
Review your studies of domestic and foreign policy in preparation for a test. Complete a question-outlining exercise.
Duration: 2hr
Quiz: Check-Up
Answer questions to check your mastery of the content.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 10 points
Test (TS): Public Policy in American Government
Take a 50-minute test covering American domestic policy and foreign policy.
Duration: 1hr Scoring: 100 points
LESSON 4: DIAGNOSTIC
Diagnostic: Public Policy in American Government
Test your understanding of the key concepts.
Duration: 0hr 45min Scoring: 36 points
UNIT 7: PREPARING FOR THE AP EXAM
LESSON 1: REVIEW AND EXAM
Study: Study Tips and Strategies
Go over study tips and strategies for taking the Final and AP Exams.
Duration: 0hr 30min
Review: U.S. Government
Review the topics and create exam questions based on your studies of U.S. Government.
Duration: 4hr
Discuss: Studying for the AP Exam
Discuss any concerns you have about the material, your own study strategies, and so on.
Duration: 0hr 30min Scoring: 25 points
Practice: AP Exam Practice 1
Practice AP-style, multiple-choice questions.
Duration: 0hr 45min
Practice: AP Exam Practice 2
Practice AP-style, free-response questions.
Duration: 1hr 40min
Practice: AP Exam Practice 3
Take a self-proctored, full-length AP-style practice test.
Duration: 2hr 25min
LESSON 2: FINAL COURSE EXAM
Final Exam: U.S. Government
Take the Final Exam for U.S. Government.
Duration: 2hr 25min Scoring: 240 points
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