AP Government
Course Description
A well-designed AP course in U.S. Government and Politics will give
students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the
United States. This course includes both the study of general concepts
used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific examples.
It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups,
beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. politics. While there is no
single approach that an AP U.S. Government and Politics course must
follow, students should become acquainted with the variety of
theological perspectives and explanations for various behaviors and
outcomes.
Goals:
Students successfully completing this course will:
Know important facts, concepts, and theorized 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
Syllabus
AP Government and Politics
Unit I
- Introduction to Government in America and Constitutional Foundations(8 weeks)
- Ch. 1: Introducing Government in America; Government and Politics; Policymaking System and Democratic Government
- Ch. 2: The Constitution
- Ch. 3: Federalism
Unit II
- Civil Liberties and Public Policy (3 weeks)
- Ch. 4: Civil Liberties and Public Policy
- Ch. 5: Civil Rights and Public Policy
- The People in the Political Process (5 weeks)
Unit III
- Ch. 6: Public Opinion and Political Action
- Ch. 8: Political Parties
- Ch. 11: Interest Groups
- Socialization, Parties, and Interest Groups
Unit IV
- Campaigns Elections, and the Media (3 weeks)
- Ch. 9: Nominations and Campaigns
- Ch. 10: Elections and Voting Behavior
- Ch. 7: The Mass Media and the Political Agenda
- American Governing Institutions
Unit V
- Congress (4 weeks)
- Ch. 12: Congress
Unit VI
- The Presidency and the Bureaucracy (4 weeks)
- Ch. 13: The Presidency
- Ch. 15: The Federal Bureaucracy
Unit VII
- The Judiciary (2 weeks)
- Ch. 16: The Federal Courts
Unit VIII
- Policy (5 weeks)
- Ch. 17: Economic Policymaking
- Ch. 18: Social Welfare
- Ch. 19: Policymaking for Healthcare and the Environment
- Ch. 20: Foreign and Defense Policymaking