AP United States Government & Politics

Transcription

1 AP United States Government & Politics 2007/2008 I. Rationale, Description & Purpose The purpose of this course is to expand advanced placement opportunities in the social studies and include a more detailed and inclusive study of political science in the curriculum. The course is designed to develop students awareness of interdependent communities and examine the national community as a product of interaction and compromise. We will study the design of the American political system and how people behave politically in it. We will examine how the system functions as a pluralistic system of various individual and group interests; all promoting their own agendas as to what they believe is beneficial for the country. Students should also begin to learn about the sometimes complex methods of the actual science of politics and how it affects political behavior and institutions. Future lawyers, journalists, public servants, or just regular citizens can begin to develop a more sophisticated and insightful understanding of majority rule democracy, constitutionalism, civil liberties, and other distinguishing characteristics of American politics. Finally, students may receive college credit from their university for taking this course and scoring well on the Advanced Placement Exam. II. Content, Scope & Sequence Text: American Government: Institutions and Policies, 9 th edition, 2004, by James Q. Wilson and John J. Dilulio. Depending on the number of students in our class, I will try to issue every student two copies of the text, one for school and one for home. Additional Readings: I will also incorporate numerous additional readings to supplement our text. These readings will range from primary source materials like The Federalist Papers, to political commentaries of professors, journalists and public servants, to polling data and statistical information. Additional texts include: American Government Readings and Cases, 15 th Edition, 2004, by Peter Woll, Perspectives on American Politics, 4 th Edition, 2004, by William Lasser,

2 and Politics in Action Cases in Modern American Government, 2006, by Gary Wasserman. Computer Lab Work: We will also spend at least two weeks in the computer lab during the year for two different purposes. One will be the Supreme Court Cases research project explained under the Evaluation section. The other involves analysis of statistical information using MicroCase ExplorIt software. Course: This course is divided into six units of study that will provide a comprehensive overview of each particular aspect of American Government. To be adequately prepared for the AP Test, students should master each unit individually and be able to make connections across the units Unit 1 Constitutional Underpinnings of American Democracy (Approximately 3+ weeks and 5 15% of AP Test) Text Chapters 1, 2 and 3 A. Considerations that influenced the formulation and adoption of the Constitution B. Separation of Powers C. Federalism D. Theories of democratic government Unit 2 Political Beliefs and Behaviors (Approximately 4+ weeks and 10 20% of AP Test) Text Chapters 4, 5 and 6 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 of political beliefs and behaviors Unit 3 Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media (Approximately 4+ weeks and 10 20% of AP Test) Text Chapters 7, 8, 9 and 10 A. Political Parties and Elections

3 1. Functions, Organization, and Development 2. Effects on the political process 3. 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 4. The unique characteristics and roles of PACs C. The Mass Media 1. The functions and structures of the media 2. The impacts of media on politics Unit 4 Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, the Bureaucracy and the Federal Courts (Approximately 12+ weeks and 35 45% of AP Test) Text Chapters 11,12,13 and 14 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. Subnational governments Unit 5 Public Policy (Approximately 3+ weeks and 5 15% of AP Test) Text Chapters 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21) 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 1. Political institutions and federalism

4 2. Political parties 3. Interest groups 4. Public Opinion 5. Elections 6. Policy networks Unit 6 Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (Approximately 3+ weeks and 5 15% of AP Test) Text Chapters 18 and 19 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 III. Weekly Course Objectives Week 1: Establish classroom rules, procedures and expectations. Evaluate students prior knowledge. Review summer assignments and analyze current political climate. Topics: political power, authority, legitimacy and democracy. Week 2: Introduce students to the historical context and foundations within which the Constitution was written, and analyze the content of the Constitution, Article by Article, line by line. Week 3: Introduce students to the historical context and foundations within which the Constitution was written, and analyze the content of the Constitution, Article by Article, line by line.

5 Week 4: Explain the difference between federal and centralized system of government, show why a federal system was adopted, and outline ways that the courts have interpreted national and state powers. Week 5: Identify the factors that determine where we get our political identity and where we draw our political culture from. Week 6: Identify the factors that determine public opinion, origins of political attitudes, cleavages and ideology. Week 7: Analyze statistical data from charts and graphs using MicroCase ExplorIt computer program to gain a greater understanding of the factors that determine public opinion, origins of political attitudes, cleavages and ideology. Week 8: Identify and analyze the factors that determine why people do or do not vote, and the history of suffrage in this nation Week 9: Identify the development of the two party system, political party structure and analyze the major differences between the Democrats and Republicans. Week 10: Identify the development of the two party system, political party structure and analyze the major differences between the Democrats and Republicans. Week 11: Identify the unique roles that elections play in the political landscape, including the aspects of money, special interest groups, realignment, and successful coalition building. Week 12: Explain why the characteristics of American society and government encourage a multiplicity of interest groups; the historical conditions under which these groups form; and the relationships between government and interest groups. Week 13: Explain why the characteristics of American society and government encourage a multiplicity of interest groups; the historical conditions under which these groups form; and the relationships between government and interest groups.

6 Week 14: Analyze statistical data from charts and graphs using MicroCase ExplorIt computer program to gain a greater understanding of the factors that determine a multiplicity of interest groups; the historical conditions under which these groups form; and the relationships between government and interest groups. Week 15: Understand the evolution and characteristics of journalism in America and analyze its effect on politics today. Week 16: Understand the evolution and characteristics of journalism in America and analyze its effect on politics today. Week 17: Understand the evolution and characteristics of Congress and evaluate its role and organization in politics today. Week 18: Understand the evolution and characteristics of Congress and evaluate its role and organization in politics today. Week 19: Understand the evolution and characteristics of Congress and evaluate its role and organization in politics today. Week 20: Understand the evolution and characteristics of the Office of the President and evaluate its role and organization in politics today. Week 21: Understand the evolution and characteristics of the Office of the President and evaluate its role and organization in politics today. Week 22: Understand the evolution and characteristics of the Office of the President and evaluate its role and organization in politics today. Week 23: Understand the evolution and characteristics of the Federal Bureaucracy and evaluate its role and organization in politics today. Week 24: Understand the evolution and characteristics of the judicial branch, the Supreme Court, and important cases in American history. Week 25: Understand the evolution and characteristics of the judicial branch, the Supreme Court, and important cases in American history.

7 Week 26: Understand the evolution and characteristics of the judicial branch, the Supreme Court, and important cases in American history. Week 27: Research and analyze a number of specific Supreme Court Cases to compile and create a packet to use as a reference in preparation of the AP Test. Week 28: Understand the evolution and characteristics of the civil rights and civil liberties in American society. Week 29: Understand the evolution and characteristics of the civil rights and civil liberties in American society. Week 30: Understand and evaluate the purpose, formation and linkages of public policy on a federal system of government. Week 31: Review course material and prepare for the AP Government test. Week 32: Review course material and prepare for the AP Government test. Week 33: Review course material and prepare for and take the AP Government test. Week 34: Watch various documentaries and films and analyze their content, comparing and contrasting them with the content learned through the course. Week 35: Watch various documentaries and films and analyze their content, comparing and contrasting them with the content learned through the course. Week 36: Watch various documentaries and films and analyze their content, comparing and contrasting them with the content learned through the course.

8 IV. Evaluation Since one of the primary purposes for this course is for students to be able to pass the AP Examination, evaluation will closely follow the AP example. The AP Test is structured as follows: 60 Multiple Choice questions in a 45 minute time period/ 50% of test 4 Free Response questions in a 100 minute time period/50% of test Each Unit, as outlined above, will have a test following this AP model, although I may have to shorten the Free Response portion depending on time constraints, for a total of six major Unit tests. Individual Chapters will also have tests that will incorporate varied testing techniques (true/false, completion, multiple choice, etc.) Since the writing portion is 50% of the test, weekly writing assignments will be given; some timed in class and some to be done as homework. We will also compile a Supreme Court Case file where each student will be responsible for researching and writing information on a set number of court cases. We will then combine all the cases together to form a large study guide that each student can use to prepare for the AP Exam. Other assignments will incorporate readings, statistical data and interpretation, and higher level essay analysis. All assignments, quizzes, tests and unit tests will be given a point value based on it s weight (i.e. a homework assignment may be worth 10 points while a chapter test may be worth 120 points). Students points will be totalled and divided against the total possible points to determine the students percentage grade. Letter grades will follow the school s system. Weighted Grades: Students who take the Advanced Placement Exam will have a weighted letter grade assigned to them: five (5) points for an A, four (4) points for a B, three (3) points for a C, two (2) points for a D, and zero (0) points for an F. If a student does not take the Advanced Placement Exam, that student will not have a weighted grade and will be required to complete a final exam in

9 the course. Advanced Placement Courses Students who elect to take an Advanced Placement Course must take the Advanced Placement Exam. Parents/Guardians/Students are required to pay the fee for the Advanced Placement Exam. Students who earn a passing score, as determined by the College Board, will be reimbursed for the cost of the Advanced Placement Exam, upon submitting a copy of the passing score record and a copy of the cancelled check or receipt proving payment. Students who take the Advanced Placement Exam will be exempt from completing a final exam in the course. Some final thoughts Remember that this is a college-level political science course, not a high school civics course. That means that a large portion of the work, especially the readings, fall upon the students shoulders. We have a limited number of days before the AP Exam, meaning that there are no f ree days from now through May. The day before Christmas vacation is as important as any other day of the year. Absences, whether excused or unexcused will only put you behind. You are expected to know where the class is today, where it is going tomorrow and to be prepared as such. If you participate in a lot of activities that pull you from class, are absent from school often, or generally have numerous things going on; you may want to reconsider your choosing this course. To be successful in this course and on the AP Exam, you will have to dedicate a minimum of 8-10 hours per week outside of class on your own time.