AP U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS SYLLABUS

Transcription

1 AP U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS SYLLABUS Instructor: Ms. Herring Course Overview: This is an intensive college-level course on the structure and functions of the formal and informal institutions within the U.S. Government, the political processes that occur within this framework as well as the role that the public plays in this system. Students are expected to keep up with a heavy reading schedule as well as break themselves of classroom dependency as a new and more self-sufficient method of learning. Ideas and concepts will be defined, discussed and interwoven so that students can understand the system as a whole as well as acknowledging the intricacies of its individual parts. Material taught in this course is intended prepare students to take the College Board AP U.S. Government and Politics Test. Textbooks: * Wilson, James Q. and John J. DiIulio, Jr American Government Institutions and Policies 9 th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. * Lasser, William Perspectives on American Politics, 4 th ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Additional Informational Sources: *Teacher website at with assignments, readings, review materials etc.. * various news media and informational websites such Pew.org, NPR.org, New York Times, Frontline web videos and programs viewed in class. Classroom Materials: Students must bring to class every day: a 3 ring binder with pocketed dividers for all 6 class units. a pencil, blue or black ink pen, a yellow highlighter and red ink pen. plenty of loose leaf paper

2 Curriculum Outline: Below is an outline of the major content areas covered by the AP Exam in United States Government and Politics. The multiple-choice portion of the exam is devoted to each content area in the approximate percentages indicated. The free-response portion of the exam will test students in some combination of the six major categories outlined below. The outline is a guide and is by no means an exhaustive list of topics or the preferred order of topics. CHAPTERS 1, 2, 3 (pages 1-75) I. Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government % A. Considerations that influenced the formulation and adoption of the Constitution B. Separation of powers C. Checks and balances D. Federalism E. Theories of democratic government CHAPTERS 4,5,6 (pages ) II. Political Beliefs and Behaviors % A. Beliefs that 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 CHAPTERS 7,8,9,10 (pages ) III. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media % A. Political parties and elections 1. Functions 2. Organization 3. Development 4. Effects on the political process 5. Electoral laws and systems B. Interest groups, including political action committees (PACs) 1. The range of interests represented 2. The activities of interest groups 3. The effects of interest groups on the political process 4. The unique characteristics and roles of PACs in the political process C. The mass media 1. The functions and structures of the news media 2. The impacts of the news media on politics 3. The news media industry and its consequences

3 CHAPTERS 11,12,14 ( , ) IV. Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, 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: 1. Public opinion and voters 2. Interest groups 3. Political parties 4. The media 5. State and local governments CHAPTERS 13, 15, 16, 17 (pages , ) V. Public Policy % A. Policymaking 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: 1. Political institutions and federalism 2. Political parties 3. Interest groups 4. Public opinion 5. Elections 6. Policy networks CHAPTER 18,19 ( ) VI. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties % A. The development of civil liberties and civil rights by judicial interpretation B. Knowledge of substantive rights and liberties C. The impact of the Fourteenth Amendment on the constitutional development of rights and liberties

4 PAGES TO BE UNIT 1- CONSTITUTIONAL UNDERPINNINGS READ BEFORE DAY OF CLASS DAY 1 Introduction to U.S. Government--- Wilson Ch.1 Quiz on Summer Assignment DAY 2 The Constitution--- Wilson Ch. 2 p DAY 3 The Constitution---Wilson Ch. 2 Due: Ch. 2 flashcards and questions Quiz on Ch. 2 DAY 4 Federalism---Wilson Ch. 3 Lasser Ch. 1 (The Constitution and Foundations) Federalist Paper 10 Federalist Paper 51 Answer questions 1-3 p.3 DAY 5 Federalism---Wilson Ch.3 Due: Ch. 3 flashcards and questions Quiz on Ch. 3 DAY 6 Review Jeopardy Game ***for grade *** BE PREPARED!!! Teams with a score less than 100 will receive F grade, losing team will receive a C while the winning team will get an A DAY 7 UNIT 1 TEST- worth 5 grades p p p. 1-3 p. 4-9 p p study-game Study- unit test UNIT 2- POLITICAL BELIEFS AND BEHAVIORS DAY 8 American Political Culture---Ch. 4 p Tests Returned- corrections for homework DAY 9 American Political Culture---Ch. 4 Unit test answer corrections due Unit Test Answer Review p study- quiz DAY 10 Public Opinion---Ch. 5 p Ch. 4 and 5 Quiz Due: Ch. 4 and 4 flashcards and questions DAY 11 Political Participation---Ch. 6 p DAY 12 Activity Study- game DAY 13 Review Jeopardy Game ***for grade *** BE PREPARED!!! Teams with a score less than 100 will receive F grade, losing team will receive a C while the winning team will get an A DAY 14 Due: Ch. 6 flashcards and questions UNIT 2 TEST- worth 5 grades Study-Unit test

5 UNIT 3- POLITICAL PARTIES, ELECTIONS, INTEREST GROUPS DAY 15 Political Parties---Ch. 7 p DAY 16 Political Parties---Ch. 7 p Ch. 7 Quiz Unit 2 test answer review Due: Ch. 7 flashcards and questions DAY 17 Activity DAY 18 Elections and Campaigns---Ch. 8 p DAY 19 Elections and Campaigns---Ch. 8 p Ch. 8 Quiz Due: Ch. 8 flashcards and questions DAY 20 Activity DAY 21 Interest Groups---Ch. 9 p DAY 22 Interest Groups---Ch. 9 p Ch. 9 Quiz Due: Ch. 9 flashcards and questions DAY 23 Activity Study-game DAY 24 Review Jeopardy Game ***for grade *** BE PREPARED!!! Teams with a score less than 100 will receive F grade, losing team will receive a C while the winning team will get an A Study-unit test DAY 25 UNIT 3 TEST- worth 5 grades UNIT 4- INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT- CONGRESS AND PRESIDENCY DAY 26 Congress---Ch. 11 p DAY 27 Congress---Ch. 11 Unit 3 test answer review p Study-quiz DAY 28 Congress---Ch. 11 p Ch. 11 Quiz Due: Ch. 11 flashcards and questions DAY 29 Activity DAY 30 The Presidency---Ch. 12 p Study-quiz DAY 31 The Presidency---Ch. 12 p Ch. 12 quiz Due: Ch. 12 and 13 flashcards and questions DAY 32 The Presidency and Bureaucracy---Ch. 12 and 13 DAY 33 Activity Study-game DAY 34 Review Jeopardy Game ***for grade *** BE PREPARED!!! Teams with a score less than 100 will receive F grade, losing team will receive a C while the winning team will get an A Study-unit test

6 DAY 35 UNIT 4 TEST UNIT 5- JUDICIARY, COURT CASES, CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES DAY 36 The Judiciary---Ch. 14 Unit 4 test answer review Take home Judiciary test---xmas break p DAY 37 Ch. 14 Review p DAY 38 Civil Liberties---Ch. 18 p DAY 39 Civil Rights---Ch. 19 p Ch. 18 and 19 Quiz Due: Ch. 18 and 19 flashcards and questions DAY 40 Test tips/tricks/facts Class Rules and Responsibilities: * ABSOLUTELY NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNLESS YOU HAVE A DOCTOR S NOTE. * IF A STUDENT MISSES AN EXAM, HE/SHE MUST MAKE IT UP UPON THE DAY OF RETURN. EXPECT MAKE-UP TESTS TO BE MORE DIFFICULT. *ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE TO BE HAND-WRITTEN UNLESS ADVISED OTHERWISE. *STUDENTS MUST GIVE TEACHER UNDIVIDED ATTENTION THIS MEANS NO PLAYING WITH PHONES, IPODS, CHATTING, OR WORKING ON ASSIGNMENTS FOR OTHER CLASSES. *PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE PERMITTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES- THIS ESPECIALLY MEANS NO CUTTING AND PASTING. *STUDENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO MAKE-UP EXAMS, PROJECTS, MEET WITH COMMITTEES, COUNSELORS, TEACHERS ETC.DURING MY CLASS TIME. *UNSATISFACTORY QUIZ AND TEST GRADES WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENTS SUCH AS CHAPTER OUTLINES AS INDIVIDUAL REMEDIATION (eg. if you get less than a C on a quiz, you will be assigned a chapter outline).

7 * STUDENTS MUST ATTEND REVIEW SESSIONS IN APRIL (TBA) IN PREPARATION FOR THE MAY 4 TH 8 A.M. AP EXAM. FAILURE TO REVIEW WILL GREATLY HARM CHANCES OF PASSING THE AP EXAM. *STUDENTS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO CREATE STUDY GROUPS. HOWEVER, INDIVIDUALS MUST DO THEIR OWN ASSIGNMENTS. *IT IS ALSO STRONGLY SUGGESTED THAT STUDENTS BUY AN AP REVIEW BOOK. THIS TEACHER HIGHLY RECOMMENDS- 5 STEPS TO A NUMBER 5. *SINCE THERE IS EXTREMELY LIMITED TIME TO COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS COURSE, THE SYLLABUS MATERIAL AND READINGS WILL BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO. IF WE MISS SCHOOL DUE TO A HURRICANE, YOU WILL STILL NEED TO READ AND REVIEW THE MATERIAL FOR THAT DAY AT HOME, AND BE READY UPON RETURN TO RESUME WITH THE NORMAL SCHEDULE. Grades: The standard grading scale will be used in this class: A B C D F UNIT TESTS...5 GRADES CHAPTER OUTLINES...1 GRADE VOCABULARY FLASH CARDS...1 GRADE QUIZZES GRADES PROJECTS/PAPERS..2-5 GRADES CHAPTER QUESTIONS..2 GRADES PARTICIPATION..2 GRADES PER UNIT EXAM CORRECTIONS 1 GRADE * teacher reserves the right to change grade weighting as deemed necessary

8 I have read and understand Ms. Herring s AP U.S. Government and Politics syllabus. This course is an intensive college level course and I am prepared to keep up with all of the readings and assignments detailed in this syllabus. While success in this course will probably indicate the grade I will get on the AP U.S. Government and Politics test, it is no guarantee. My passing the test will largely depend on my willingness to work hard and review on a regular basis. There will be after school reviews in the weeks prior to the AP Exam, which I understand are extremely important to attend if I expect to pass the exam. The material that I will learn is not solely intended to help me to pass the test, but is also to impress upon me the importance of my knowledge of government as a U.S. citizen participating in a representative democracy. I have shown and explained this syllabus to my parents and have let them know that Ms. Herring encourages parental participation in the students learning process. STUDENT NAME PRINTED CLASS PERIOD STUDENT SIGNATURE DATE PARENT NAME PRINTED PRIMARY CONTACT # PARENT SIGNATURE DATE