270 AP United States Government and Politics

Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics 0270

Course Description This course provides students with a learning experience equivalent to that obtained in most college introductory U.S. government and politics courses. The course syllabus has been prescribed, audited and approved by the College Board. It gives students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. It requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. politics. It includes the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific examples. The topics covered include the constitutional underpinnings of American democracy, political beliefs and behaviors, political parties, elections and campaigns, interest groups, the mass media, the Congress, the presidency, the federal courts, civil rights and civil liberties, the bureaucracy and the politics of public policy. College-level textbooks are used. The course prepares students to take the College Board AP Exam.

Books American Government 10th edition James Q. Wilson & John J. DiIulio Houghton Mifflin Company Boston, New York

American Government: Readings and Cases 16th edition Peter Woll Pearson Longman New York

Supplementary Materials Assigned and used in class are articles from current news magazines and newspapers and news footage from major networks and cable sources and documentaries such as those listed. Primary source materials such as: The Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, The U.S. Constitution, The Bill of Rights, The Federalist Papers, Supreme Court cases, Congressional legislation, presidential papers and speeches Newspapers such as: The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Wall Street Journal News magazines such as: Time, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, The Economist Internet sites such as: Library of Congress, Constitution Society, Thomas, Roll Call, Oyez, Yale Law, University of Virginia Center for Politics, The Drudge Report News programs/television and radio such as: CNN, C-Span, Face the Nation, Meet the Press, National Public Radio—and their websites. Documentaries—selections such as: Congress by Ken Burns, Eyes on the Prize, Freedom: A History of US, The American President, The Supreme Court Teacher Prepared Materials Outline notes, power points, charts, graphs, cartoons, maps, data, book discussion questions, worksheets, review sheets to reinforce content material

Student Responsibilities Students are responsible for keeping up with weekly assignments. In addition, in order to be able to relate class material to the events of the day, students are required to remain current regarding the events of the nation on a regular basis. This can be accomplished by listening to NPR, watching the national nightly news or any of the many news stations such as CNN, skimming the front pages of The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, or going online to one of the many reliable sources such as the Drudge Report every day.

Course Organization The course is broken into four major units. Each unit will include textbook reading, primary source reading and analysis, secondary reading and recent scholarship on the unit content with discussion questions.

Evaluation and Expectations Chapter tests will be given for each chapter. Quizzes and FRQ (free response) essays will be given as appropriate. Tests will consist of multiple choice questions and free response essay questions. As much as possible, the essays and exam questions are selected from prior year AP United States Government and Politics Exams. Practice exams will be given at the end of the course in preparation for the AP exam.

Grading Policy The grade is based on a point system. Points will be given for tests, quizzes, essays, in class assignments, and class participation.

Late Work The student handbook policy regarding late work is in effect. You have three days to make up work for an excused absence. No credit will be given for any work, including tests and in class essays, for any unexcused absences. It is your responsibility to initiate all make-up work. Please see my web page on a regular basis for work.

Attendance Attendance in class is vital. Class participation will be 10% of your grade for each marking period. Attending each class, arriving on time, and active participation are the primary considerations for this portion of your grade Course Outline Unit I: The American System Chapter 1: The Study of American Government Chapter 2: The Constitution Chapter 3: Federalism Chapter 4: American Political Culture Chapter 5: Civil Liberties Chapter 6: Civil Rights Unit II: Opinions, Interests, and Organizations Chapter 7: Public Opinion Chapter 8: Political Participation Chapter 9: Political Parties Chapter 10: Elections and Campaigns Chapter 11: Interest Groups Chapter 12: The Media Unit III: Institutions of Government Chapter 13: Congress Chapter 14: The Presidency Chapter 15: The Bureaucracy Chapter 16: The Judiciary Unit IV: The Politics of Public Policy Chapter 17: The Policy-Making Process Chapter 18: Economic Policy Chapter 19: Social Welfare Chapter 20: Foreign and Military Policy Chapter 21: Environmental Policy Chapter 22: Who Governs? To What Ends?

Supplies Needed 1. Wide loose-leaf binder to be kept at home: This will serve as your primary review book for the A.P. Exam as well as the midterm and final. As each unit is completed you should carefully file the materials into this binder.

2. Loose-leaf binder 1-1½ to be used each day: You will use this notebook to outline your readings, for class notes, handouts, primary source materials, and all other material for the unit currently being studied. Following each unit exam, this material should be put in your larger binder at home.

3. Loose-leaf paper