AP United States Government & Politics Syllabus

Transcription

1 AP United States Government & Politics Syllabus Teacher: Mr. McKibbon/Room C207/ Course Overview/Description: AP United States Government and Politics is a course about the American political system. We will discuss political ideology, the development of the U.S. political system, and U.S. democratic institutions. Students will be able to evaluate the role of the national government and its relationship to the concept of liberty in a pluralistic society. The discussions will emphasize the changing political culture of American society and its effect on voting patterns, trends, and the processes of government. The main thrust of this course is to provide you with the tools to apply your knowledge of our political system to contemporary events in order to be informed and productive citizen in society. Course Goals: A student who successfully completes AP Government & Politics will: Identify important facts, concepts, and theories relating to U.S. government and politics. Understand patterns of political processes and behavior and their consequences. This includes 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. Analyze and interpret data relevant to U.S. government and politics, including charts, tables, graphs, and various other formats. Critically analyze relevant theories and concepts, apply them, and develop their connections across the curriculum. Course Methodology: This is an inquiry-based course where you will discover and utilize knowledge about the American political system via the textbook, supplemental readings, primary sources, political websites, and discussions with other students and the teacher. Your teacher will act as the facilitator and will guide you through the learning process. However, you are responsible for actively learning the information by completing all assigned readings and activities. Both formal and informal assessment will be used in evaluating your performance in this course. Informal assessment will include evaluations of the quality of your in-class activities. Formal assessment will involve multiple-choice quizzes, written essays, a midterm and a final exam. Content Standards: This college-level United States Government and Politics course is written to the content standards outlined by the College Board s United States Government and Politics Course Requirements. Course Students in AP Government & Politics will use the following required textbooks: Wilson, James Q., et al. American Government: Institutions & Policies. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Supplemental reading assignments will be provided in class or a link will be provided at the teacher's Inderkum website. Recommended Supplemental Text: U.S. Government and Politics (Cliffs AP) (Paperback) by Paul Soifer (Author) Current Events: An effective way to learn about politics and to make more relevant the concepts we discuss in class is to pay attention to current political events. Therefore, it is expected that you will follow the news on a regular basis. The more you pay attention to current events and how they relate to what you have learned, the more effective you will be during class discussions. This will also help you to provide examples in your written work. Grading: The grading system for AP U.S. Government & Politics is based on total points accumulation. Students earn points by completing exams, quizzes, assignments, projects, homework, and by class participation. Student will forfeit points for tardiness, unexcused absences, and for cell phone use when unauthorized. Grading Scale: A: % B: 80-89% C: 70-79% D: 60-69% F: 0-59%

2 Class Requirements: 1. 4-Subject Binder (large 3-ring binders are ideal): Section 1: Lecture Notes Section 2: Homework Assignments Section 3: In-Class Assignments and Reading Activities Section 4: Critical Thinking and Journal Activities 2.Behavior: Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Any actions not befitting the nature of this class will be met with disciplinary action and grade deduction. 3.Getting Help: It is your responsibility to ask for help when you feel it is needed. I am available before and after school. Please ask me for an appointment so that it won t be missed. 4. Attendance: Your presence in each and every class is vitally important to your success. In the event that an absence is unavoidable, it is your responsibility to seek out and complete the work that you missed. 5. Late Assignments: All assignments are to be turned in when they are due. All late work receives a percentage penalty. If a student is absent the day an assignment is due, this penalty will be waived provided that their absence is cleared through the attendance office in accordance with the school attendance policy. 1 day late 10% 2 days late 20% 3 days late 30% Not accepted after day 3 Expectations: 1. Academic Integrity No cheating. 2. On Task Using your time wisely. 3. Attendance Points will be deducted for tardies and unexcused absences. 4. NO CELL PHONES OR OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES Deduction of points for cell phone use. o No charging of electronic devices allowed in the classroom. 5. No Food or Drinks in your work area water is acceptable. 6. Clean Workplace is Required No clutter at your desk. Make-Up Assignments and Assessments: 1. Make up work is given to students with verified absences. 2. It is the student s responsibility to pick up make up work the day he/she returns to school. Teacher Contact Information: mmckibbon@natomasunified.org extension cut here Date Student Signature Date Parent/Guardian Signature *Please read, sign, and cut at the area indicated above. Return the signed slip to teacher on Monday (8/15/16).

3 Course Plan For Semester 1 Week 1: Introduction to the study of American government (Chapter 1); the American Revolution and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation (Chapter 2) Introduction: What is political power and how is it distributed? What is democracy? Is representative democracy best and is it driven by self-interest? What explains the nature of politics and political change? The Constitution: The revolution of ideas (democracy vs. monarchy); weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation, Who were the framers of the Constitution and what were their motives? Chapter 1 Chapter 2 John Locke: Second Treatise of Civil Government Charles A. Beard: Framing the Constitution Assignments (due on 8/22/16): Chapters 1 questions and vocabulary Free Response Question #1 from the 2000 AP U.S. Government & Politics Exam Quiz on Chapter 1 Week 2 & 3: Constitutional Convention; Principles of Democracy; Separation of Powers (Chapter 2); Federalism (Chapter 3) Competing Constitutional plans and the compromises; key principles of democracy imbedded in the Constitution; federalists vs. anti-federalists; Slavery and equality; Does the Constitution work in the modern world? Elastic Clause; what is federalism? McCulloch vs. Maryland; federal structure of government; powers of states; national vs. state government powers. Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Alexander Hamilton: Federalist #16 & #17 The Anti-federalist Papers No. #17 The Constitution Federalism Assignments & Assessments (due on 9/6/156): Chapters 2 & 3 questions and vocabulary Venn Diagram: Constitution vs. Articles of Confederation Quiz on Chapters 1 & 2

4 Free Response Question #4 from the 2010 AP U.S. Government & Politics Exam Week 4 & 5: Federalism (Chapter 3); Political Culture (Chapter 4); Civil Liberties (Chapter 5) Federal aid to states and unfunded mandates; federal government s power of the purse Conflict in the political system; comparing the political & economic systems to those of other nations; political culture; the role of religion; mistrust of government Civil liberties and cultural conflicts; what is speech and what happens when free speech conflicts with other liberties? Freedom of religion; establishment & free exercise clauses; due process Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 James Madison: Federalist #44 & 45 Anti-Federalist Paper # 84: On the Lack of a Bill of Rights Civil Liberties Public Opinion Review Federalism Assignments & Assessments (due on 9/19/16): Quiz on Chapters 3 & 4 Free Response Question #4 from the 2015 AP U.S. Government & Politics Exam Chapters 4 & 5 questions and vocabulary Week 6 & 7: Due process (Chapter 5); Civil Rights (Chapter 6) Search & seizure; search warrant exceptions; exclusionary rule; civil liberties & war on terror Separate but equal & segregation; Brown vs. Board of Education; Affirmative Action; women s rights movement; marriage & the constitution Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Fourteenth Amendment (back of your textbook) Plessy vs. Ferguson 163 U.S (handout) Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka 347 U.S (handout) University of California Board of Regents vs. Bakke 438 U.S. 265 (1978) Assignments & Assessments (due on 10/4/16): Free Response Question #3 from the 2001 AP U.S. Government & Politics Exam Unit I Test (Chapters 1-6) Chapter 6 questions and vocabulary

5 Week 8: Public Opinion & Democracy (Chapter 7) What is public opinion and does polling accurately reflect it? Family, religion, & gender s effects on political socialization; how social class, race, and regional identities affect public opinion Chapter 7 Assignments (due on 10/10/16): Free Response Question #1 from the 2013 AP U.S. Government & Politics Exam Chapter 7 questions and vocabulary Week 9: Political Ideology (Chapter 7), Political Participation (Chapter 8) Mass political ideologies; liberal vs. conservative & policy elites Voter turnout; forms of political participation & causes of low voter turnout Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Public Opinion Assignments (due on 10/17/16): Quiz on Chapters 7 & 8 Free Response Question #2 from the 2009 AP U.S. Government & Politics Exam Chapters 8 questions and vocabulary. Week 10 & 11: Political Parties (Chapter 9); Elections & Campaigns (Chapter 10) Comparative political parties in the U.S. and abroad; rise & decline of political parties; current national party structure; two party system; state & local parties; types of political parties; third parties; presidential nomination process Comparative political campaigns: then vs. now, presidential vs. congressional, primary vs. general; influence of money on campaigns Chapter 9 Chapter 10 James Madison: Federalist #10 Political Parties Elections Assignments (due on 10/31/16): Chapters 9 & 10 questions and vocabulary Free Response Question #2 from the 2013 AP U.S. Government & Politics Exam

6 Week 12: Political Campaigns (Chapter 10); Interest Groups (Chapter 11) What decides a campaign; elections & policy Why interest groups are formed and how they have coincided with social movements; Types of interest groups; funding; political activities of interest groups Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Interest Groups Voting & Elections Assignments (due on 11/7/16): Quiz on Chapters 9 & 10 Chapter 11 questions and vocabulary Week 13: The Media (Chapter 12) American journalism history; structure of the media; rules of the media; media influence on public opinion; examination of questions of media bias; media coverage of government, specifically the president & Congress Chapter 12 Media Assignments (due on 11/14/16): Chapter 12 questions and vocabulary Unit 2 Test on Chapters 7-12 Week 14, 15, & 16: Congress (Chapter 13) Contrasting Congress and parliament; organization of Congress: committees, offices, & parties; the process of bills becoming laws Legislative and Non-Legislative Powers Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Study Guide (pdf) Supplemental Congress Assignments (due on 12/12/16): Chapter 13 Study Guide Activity (pdf) Quiz on Chapters 13 Chapter 13 questions and vocabulary

7 Week 17 & 18: Final Exam Final Exam Preparation Final Exam Chapters st Semester Topics