<p>AP® United States Government & Politics</p><p>The AP® Government course is taught in the spring semester with an enrollment of 15-21 students. The academic calendar for school year 2008-2009 will feature a “eight by two” semester-block system. Students will enroll in eight classes each semester which will meet every other day. Teaching Strategies</p><p>The course is includes both lectures and class discussion sessions. Students are responsible for keeping up with events in the news. Each class will usually begin with a discussion of current events (public policy issues, electoral developments, etc.). The current events provide concrete connections for each lesson. Students will have access to a class web site which includes a listing of articles and essays read in class and at home, questions from both texts, listings of videos used in class, and links to various web sites that are relevant to the curriculum. The web site is: http://www.mindspring.com/~sartor/government/main.html</p><p>Course Overview/Description</p><p>This course explores the political theory and everyday practice that direct the daily operation of our government and shape our public policies. The express purpose of this course is to prepare students to take the AP Exam for U.S Government and Politics. The course is for all intents and purposes taught on a college level and it requires a substantial amount of reading and preparation for every class. There are six major topics in AP US Government that each student will receive instruction in: 1) Constitutional Underpinnings; 2) Political Beliefs and Behaviors; 3) Interest Groups, Political Parties and Mass Media; 4) Institutions of National Government; 5) Public Policy; and 6) Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. </p><p>The objectives of this course go beyond a basic analysis of how our government “works.” Students will develop a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the American political system, as well as their rights and responsibilities as citizens. </p><p>Course Readings</p><p>There are two required texts for this course:</p><p>Burns, James MacGregor, et al. Government by the People. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001.</p><p>Schmidt, Steffen W., et al. American Government and Politics Today. Belmont, CA: Thompson Higher Education, 2005.</p><p>Students are expected to read relevant chapters from both of these texts in preparing for Unit Tests and the AP Government Exam. These readings will be supplemented with classroom handouts throughout the semester which will feature essays from newspapers, magazines and scholarly journals. </p><p>Grading and Course Requirements</p><p>Student grades are kept and recorded at Snapgrades.net. Homework questions will be assigned from the Schmidt text for most of the chapters discussed in class. Each chapter will also include a quiz based on readings from both texts (and to prepare students for the analytical and interpretive questions that appear on the AP exam). Class work points will also be earned through class discussions and other classroom activities. Five unit tests will be given during the semester. The five tests are 50% of the semester grade, class quizzes and discussions are 25%, and homework is 25%. Current Events</p><p>Students are responsible for keeping up with the daily events in the nation and the world. Students should register with the New York Times and Washington Post web sites and access them regularly. Students are also encouraged to view public affairs programming on television whenever possible. </p><p>Reading Assignments and Course Calendar</p><p>Week One</p><p>Foundations of American Government: What is the purpose of government? What was the founders’ view of the purpose of government and the role of the citizen in the American Republic? Are these views still relevant at the close of the millennium? How does the constitution underpin U.S. government? The concept of “checks and balances” was a novel idea in the 8th century. Why? How does Madison’s concept of checks and balances challenge popular understanding of Montesquieu’s theory of separation of powers? Define the following concepts: democratic theory, republicanism, pluralist theory, majoritarianism, and the elitist theory. Read this Week: Schmidt, Chapter 1 and Burns, Chapter 1</p><p>Week Two</p><p>The Constitution: What were the events and circumstances that led to resistance against British rule? What institutions were formed? What ideas and concepts are found in the Declaration of Independence? Why did the Articles of Confederation be replace by Why was it eventually ratified? Why was a Bill of Rights added?</p><p>Read this Week: Schmidt, Chapter 2 and Burns, Chapter 2</p><p>Weeks Three and Four</p><p>Federalism: Why did the Anti-Federalists fear this new system? Referring back to the questions from the last unit, does this new system strengthen or weaken the concept of separation of powers? Why or why not? What are the powers of state and local governments in an era of “new federalism” and devolution? What influence should the federal government have over state and local issues such as education, affirmative action, abortion, and the environment?</p><p>Read this Week: Schmidt, Chapter 3 and Burns, Chapter 3</p><p>Unit One Test</p><p>Week Five</p><p>Political Socialization & Opinion and Interest Groups: How do we come by our political beliefs? What are the sources of public opinion? What is “political culture,” and is there a unique American political culture? What is the “political spectrum”? How do these political beliefs define who we are as citizens? What does it mean to be a citizen? What is the role of the citizen in a civil society? Which citizens vote and why? What is the relationship between individual rights and the needs of the larger community? Is democracy in America healthy and viable today? Why do Americans join interest groups? What makes an interest group powerful? What are interest group strategies? How are lobbyists regulated? How do interest groups influence government decisions and policy making? </p><p>Read this Week: Schmidt, Chapter 6 and 7, Burns, Chapters 4 and 6 Week Six</p><p>Political Parties</p><p>Politics: What is the difference between a Democrat and a Republican? Are there other options beyond these two choices? Political parties are not mentioned in the constitution yet they play a critical role. How? Why? Do they serve our democracy or are they an obstacle? Why has the two party system endured? What is the role of minor parties? Read this Week: Schmidt, Chapter 7 and Burns, Chapter 7 and 8</p><p>Week Seven</p><p>Campaigns and Elections: Is this the best system to develop and select leaders? Are citizens well served by the current process?</p><p>Elections: How are candidates selected to run for office? What role is played by party organizations, PACs, and money generally in campaigns? What roles do these groups play in the electoral process? What role should they play? Should the present campaign system be overhauled and reformed?</p><p>Campaigns and Elections: Is this the best system to develop and select leaders? Are citizens well served by the current process?</p><p>Media: What role do the media play in elections and shaping public opinion? Is the media an impartial observer or an active participant in political elections and in the formation of public policy? Video: A Perfect Candidate</p><p>Read this Week: Schmidt, Chapter 9 and Burns, Chapter 9</p><p>Unit Two Test</p><p>Week Eight</p><p>Public Policy and the Institutions of National Governance: Congress: How is public policy made? Does the “system” work as intended? Does the “system” work for citizens today?</p><p>How does Congress represent and reflect the interest and desires of the nation? Is Congress representative of the nation as a whole? Is this the most efficient and effective way to make policy? Compare and contrast the makeup and operations of the House and Senate. How has Congress’s role in policy formulation changed over time in relation to the other branches? Videos: CSPAN program with Rep. David Price discussing his book The Congressional Experience and CSPAN2 program featuring Norman Ornstein discussing his book The Broken Branch.</p><p>Read this Week: Schmidt, Chapter 11 and Burns, Chapter 11</p><p>Week Nine and Ten</p><p>Public Policy and the Institutions of National Governance: Presidency: How is public policy made? Does the “system” work as intended? Does the “system” work for citizens today?</p><p>What are the formal and informal powers of the presidency? How does the president use these powers to influence policy? Is the president too powerful or not powerful enough vis-a-vis the legislative and judicial branches? Read this Week: Schmidt, Chapter 12 and Burns, Chapter 12 and 13 Week Eleven</p><p>Public Policy and the Instruments of National Governance: Bureaucracy: </p><p>What are the specific issues addressed in public policy making? Define an “Iron Triangle,” does it exist and if so how does it influence policy implementation? Who controls the bureaucracy: The president? Congress? The people? Does a largely permanent professional bureaucracy serve democracy?</p><p>What is the nature of bureaucracy? How is the bureaucracy organized? Who are bureaucrats? What are attempts to reform the bureaucracy? How are bureaucrats politicians and policymakers? How does Congress control the bureaucracy?</p><p>Read this week: Schmidt, Chapter 13 and Burns, Chapter 15</p><p>Unit Three Test</p><p>Public Policy and the Instruments of National Governance: Judiciary: </p><p>How is public policy made? Does the “system” work as intended? Does the “system” work for citizens today?</p><p>What role do the courts play in interpreting the Constitution and implementing public policy? Are the courts “guilty,” as some of critic charge, of supplanting the legislative and executive branches by legislating from the bench? What is the proper role for the judicial branch in the public policy process? What is the evolving relationship between the courts and “civil rights”? Video: CSPAN2 panel discussion featuring Jeffrey Rosen discussing his book The Supreme Court and Jan Crawford Greenburg discussing her book Supreme Conflict.</p><p>Due this Week: Schmidt, Chapter 14 and Burns, Chapter 14</p><p>Week Thirteen</p><p>Civil Liberties: What constitutes free speech? How does the national Bill of Rights apply to states? Do the courts “legislate from the bench”? Freedom of Speech, the Press, and Assembly: What forms of speech are protected? How is the 1st Amendment affected in times of crisis?</p><p>Religion: What constitutes “establishment”? What are the limits of “free exercise”?</p><p>Read this Week: Schmidt, Chapter 4 and Burns, Chapters 16</p><p>Week Fourteen</p><p>Civil Liberties and Civil Rights: What is “equal protection” under the law? How does the national Bill of Rights apply to states? Do the courts “legislate from the bench”?</p><p>Life, Liberty and Property: What is procedural due process? Is there a right to privacy? What do property rights mean in relation to community interests?</p><p>Equal Protection and the 14th Amendment: How has the interpretation of the equal protection clause changed over time? How have laws like the Civil Rights Act of 964, the Voting Rights Act of 965, and affirmative action influenced our understanding of the clause?</p><p>Read this Week: Schmidt, Chapters 5 and Burns, Chapters 17 and 18</p><p>Unit Four Test Week Fifteen</p><p>Review for AP U.S. Government & Politics Exam </p><p>Video: An Inconvenient Truth</p><p>Week Sixteen </p><p>Domestic Policy: Who sets policy agendas for our nation? How does federalism affect public policy? We will examine and debate several areas of public policy. What are subsidies and entitlements? What is the proper role for government in social issues such as education, welfare, and crime?</p><p>Read this Week: Schmidt, Chapter 15, Burns, Chapter 20</p><p>Week Seventeen</p><p>The Economy: How is the federal budget made? How is monetary policy different from fiscal policy? What is the “global economy”? How does the global economy influence U.S. policy generally and you specifically?</p><p>Video: Why We Fight</p><p>Read this Week: Schmidt, Chapter 16 and Burns, Chapter 19</p><p>Week Eighteen</p><p>Unit Five Test</p><p>Video: The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream</p><p>Essays and Articles by Unit</p><p>Unit 1: The American System & Constitutional Principles (Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4)</p><p>Information about the course: Textbooks: American Government and Politics Today (Schmidt) and Government By the People (Burns); AP US Government@AP Central; How to Prepare for the AP US Government Exam</p><p>Articles & Essays: Imperial Presidency 2.0; Age of Poltical Segregation; Sorry, Young America; What If We Are to Blame?; Public Opinion and Muddled Public Policies; Rebellion of the States: Red, Blue and Angry All Over; The New Blue Federalists: The Case for Liberal Federalism</p><p>Points of Interest: The Living Constitution; American Federalism</p><p>Burns Readings: Constitutional Democracy (chapter 1), The Living Constitution (chapter 2), and American Federalism (chapter 3)</p><p>Homework Questions: The Living Constitution; Federalism; Constitutional Democracy</p><p>Schmidt Readings: The Democratic Republic (chapter 1), The Constitution (chapter 2), and Federalism (chapter 3)</p><p>Revelant Links: The US Constitution; The U.S. Constitution Unit One Test</p><p>Unit 2: People, Politics and Process (Weeks 5,6,7) Articles & Essays: Political Command and Control; Chamber of Commerce Helps Bush Agenda: A Quiet Revolution in Business Lobbying; In Washington Take on Biggest Role Ever; Congress Finds Ways to Avoid Lobbyist Limits; In Washington, Contractors Take on Biggest Role Ever; Unregulated (527) Groups Wield Millions to Sway Voters; Christian Right Labors to Find 2008 Candidate</p><p>Points of Interest: Political Culture and Ideology; Interest Groups; Political Parties; Campaigns and Elections</p><p>Burns Readings: Political Culture and Ideology (chapter 4), Public Opinion, Participation and Voting (chapter 8), Interest Groups: The Politics of Influence (chapter 6), Political Parties: Essential to Democracy (chapter 7), and Campaigns & Elections: Democracy in Action (chapter 9)</p><p>Content Reading: Interest Groups; Political Parties, Campaigns, Nominations and Elections</p><p>Schmidt Readings: Public Opinion and Political Socialization (chapter 6), Interest Groups (chapter 7), Political Parties (chapter 8), Campaigns, Nominations, and Elections (chapter 9)</p><p>Revelant Links: CQ Politics, OpenSecrets.org, Political Wire, Political MoneyLine; T he Politics Test ; On the Issues ; Public Campaign ; Where Do You Fit? Political Compass; Common Cause; Public Citizen</p><p>Video: A Perfect Candidate</p><p>Unit Two Test Unit 3: Policy Making Institutions (Weeks 8,9,10,11)</p><p>Articles & Essays: Oh, How Courageous the Senate Could Be; A Better Way on Presidential Succession; Move Over Hoover; Fudging the Budget; Ranking the Presidents; A Second Term--Seldom a Charm; Who's Watching the President </p><p>Discussion: Congress, The Presidency; Congressional-Presidential Relations; The Bureaucracy</p><p>Burns Readings: Congress, The People's Branch (chapter 11), and The Presidency: The Leadership Branch (chapter 12), Congressional-Presidential Relations (chapter 13), and The Bureaucracy (chapter 15)</p><p>Homework Questions: Article I, Article II, The Bureaucracy</p><p>Schmidt Readings: The Congress (chapter 11), The President (chapter 12), and The Bureaucracy (chapter 13)</p><p>Revelant Links: Clerk of the House of Representatives; The Politico;</p><p>Video: CSPAN--Rep. David Price: The Congressional Experience; CSPAN--Norm Ornstein, et al: The Broken Branch</p><p>Unit Three Test Unit 4: The Courts, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (Weeks 12, 13, 14)</p><p>Articles & Essays: Roberts' Rules; Rehnquist Pushed the Court to the Right; A Growing Campaign to Undo the New Deal; The President's Prison; Clear and Present Danger; Freedom of Assembly</p><p>Points of Interest: The Judiciary, First Amendment Freedoms, Rights to Life, Liberty and Property, Equal Rights Under the Law</p><p>Burns Readings: The Judiciary: The Balancing Branch (chapter 14), First Amendment Freedoms (chapter 16), Rights to Life, Liberty and Property (chapter 17), and Equal Rights Under the Law (chapter 18)</p><p>Research Project: Civil Liberties</p><p>Schmidt Readings: The Courts (chapter 14), Civil Liberties (chapter 4), and Civil Rights (chapter 5)</p><p>Video: C-SPAN2 panel discussion featuring Jeffrey Rosen discussing his book The Supreme Court and Jan Crawford Greenburg discussing her book Supreme Conflict; Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties</p><p>Unit Four Test Week 15 Review for AP Government Exam AP US Government Exam – May, 2009 Unit 5: Domestic and Economic Policies (Week 16, 17)</p><p>Burns Readings: Making Economic and Regulatory Policy (chapter 19) and Making Social Policy (chapter 20)</p><p>Schmidt Readings: Domestic Policy (chapter 15) and Economic Policy (chapter 16)</p><p>Questions: Domestic Policy, Economic Policy, and Social Policy</p><p>Video: An Inconvenient Truth; Why We Fight; The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream Week 18 Final Exams Start</p>