AP United States Government and Politics Miss Samuel

Transcription

1 Course Overview/Description AP United States Government and Politics Miss Samuel AP government and Politics is a semester long course that examines the formal and informal structured of the government and the processes of the American political system, emphasizing policymaking and implementation. Students will critically analyze and examine the strengths and weaknesses of our American Political System and the responsibilities that follow being a citizen. Extensive reading, research and writing, and authentic assessments will be used to prepare students for the AP exam. Texts and Materials 1. Edwards III, George C., Martin P. Wattenberg, and Robert L. Lineberry. Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy AP Edition. 13 th Edition, New York: Pearson Education, Inc, Supplemental Material Provided in Class: 1. Benedict, James A. and Daniel S. Ludlum. Advance Placement United States Government and Politics. USA, The Learning Center, Center for Civic Education. We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Level 3. Calabasas, California. Center for Civic Education, Close Up Foundation. The Citizen Bee: Guide to American Studies. 2 nd Edition, Arlington, VA: Close Up Foundation, Haynes, Charles C., Sam Chaltain and Susan M. Glisson. First Freedoms: A Documentary History of First Amendment Rights in America. Oxford University Press, Inc., Schmidt, Steffen W., Mark C Shelley and Barbara A. Bardes. American Government and Politics Today, Edition. Belmont, CA. Thomson Higher Education, Trachtman, Michael G. The Supremes Greatest Hits: The 37 Supreme Court Cases that Most Directly Affect Your Life. New York, NY, Sterling Publishing Company, Additional Material and AP study aids will be provided over the course of the semester. AP Test Review Material Available for Students to Purchase at a Bookstore or online: 1. 5 Steps to a 5 AP US Government and Politics 2. Barron s AP U.S. Government and Politics 3. CliffsNotes AP U.S. Government and Politics, 4. Cracking the AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam (Princeton Review) 5. Kaplan AP U.S. Government and Politics Other Materials: Current Events: Students are required to read the L.A. Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Economist, Wall Street Journal, C-Span, and other online sources on a daily basis. It is also necessary to watch CNN, MSNBC, and Meet the Press to keep informed on local, state, national, and international news. Students will be required to keep a journal of News articles they researched and the notes from the articles that their fellow group members also researched each week. Maps, graphs, and charts: Students will be assessed on the information obtained from analyzing and reading various charts, graphs, and maps from the textbook and other resources. Practicing these skills will assist in mastering similar questions on the AP exam. Free Response Questions: Students will address numerous free response questions as take home essay and as class essay test to enhance their ability to analyze and interpret the concepts in

2 American government structure and foundation. These essay questions will be instrumental in preparing student for the essay section of the AP U.S. Government and Politics Test. Daily Note Cards: Students will be directed to write specific information on note cards to help prepare for the AP exam. Each day of the week will represent a different category where information will be provided to the students to write on their note card and then use for review for upcoming tests and the AP exam. The categories are as follows: Monumental Mondays (Supreme Court Cases and Judicial Branch), Super Tuesday (Election, PAC, and Interest Groups), White House Wednesday (Executive Branch), Throw Down Thursday (Legislative Branch), Freedom Friday (Foundational Documents). Study Island: Students will be assigned courses to complete on the online site of Study Island in preparation for class tests and AP exam. The assignments will be inputted into the grade book as a quiz grade. Course Calendar and Reading Assignments Unit 1 (10 class periods) Foundations of American Government Students will understand the natural rights philosophy and the founding principles and doctrines that influenced the founding documents. Review Syllabus Diagnostic Test on U.S. Government and Politics Concepts covered: - State of nature- John Locke - Social contract - Classical Republicanism/natural rights - Age of Enlightenment - British origins of the American Constitution - Roots of democracy - Representative Government - Colonial Experiences in self-government - Declaration of Independence - State governments and individual rights Readings: We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Ch. 1 Philosophical and historical foundations of the American Political system p Government in America Ch. 1 Introducing Government in America - p Declaration of Independence - p : Unit 1 multiple choice 60 questions and free response exam Unit 2 (10 class periods)

3 Creation of the Constitution Students will examine the process taken to create a new Constitution and the debates surrounding its ratification and its contents including checks and balances, separation of powers, and judicial review. Concepts Covered: -Articles of Confederation -Constitutional Convention -Compromises- Great Compromise, 3/5 -Powers of the three branches -Ratification debate -Federalist v. Anti-federalist -Organization of the new government -Federalism -Protection of rights -Rise of Political parties -Division of power- state and national government -Free response questions Readings We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Unit 2 The Creation of the Constitution pp Unit 3 values and Principles embodied in the Constitution pp Ch. 2 The Constitution p. 30 Ch. 3 Federalism p. 68 Federalist No 10 p. 740 Federalist No 16 (copy provided) Federalist No 39 (copy provided) Federalist No 45 (copy provided) Federalist No 51 p. 743 Federalist No 78 (copy provided) s Unit 2-60 questions multiple choice and free response test Unit 3 (10 class periods) The Development and the Expansion of the Bill of Rights Students will understand individual protections guaranteed under the first ten amendments. Students will understand the contents in the Bill of Rights, the fourteenth amendments incorporation doctrine as well as the key Supreme Court decisions to interpret those rights. Readings We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution Unit 4 The expansion of the Bill of Rights p Unit 5 The Rights the Bill of Rights Protects p

4 Ch. 4 Civil Liberties and Public Policy p. 98 Ch. 5 Civil Rights and Public Policy p. 140 Concepts covered -First Amendment/protection for assembly, religion, petition, press, speech -procedural and substantive due process -Fourth and Fifth Amendment -Fifth Through eighth amendments -Constitutional equality -Legal segregation -Civil Rights Movement -Affirmative Action -Women s Rights -Other minorities/protected classes Unit 3-60 questions multiple choice and free response exam Unit 4 (15 class periods) Processes of American Democracy Students will understand the role and the importance that political parties, interest groups, political action committees, and mass media plays in our government. Readings We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution Unit 3 The Values and Principles in the Constitution that Shaped American Institutions and Practices pp Ch. 6 Public Opinion and Political Agenda p Ch. 7 Mass Media and the Political Agenda p. 210 Ch. 8 Political Parties p 240 Ch. 9 Nominations and Campaigns p. 296 Ch. 10 Elections and Voting Behavior p. 296 Ch. 11 Interest Groups p. 322 Federalist No. 10 p. 740 Concepts covered -Political Socialization -Measuring Political pinion -American Political culture -Political parties and Democracy -Functions of Political parties -Party Organization -Two Party System -function of Interest groups -Types and characteristics of interest groups -political Action Committees

5 -Campaign finance Unit 4-60 questions multiple choice and free response exam Unit 5 (25 class periods) Institutions of National Government (Congress, President, Courts, Bureaucracy) Students will understand the functions of each branch and its role in the lawmaking process while understanding how the system of checks and balances operates in each branch. Concepts Covered: -The structures and powers of government -Organization structure of Congress -Functions of Congress -Functions of the President -Formal and informal powers of the President -Structure of the executive branch -Judicial branch and its powers -Organization of the American court system -Supreme Court -Judicial Review Readings: We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Unit 5 The Judiciary and its Protection of Rights pp Ch. 12 Congress p. 352 Ch. 13 The Presidency p. 390 Ch. 14 The Congress, the President and the Budget p. 434 Ch. 15 The Federal Bureaucracy p. 466 Ch. 16 The Federal Courts p. 502 Federalist, No. 78 (copy provided) Unit 5 Test #1 Legislative Branch - 60 questions multiple choice and free response exam Test #2 Executive Branch - 60 questions multiple choice and free response exam Test #3 Judicial Branch - 60 questions multiple choice and free response exam Unit 6 (10 class periods) Campaigning, Elections, Citizenship, and Public Policy Students will become familiar with the electoral process and the role of interest groups and the media in influencing the outcome of the political spectrum and culture in America

6 Readings We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution Unit 6 The Roles of the Citizen in American Democracy pp Government in America Ch. 10 Elections and Voting Behavior p. 296 (review) Ch. 17 Economic Policy Making p. 540 Ch. 18 Social Welfare Policymaking p. 564 Ch 19 Policymaking for Health Care and the Environment p. 588 Ch 20 National Security and Policymaking p. 614 Concepts covered -Participants -Voting -Social and Political Action -Congressional elections -Presidential elections -State and local elections -Money and Elections -Citizenship/meaning-use-changes -Policy making process -Regulatory policy -Social welfare Unit 6-60 questions multiple choice and free response exam. Grading: 100% - 93% = A Test and Quizzes = 60% 92.99% 90% = A- In Class Assignments = 20% 89.99% - 87% = B+ Homework = 20% 86.99% - 83% = B 82.99% 80% = B % - 77% = C % - 73% = C 72.99% - 70% = C % - 67% = D % - 63% = D 62.99% - 60% = D % - 0% = F No late assignments will be accepted. If the student is absent the day of a test they will have three school days to arrange to make up the exam. Assignments that were given to the student prior to the absence and collected a day that they were absent is expected to be turned in the day that they return to school. Assignments that were passed out when the student was absent are filled in the daily files located in the classroom and can be found under the date that the student was absent. The student is responsible to check the files when they are absent and clarify directions after they have reviewed the materials that are in the daily file from their absence. Assignments can also be downloaded by the student from the school website under the course website for AP Government.