AP® U.S. Government & Politics Syllabus Scoring Components Page(s) SC1 The course provides instruction in constitutional underpinnings of United States Government. 3, 4 The course provides instruction in Political Beliefs, Political Behaviors, and Elections. 3, 4 SC2 SC3 The course provides instruction in Interest Groups. 5 The course provides instruction in Political Parties. 4 The course provides instruction in Media. 5 SC4 SC5 SC6 The course provides instruction in Institutions of National Government. 5‐8 The course provides instruction in Public Policy and Public Policy Areas. 9 The course provides instruction in Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. 8 SC7 SC8 SC9 The course provides students with practice analyzing and interpreting data. SC10 The course provides students with practice analyzing information relevant to US government and politics. SC11 The course includes supplemental readings, including primary source materials (such as the Federalist Papers). 2, 4, 8, 9 SC12 The course includes supplemental readings, including contemporary news analyses that strengthen student understanding of the curriculum. 2, 5, 7, 8 SC13 The course requires students to answer analytical and interpretive free response questions on a frequent basis. 2, 3, 4, 9 2 ‐ 9 2, 6, 9 AP® Government & Politics Syllabus
Course Description AP United States Government & Politics explores the political theory and everyday practice that direct the daily operation of our government and shape our public policies. The express purpose of this course is to prepare students to take the AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam. The course is for all intents and purposes taught on a college level, and it requires a substantial amount of reading and preparation for every class. The objectives of this course go beyond a basic analysis of how our government “works”. Students will develop a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the American political system, as well as their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Texts  Edwards, George C., Martin P. Wattenberg, and Robert Lineberry. Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy, 10th ed. New York: Longman, 2002.  Woll, Peter. American Government: Readings and Cases, 15th ed. New York: Longman, 2003. [SC 11] Interpretation and Analysis of Data and Information In each unit, students will examine data embedded in maps, charts and graphs to analyze trends and dynamics in American politics and public policies. Students will be assessed on their understanding of quantitative and visually presented information. [SC 9] Each unit of study also includes interpretation and analysis of information through the reading of texts, as well as the watching of news reports and documentaries. [SC 10] Contemporary news sources include, but are not limited to, The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Time, The Economist, The Atlantic, National Journal, NPR, C‐SPAN, news shows and numerous websites. [SC 12] Primary documents include, but are not limited to, The Federalist Papers, Articles of Confederation, and U.S. onstitution. [SC 11] Assessments Each unit concludes with an exam with multiple‐choice and free‐ response questions. Quizzes over readings, vocabulary and other materials are administered regularly. [SC 13] SC13 students answer analytical
and interpretive free response
questions on a frequent basis.
Course Outline Unit 1 Political Beliefs and Political Behaviors 2 weeks Unit 2 Constitutional Underpinnings 2 weeks Unit 3 Political Parties, Nominations, Media & Interest Groups 2 weeks Unit 4 The Legislative Branch 2 weeks Unit 5 The Executive Branch 2 weeks Unit 6 The Judicial Branch 1 week Unit 7 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights 2 weeks Unit 8 Public Policy 2 weeks HISD/AP® Government and Politics Syllabus Authorization #1247163v1
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AP® Government & Politics Syllabus
Unit 1: Political Beliefs & Behaviors (2 Weeks) Week 1: Political Beliefs [SC 2] SC2 Political Beliefs,
Key Topics Political Behaviors, and
1. Introduction to the course – Syllabus, Course Guidelines, Elections
Policymaking System 2. Beliefs that citizens hold about their government and its leaders 3. Processes by which citizens learn about politics 4. Political ideologies and the political spectrum 5. Factors that influence citizens to differ from one another in terms of political beliefs and behaviors Readings, Labs & Other Assignments 1. Text, Chapter 6 2. Online lab – Political Ideological Assessment (Pew Research – Political Typology) 3. Data Analysis – 2008 & 2012 Exit Polls (Washington Post) 4. Data Analysis – Voter Turnout Among Young Men & Women in 2012 (CIRCLE) 5. Information Analysis – Democratic National Platform & Republican National Platform (latest) Week 2: Political Behavior [SC 2] SC9 analyzing and
Key Topics interpreting data
1. Introduction to Public Policy project 2. The measurement, nature, sources, and consequences of public opinion 3. The ways in which citizens vote and otherwise participate in political life 4. Voter choices and voting patterns: Factors that affect how voters choose whom to support 5. Voter turnout: Process, who does and who does not vote Readings, Labs & Other Assignments 1. Text, Chapters 6 and 10 2. Public Policy Assignment – Analysis of public opinion poll related to student’s topic 3. Data Analysis – Voter Turnout Among Young Men & Women in 2012 (CIRCLE) 4. Data Analysis – Changing Attitudes on Gay Marriage (Pew Research, March 2014) 5. Primer – “ABC News’ Guide to Polls and Public Opinion” (January 8, 2008) Unit 2: Constitutional Underpinnings (2 weeks) Week 3: The Constitution [SC 1] Key Topics 1. Historical situation 2. Ideological and philosophical influences 3. American Revolution and The Declaration of Independence 4. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation 5. Constitutional Convention – delegates, compromises, key concepts (separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism) 6. Ratification & Anti‐Federalist Concerns 7. Formal and informal means of amending the U.S. Constitution HISD/AP® Government and Politics Syllabus Authorization #1247163v1
Secondary Social Studies Curriculum SC1 Constitutional
underpinnings of U.S.
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Readings, Labs & Other Assignments 1. Text, Chapter 2 2. Primary sources – Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, U.S. Constitution, Federalist #10 and 51 3. Court cases – Marbury v. Madison 4. Constitutional Scavenger Hunt 5. Classification of Federalists and Anti‐Federalists quotations 6. Resources from the National Constitution Center Week 4: Federalism [SC 1] Key Topics 1. Forms of government – federalism, confederalism, unitary 2. Constitutional basis 3. Federal‐state relations, Interstate relations 4. Types and evolution of federalism 5. Advantages and disadvantages SC11 supplemental
readings, including primary
source materials
SC1 Constitutional
underpinnings of U.S.
Government
Readings, Labs & Other Assignments 1. Text, Chapter 3 2. Court cases – McCulloch v. Maryland, Gibbons v. Odgen, U.S. v. Lopez 3. Legislation – Americans with Disabilities Act, Welfare Reform Act, No Child Left Behind Act 4. Primary source – U.S. Constitution 5. Public Policy Assignment – Analysis of federalism’s impact on student’s policy topic 6. Reading & Data Analysis – “Feds may be Rethinking Drug War, but States are Leading the Way” (Pew Research, April 2014) Unit 3: Political Parties, Nominations Media, & Interest Groups (2 weeks) Week 5: Political Parties & Nominations [SC 2], [SC 4] Key Topics 1. Functions and structure of parties 2. Two‐party system and minor parties 3. Effects of parties on the political system 4. Parties and the nomination process 5. Primaries vs. Caucus System 6. Campaign finance SC2 Political Beliefs,
Political Behaviors, and
Elections
SC4 Political Parties
Readings, Labs & Other Assignments 1. Text, Chapter 8, 9 2. Court cases – Buckley v. Valeo, Citizens United v. FEC, McCutcheon v. FEC 3. Legislation – Federal Election Campaign Act, Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 4. Public Policy Assignment – Analysis of the major parties’ views on student’s policy topic 5. Interactive – Presidential Delegate Timeline (Washington Post, 2008) 6. Video – “How an Iowa Caucus Works” (3 minutes) 7. Video – Obama’s 2004 DNC Keynote Address 8. YouTube Playlist ‐‐ Presidential Nomination Campaign HISD/AP® Government and Politics Syllabus Authorization #1247163v1
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Week 6: Interest Groups & Media [SC 3] [SC 5] SC3 Interest Groups
Key Topics 1. Parties vs. interest groups 2. Types of interest groups 3. Interest group activities 4. Theories of democracy and interest groups – pluralism (participatory), hyperpluralism, elitism 5. Role, categories, organization, and trends of the media 6. News reporting – media goals, incentives, and bias 7. Impacts of media on politics – agenda setting, political parties, electoral outcomes, and public opinion SC5 Media
Readings, Labs & Other Assignments 1. Text, Chapters 7 and 11 2. Court cases – Buckley v. Valeo, Citizens United v. FEC, SC12 supplemental readings,
including contemporary news
McCutcheon v. FEC analyses
3. Public Policy Analysis ‐‐ Analysis of an interest group related to the student’s policy topic 4. Video – “Behind the Closed Doors of Washington Lobbyists”, 10 minutes (CBS Sunday Morning, October 2012) 5. Video – “Inside the Obama House: Anatomy of a Sound Bite”, Segment 3 (NBC News, 2009) 6. Reading – “Death of the White House Press Corp” (The Daily Beast, April 2010) Unit 4: The Legislative Branch (2 weeks) Week 7: Congress as an Institution [SC 6] Key Topics 1. Constitutional foundations a. Bicameralism, representation, and formal qualifications b. Formal powers c. Implied powers d. Constitutional constraints 2. Organization of Congress a. Political parties b. Congressional leadership c. Committee system d. Staff and support agencies – CBO, GAO, CRS 3. Legislative Process (“How a Bill Becomes a Law”) a. Committees b. Floor debate, votes, and conference committee c. Presidential action and congressional response (if any) SC6 Institutions of
National Government
SC12 supplemental readings,
including contemporary news
analyses
Readings, Labs & Other Assignments SC9 analyzing and
1. Text, Chapter 12 interpreting data
2. Reading – “The Empty Chamber” (The New Yorker, August 2010) 3. Video – “Inside Congress” (NBC News, 2010) 4. Public Policy Analysis ‐‐ Analysis of legislation related to the student’s policy topic 5. Online lab – Texas Delegation Assignment (Includes YouTube Playlist of Texas delegation) 6. YouTube Playlist – Congress in Action (impeachment, Rules Committee, hearings, floor votes HISD/AP® Government and Politics Syllabus Authorization #1247163v1
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Week 8: Congressional Members – Profiles, Elections & Staffs [SC 6] Key Topics 1. Congressional Membership a. Demographics of membership b. Typical day c. Conflicting duties d. Modes of representation – trustee, delegate, politico 2. Elections a. Congressional districts, reapportionment, redistricting, gerrymandering b. Incumbency advantages c. Re‐election rates of each chambers 3. Personal Staffs a. District office vs. Washington office b. Constituent service SC6 Institutions of
National Government
SC12 supplemental readings,
including contemporary news
analyses
SC13 students answer
analytical and interpretive
free response questions on
a frequent basis.
Readings, Labs & Other Assignments 1. Text, Chapter 12 2. Primary Source – Article I 3. Court cases – Baker v. Carr 4. Public Policy Analysis ‐‐ Analysis of congressional member’s view of the student’s policy topic 5. Interactive Game – The Redistricting Game 6. Reading – “The League of Dangerous Map Makers” (The Atlantic, September 2012) 7. Field Work – During election years Unit 5: The Executive Branch (2 weeks) Week 9: The Presidency [SC 6] Key Topics 1. Terms & Constitutional Basis a. Terms of office: Formal qualifications, informal qualifications, line of succession b. Constitutional powers c. Growth of presidential powers SC6 Institutions of
National Government
d. Constitutional constraints – checks and balances e. Modern presidential roles, powers and responsibilities 2. The Electoral College 3. Organization of the Executive Branch a. White House Staff b. Cabinet c. Executive Office of the President (Special focus on NSC, CEA, OMB) d. Executive Agencies – Independent, Independent Regulatory, and Government Corporations 4. Presidential Leadership a. Leadership style b. Relations with Congress c. Relations with the International Community d. Relations with the Public through linkage institutions HISD/AP® Government and Politics Syllabus Authorization #1247163v1
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Readings, Labs & Other Assignments 1. Text, Chapter 13 2. Primary Sources – Article II, Federalist 78 3. Court cases – Nixon v. United States, Clinton v. New York, Bush v. Gore 4. Legislation – War Powers Resolution 5. Public Policy Analysis ‐‐ Analysis of the student’s policy topic and the executive branch 6. Readings – College Board readings on executive power 7. Reading – “Going the Distance” (The New Yorker, 2014) SC11 supplemental
8. Reading – “Obama’s Way” (Vanity Fair, October 2012) readings, including primary
9. Online lab – The Road to the White House (270 to Win) source materials
10. Video – “The President’s Cabinet” (White House video) 11. YouTube Playlist – Roles of the POTUS (20 video clips of various presidents performing different roles of the presidency – Ford pardoning Nixon, Truman firing MacArthur, et al) 12. YouTube Playlist – The Electoral College (Video clips of Texas Electoral College Vote, Electoral College Vote Count with Al Gore presiding in 2001, Schoolhouse Rock) 13. Video – “Inside the Obama White House” (NBC News, 2010) Week 10: The Bureaucracy [SC 6] Key Topics 1. Characteristics 2. Functions of the bureaucracy – policy implementation, regulation and data collection 3. Relations with Congress – legislative oversight 4. Types of bureaucracy 5. Growth of the bureaucracy 6. Reforms SC6 Institutions of
National Government
Readings, Labs & Other Assignments 1. Text, Chapter 15 2. Legislation – Pendleton Act, Hatch Act 3. Public Policy Analysis ‐‐ Analysis of regulation related to the student’s policy topic 4. Video (CSPAN video clips of congressional hearings with executive agencies) 5. Online lab – The Bureaucracy (a web quest) Unit 6: The Judicial Branch (1 week) Week 11: The Judiciary [SC 6] Key Topics 1. Introduction to the Courts SC6 Institutions of
a. Constitutional power and judicial review National Government
b. Federal judges – selection, terms, qualifications, independence c. Structure – District Courts, Appeals Courts, Special Courts d. Participants in the judicial system e. Jurisdiction & dual court system 2. Politics of Appointments 3. Court docket and decision‐making process 4. Constitutional Interpretation 5. Historical courts – Marshall, Taney, Warren, Burger & Rehnquist HISD/AP® Government and Politics Syllabus Authorization #1247163v1
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Readings, Labs & Other Assignments 1. Text, Chapter 16 2. Primary Sources – Article III, Federalist 78 3. Public Policy Analysis ‐‐ Analysis of litigation and court rulings related to the student’s policy topic 4. Simulation – Mock Supreme Court Case (with assigned readings) 5. Video – “The Supreme Court: Home to America’s Highest Court” (CSPAN, 2009) 6. Video – “Constitutional Role of Judges” (CSPAN, Justices Breyer and Scalia testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, 2011) 7. Interactives – The Washington Post Unit 7: Civil Liberties & Civil Rights (2 weeks) Week 12: Civil Liberties [SC 8] Key Topics 1. Civil Liberties vs. Civil Rights 2. Overview of the Bill of Rights 3. Selective incorporation and the 14th Amendment 4. Freedom of Religion a. Establishment Clause b. Free Exercise Clause 5. Freedom of Expression a. Types of speech – protected vs. unprotected b. Freedom of the Press 6. Other Freedoms – Assembly, Association and Petition 7. The Right to Privacy 8. Rights of the Accused 9. Liberties during wartime SC8 Civil Rights
and Civil Liberties
Readings, Labs & Other Assignments 1. Text, Chapter 4 2. Court cases – Reynolds v U.S., Oregon v. Smith, Engel v. Vitale, Lemon v. Kurtzman, Wisconsin v. Yoder, New York Times v. US, Tinker v. Des Moines, Texas v. Johnson, Schenck v. US, NAACP v. Alabama, Gideon v. Wainwright, Mapp v. Ohio, Miranda v. Arizona, Griswold v. Connecticut, Roe v. Wade, Gitlow v. New York, Baron v. Baltimore SC11 supplemental
3. Legislation – U.S.A. P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act readings, including primary
4. Readings – Current event articles posted by the Bill of Rights source materials
Institute or other sources 5. Video – “Mapp v. Ohio” (Annenberg) 6. NPR Audio – “Held Dear in U.S., Free Speech Perplexing Abroad” (NPR, September 2012) SC12 supplemental readings,
Week 13: Civil Rights [SC 8] Topics 1. The Constitution and inequality 2. 14th Amendment – Equal Protection, Due Process 3. Civil rights and African Americans 4. Civil rights of Other Racial Minorities 5. Civil rights of women HISD/AP® Government and Politics Syllabus Authorization #1247163v1
Secondary Social Studies Curriculum including contemporary news
analyses
SC8 Civil Rights
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6.
7.
8.
9.
Civil rights of people with disabilities Civil rights of the elderly Civil rights of gays and lesbians Affirmative action Readings, Labs & Other Assignments 1. Text, Chapter 5 2. Court cases – Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education I and II, Lawrence v. Texas, Windsor v. US, Fisher v. UT, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke 3. Legislation: Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965 4. Readings – Current articles on affirmative action and same‐sex marriage Unit 8: Policymaking & the Budget Week 14: Public Policy [SC 7] Key Topics 1. Policymaking system 2. Domestic policies (not including economic) a. Environment b. Social Welfare c. Healthcare 3. Foreign policy SC13 students answer
analytical and interpretive
free response questions on
a frequent basis.
Readings, Labs, and Other Assignments SC9 analyzing and
1. Text, Chapters 17‐20 interpreting data
2. Legislation/Programs – Clean Air Act, Social Security, Medicare, Af fordable Care Act, et al 3. Presentations ‐‐ Student public policy projects with detailed analysis of data and text Week 15: Economic Policy & the Budget [SC 7] Key Topics 1. Economic Policies a. Fiscal b. Monetary 2. The Federal Budget a. Participants b. Process SC7 Public Policy and
Public Policy Areas
Readings, Labs, and Other Assignments 1. Text, Chapter 14 2. Reading – Introduction to the American Budget Process (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities) 3. Interactive Game – Budget Simulation HISD/AP® Government and Politics Syllabus Authorization #1247163v1
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