A. P. Government and Politics 2009-2010
Tates Creek High School
Patti Palmer
Email: School- patti.palmer@fayette.kyschools.us
Web Page Address - -http://www.staff.fcps.net/ppalmer

 Below is a summary outline of the major content areas covered by the AP Examination in United States Government and Politics. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret United States politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also includes various institutions, groups, beliefs and ideas that constitute U.S. politics. The United States Government and Politics Exam consists of sixty multiple-choice questions and four essay questions. The multiple-choice portion of the test is devoted to each content area in the approximate percentages indicated. The free response portion or the examination will test in some combination of the six major categories outlined below. This list is not an exhaustive list of the topics that will be covered in class. (AP Government and Politics Course Description)

As a result of a bill passed by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2001, each state college or university must offer college credit in a corresponding class for students who score 3 or higher on the AP exam. The current policy for the University of Kentucky is:
Government and Politics, Comparative

3 - 5

PS 210

 3 credit hours for PS 210 with grade of CR.
Government and Politics, U.S.

3 - 5

PS 101

 3 credit hours for PS 101 with grade of CR.

THE AP GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TEST IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, MAY 3,2010 @ 8:00 A.M.- - I WILL HAVE DONUTS AND JUICE FOR YOU AT 7:30 IN MY ROOM

While I would love for each and every one of you to take the AP Test, the reality is some colleges and universities require 4s or 5s for college credit. After you make your college decision, please make sure of the specific score for your college or university requires in order for you to receive college credit.

The AP Government test consists of 60 multiple choice questions and four mandatory open response questions. The number of the multiple choice questions on different topics of study is determined by The College Board and based on the percentages listed below.

I. Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government                         5-15%

A. Considerations that influenced the formulation and adoption of the Constitution
B. Separation of Powers
C. Federalism
D. Theories of democratic government

II. Political Beliefs and Behaviors                                                                 10-20%

A. Beliefs citizens hold about their government and its leaders
B. Processes by which citizens learn about politics
C. The nature, sources and consequences of public opinion.
D. The ways in which citizens vote and otherwise participate in political life.
E. Factors that influence citizens to differ from one another in terms of political beliefs and behaviors

III. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media 10-20%

A. Political parties and elections
a. Functions
b. Organizations
c. Development
d. Effects on the political process
e. Electoral laws and systems

B. Interest groups, including political action committees (PACS)

a. The range of interests represented
b. The activities of interest groups
c. The effects of interest groups on political process
d. The unique characteristics and the roles of PACs in the political process

C. The Mass Media

a. The functions and structures of the media
b. The impacts of media on politics

IV. Institutions of National Government: the Congress, the Presidency,                                     35-45%

The Bureaucracy and the Federal Courts

A. The major formal and informal institutional arrangements of power

B. Relationships among these four institutions and varying balances of power

C. Linkages between institutions and the following
a. Public opinions and voters
b. Interest groups
c. Political parties
d. The Media
e. Subnational governments

V. Public Policy                                                                             5-15%

A. Policy making in a federal system
B. The formation of policy agendas
C. The role of institutions in the enactment of policy
D. The role of the bureaucracy and the courts in policy implementation and interpretation
E. Linkages between policy processes and the following
a. Political institutions and federalism
b. Political parties
c. Interest groups
d. Public opinion
e. Elections
f. Policy networks

VI. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 5-15%

A. The development of civil liberties and civil rights by judicial interpetation
B. Knowledge of substantive rights and liberties
C. The impact of the Fourteenth Amendment on the

a. Constitutional development of rights and liberties

Skills and Abilities
· Knowledge of facts, concepts and theories pertaining to U.S. government and politics.
· Understanding of typical patterns of political processes and behaviors 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).
· Analysis and interpretation of data and relationships in U.S. government and politics.
· Written analysis and interpretation if the subject matter if U.S. government and politics.
· Careful attention to the specific free-response question posed and the ability to stay on task.

Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics
The text for the course is American Government and Politics by Steffen W. Schmidt, Mack C. Shelley and Barbara A. Bardes, 2007-2008 edition.
 
Supplemental- The Lanahan Reader on American Polity, Ann G. Serow and Everett C. Ladd
Annual Editions 2006-2007 Dushkin Publishing,
Critical Thinking & American Government, Brudney, Kent and Weber, Mark

This outline is strictly for general guidelines purposes. While every attempt will be made to follow this outline, as you can imagine world events, the presidential election in November could alter the sequence.

Topical Outline- AP Government and Politics, 2008-2009

 

UNIT 1 - - THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC August 13-24

Chapter 1 pages 2-26

A. Why is Government Necessary?
B. Democracy and Other Forms of Government
C. What Kind of Democracy Do We Have?
D. Fundamental Values
E. The Changing Face of America
UNIT 2 - -THE CONSTITUTION August 27- September 19

Chapter 2- -pages 30-78

A. The Colonial Background
B. British Restrictions and Colonial Response
C. Declaring Independence and the Articles of Confederation
D. Drafting the Constitution and the Final Document
E. The Road to Ratification
F. The Bill of Rights
G. Altering the Constitution and the Formal and Informal Methods of Change

 

UNIT 3 FEDERALISM September 21-October 5

Chapter 3- -pages 79-106

  1. Three Systems of Government
  2. Why Federalism?
  3. The Constitutional Basis for American Federalism
  4. Defining Constitutional Powers & States Rights and the Civil War
  5. The Continuing Dispute over the Division of Power
  6. The Politics of Federalism
  7. Federalism and the Supreme Court Today

UNIT 4- - PUBLIC OPINION, AND POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION October 8 - 17

Chapter 6- -pages 190-213
A. Defining Public Opinion
B. How Public Opinion is Formed: Political Socialization
C. Political Preferences and voting Power
D. Measuring Public Opinion
E. Technology and Opinion Polls
F. Public Opinion and the Political Process

UNIT 5 POLITICAL PARTIES October 22– November 21

    Chapter 8 - -pages 249-281

    A. A History of Political Parties in the US
    B. The Two Major Parties Today
    C. The Three Faces of a Party
    D. Why Has the Two-Party System Endured?
    E. The Role of Minor Parties in US Politics
    F. Mechanisms for Political Change

UNIT 6 CAMPAIGNS, NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS October 22-November 21

Chapter 9 - - pages 289-320
A. Who Wants to Be A Candidate
B. The 21st Century Campaign
C. The Strategy of Winning
D. Financing the Campaign
E. Interest Groups and Campaign Money
F. Running for President: The Longest Campaign

a. Campaign 2008
G. The Electoral College
H. How Are Elections Conducted
I. Turning Out the Vote
J. Legal Restrictions on Voting

UNIT 7 – THE MEDIA AND POLITICS October 22-November 21
Chapter 10 - - 327-348
A. The Media’s Function
B. A History of the Media in the United States
C. The Primacy of Television
D. The Media and Political Campaigns
E. The Media and Government
F. Government Regulation of the Media
G. Bias in the Media

UNIT 8 THE PRESIDENCY/ EXECUTIVE BRANCH November 26-December 14

Chapter 12 - - 391-418
A. Presidents versus prime ministers
B. The evolution of the presidency
C. The Many Roles of the President
D. The President as Party Chief and Superpolitician
E. The Powers of the President
F. Abuses of Power
G. The Executive Organization
H. The Vice-President
I. Presidential succession

Final Exam Week December 15-19

All seniors who receive a proficient or a distinguished on their CATS exam will be exempt from taking this final. However, you may choose to take the final if you feel it will help your grade.

UNIT 9 THE BUREAUCRACY January 5-Jannuary 16

Chapter 13- - 425-448
A. The Nature of Bureaucracy
B. The Size of the Bureaucracy
C. The Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy
D. Staffing the Bureaucracy
E. Modern Attempts in Bureaucratic Reform
F. Bureaucrats as Politicians and Policymakers
G. Congressional oversight
H. Reforming the Bureaucracy

UNIT 10 -CONGRESS/ LEGISLATIVE BRANCH January 20-February 22

Chapter 11 - - 355-384

A. Why was Congress Created?
B. The Evolution of Congress
C. The Powers of Congress
D. House v. Senate: A Comparison
E. The Importance of Citizens in the Operation of Congress
F. Who is in Congress?
G. The Organization of Congress: Parties and Caucuses
H. Congressional Apportionment
I. Perks and Privileges
J. The Committee Structure
K. Leadership: Formal and Informal
M. How Members of Congress Vote and Why
N. How A Bill Becomes a Law
O. The Budgetary Process

UNIT 10 -INTEREST GROUPS January 20-February 22

Chapter 7 - - 221-244
  1. Interest Groups: A Natural Phenomenon
  2. Explaining Proliferation
  3. Why Do Americans Join Interest Groups
  4. Types of Interest
  5. What Makes an Interest Powerful?
  6. Interest Group Strategies
  7. Regulating Lobbyists
  8. Interest Groups in a Democracy
  9. Why are Interest Groups Important Today

UNIT 11- -THE JUDICIARY February 22-March 30

Chapter 14 - - 455-477
  1. Sources of American Law and Common Law Tradition
  2. The Federal Court System
  3. The Supreme Court at Work
  4. The Selection of Federal Judges
  5. The Power of the Federal Courts
  6. Policymaking and the Courts
  7. What Checks our Courts

CHAPTER 11-CIVIL LIBERTIES February 22- March 30

Chapter 4- -pages 117-45
                            A. The Bill of Rights
                            B. Freedom of Religion
                            C. Freedom of Expression
                            D. Freedom of the Press
                            E. The Right to Assemble and to Petition
                            F. More Liberties under Scrutiny: Matters of Privacy
                            G. The Great Balancing Act: Rights of the Accused versus the Rights of Society
                            H. The Death Penalty

UNIT 12– CIVIL RIGHTS: EQUAL PROTECTION April 9-19

Chapter 5- -pages 151-183

    A. African Americans and the Consequences of Slavery in the United States
    B. The Civil Rights Movement
    i. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
    C.  Modern Civil Rights
    D.  Immigration and Civil Rights Agenda
    E.  Women’s Struggle for Equal Rights
    F.  Gender-Based Discrimination in the Workplace and Affirmative Action
    G.  Special Protection for Older Americans
    H.  Securing the Rights for Persons with Disabilities
    I.  The Rights and Status of Gay Males and Lesbians
    J.  The Rights and Status of Juveniles

UNIT 13- THE POLITICS OF DOMESTIC POLICY April 23- May 3
  1. Chapter 15- -pages 485-514
    1. Setting the Agenda and the Policy Making Process
    2. Health Care
    3. Poverty and Welfare
    4. Immigration
    5. Crime and the Twenty-First Century
    6. Environmental Policy

UNIT 14- THE POLITICS OF ECONOMIC POLICY May 9-17

Chapter 16 523-542

  1. Unemployment, Inflation and The Business Cycle
  2. Fiscal Policy
  3. Monetary Policy
  4. World Trade
  5. The Politics of Taxes

a. Congress v. Bush

        F. The Social Security Problem

UNIT 15- - FOREIGN AND DEFENSE POLICY

Chapter 17- -pages 549-570

  1. Facing the World in the 21t Century- Foreign and Defense Policy
    2. a. Life After 9/11/2001
  2. Morality Versus reality in Foreign Policy
  3. Challenges in World Politics
    4. b. The Emergence of Terrorism and Iraq
  4. Who Makes Foreign Policy
  5. Congress Balances the President
  6. Domestic Sources of Foreign Policy
  7. The Major Foreign Policy Themes

Obviously, this is a rather ambitious outline. Dates and topics will be adjusted as necessary. Reading your textbook will help tremendously. In fact, you will do much better in this class if you read your book

 

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