Class Syllabus
Advanced Placement
United States
Government and Politics
What Is Government?
To some people, government is a complex array of bureaucrats, agencies, and regulations. To others it is an administrative organization set up to identify, define, and resolve problems. Still others see it as a major source of public goods and services. Whatever view, it is important to know what American government is, how it works, how it affects lives, and how one can become a part of it.
Introduction
Welcome to Advanced Placement American Government. Over the next thirty-six weeks we will examine the foundation, institutions, ideology, political behavior, organization, and evolution of the American political system. This course will be taught as a college level elective survey. Coursework, requirements, and expectations will be the same as those found in freshman level political science classes taught in America’s colleges. The course will be broken down into six major thematic units:
(1) Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government
(2) Political Beliefs and Political Behaviors
(3) Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media
(4) Institutions of National Government (Congress, President, Courts, Bureaucracy)
(5) Public Policy
(6) Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Course Overview
The major purpose of this course is to help students gain and display an understanding of American politics, and the processes of government that help shape our public policies. Students will develop a more sophisticated and insightful understanding of majority rule democracy, constitutionalism, civil liberties, and other distinguishing characteristics of the American political system. Throughout the course we will examine and evaluate the institutions of government, those who run those institutions, the public polices made by these institutions, and the influences of the electorate on policies. In addition, this course will:
(1) Provide students will practice in analyzing and interpreting data and other information relevant to U.S. government and politics.
(2) Include supplemental readings, including primary source materials, and contemporary news analyses that strengthen student understanding of the curriculum.
(3) Require students to answer analytical and interpretive free-response questions on a frequent basis.
A political science course cannot provide either easy or comfortable answers to societal issues. Political positions can upset students and shake views already taken. A political science course can and perhaps should provide a set of political values to take into life. It can help students distinguish the essential from the incidental, understand and evaluate competing arguments, formulate and express opinions on political and policymaking processes, and carry on an intelligent discussion on social issues.
AP Government and Politics is a highly structured, very demanding college-level course. Students are required not only to thoroughly read the college-level text, but also to augment this material through research and the reading of supplemental articles. Students are expected to critically apply their findings/conclusions within the context of current governmental policies and analyze the ramifications of these policies. One of the primary objectives of this course is to expose students to all areas of information covered on the AP Examination. Thus it is imperative that a high-level academic environment exist and that the student is dedicated to learning, is highly motivated, and is willing to put forth both in and outside of the classroom the time and effort required for a course of this intensity.
The A.P. Exam
Students are not required to take the A.P. Exam but are strongly encouraged to do so in Spring of the academic year. Students must pay their own fee to take the AP Exam, but financial assistance is available from the state for those with demonstrated need (please see me for details).
The AP United States Government and Politics examination is 2 hours and 25 minutes long. Each examination consists of a 45-minute multiple-choice section and a free-response section consisting of four mandatory questions. Students have 100 minutes to answer all four questions, and it is expected that they will spend approximately 25 minutes on each question. The score of each question will account for one-fourth of the student’s total score on this section of the exam. The multiple choice and free-response sections of each examination will have equal weight.
The faculty consultants’ judgments on the essay and problem-solving questions are combined with the results of the computer-scored multiple-choice questions, and the total raw scores are converted to AP’s 5-point scale.
AP Grade Qualification
5 Extremely Well Qualified
4 Well Qualified
3 Qualified
2 Possibly Qualified
1 No Recommendation
The college or university, not the College Board or the AP Program, awards advanced placement and/or credit. The best source of specific and up-to-date information about an individual’s institution’s policy is its catalog or Web site.
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
A) Identify the origins of government and evolution of democratic institutions.
B) Articulate the ideology and reality of Constitutional government (Constitutionalism).
C) Trace the evolution of Federalism.
D) Explain the interrelationship between American government and American capitalism.
E) Define the rights, responsibilities, equalities, and inequalities of citizenship at the local, state, and national level of government.
F) Analyze the role of government in relation to the concept of individual liberty.
G) Identify political culture trends resulting in shifts in demographics, voting patterns, and socio-economic status.
H) Utilize learned structures and strategies in relation to content area to include thematic studies, documentary reading, and inquiry method of learning.
I) Develop organized and effective writing techniques.
J) Demonstrate the ability to analyze and interpret data and other information relevant to U.S. government and politics.
K) Interpret and analyze governmental data, charts, graphs, and political cartoons.
Teaching Methodology/Learning Activities
Weekly topics are outlined for the entire year. Instruction will include a mixture of lecture / presentations, group activities and discussions (topic assignments and discussion leaders will be identified for specific dates), debates, and independent library research. In each class, time will be spent discussing/analyzing/interpreting both historical and current political and governmental concepts/issues.
Chapter Quizzes
At the completion of each area of study a chapter quiz will be administered. This quiz will consist of 30 multiple choice questions and one free response essay based upon the key concepts, data, and classroom lecture.
Unit Tests
Unit test will take place at the end of unit of study (usually 3 to 5 chapters). The unit test will be 60 multiple choice questions along with four free response essays that will mirror the format of the College Board’s AP Government test.
Classroom Rules and Expectations
1. Class begins when the bell rings. Students must be seated and silent when the bell rings. Do not hang out in the hallway until the bell rings or you may be assigned a tardy.
2. Students are expected to come to class prepared each day with their notebook, textbook, and writing utensil. Students are responsible for due homework assignments. Students are responsible for daily note taking and are expected to actively participate in classroom discussion, activities, and group work.
3. All information accessed by students in the completion of paper and research assignments must be properly cited using the M.L.A. documentation guidelines. Plagiarism will be treated as a serious offense, voiding grades and initiating administrative punishment as outlined in the school district’s guidelines.
4. Students are required to type all submitted work unless otherwise directed by the instructor. The use of pencil is never permitted (this includes quiz and test taking). All assignment must be properly document in the upper right hand corner with you full name, period, and course title. Specific headings requirements will be given for research papers.
Homework, Essay, and Current Event
Guidelines and Expectations
1. Do not wait till the very last minute to complete an assignment and rush to complete it. Traditionally students who procrastinate receive poor grades compared to students who take their time and carefully prepare their work.
2. All assignments must be typed unless otherwise instructed to do so.
3. Always format your work using the proper MLA formatting guidelines.
4. When responding to a question, always include the question in the answer. This should take place in the introductory sentence. Always clearly articulate your thesis statement in the opening paragraph.
5. Always carefully read what the question is asking and respond to all questions being asked?
6. Always use facts and specific examples to support your statements. Avoid generalizations and vague words such as stuff, kind of, you know, etc.
7. Check your spelling and grammar. People will judge you by the vocabulary you use and your mastery of the English language.
8. The minimum required response is just that, the minimum. You may need to go beyond the limit in order to fully answer a question. If you simply stop at the minimum requirement and do not fully answer the question you will be penalized. Be clear, concise, and to the point -you are graded on the quality of what you write - not on the quantity.
9. Assignments must be typed on plain white paper.
10. You need to hand in every assignment that is required. AP Government is a college level course. Do not blow off your assignments!
The quality of your work is a direct reflection of you as a person. This is true for either college bound students or students planning on entering the work force. Your professors and bosses will not accept poor quality work from you; neither will I. You need to take pride in what you do and produce work that is expected of an advanced placement student.
Late Work and Missed Classes
All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the assigned due date. As an enrolled member of this AP Government class I expect a commitment to attend class regularly and avoid excessive field trips throughout the course of the year. Class activities that were missed due to an excused absence will fall under the school district late work policy. Remember, if you are missing work it is your responsibility to see the instructor to get the missing work.
Snow Day Policies
If school is closed due to a snow emergency, all scheduled assignments, reports, quizzes, or tests will be due the next school day. If an assignment is scheduled for Friday and school is cancelled, the assignment will be due on Monday. Early dismissals and delays will be handled in the same manner. If class is scheduled to meet on a delay day you will be required to complete/have completed the assignment. If class does not meet due to an early dismissal or delay, all work will be due the following school day.
Grading
Students are to be prepared daily by volunteering information, asking knowledgeable questions, and actively participating in class discussion and group work. All written work must be submitted on time. Essays must be typed using proper grammar, spelling, and capitalization. Essays should be submitted using the proper AP format (thesis, supporting evidence, conclusion).
You will be graded in a variety of ways during the semester. Grading will be cumulative based upon a final point total.
Activity / Point ValueChapter Quizzes / 40 pts.
Unit Tests / 100 pts.
Weekly Current Event Reports / 20 pts.
Quarterly Cartoon Journal / 50 pts.
Research Projects / Presentations / 100 pts.
Worksheets / Varies In Value
Group Activities / Varies in Value
Quarterly Participation Grade / 50 pts.
A.P. Government Course Resources
TEXTBOOK:
Wilson, James Q. and John J. Dilulio, Jr., American Government, 10th Ed.,
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.
SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS:
Allen, John L., Ed., Environment 02/03 21st Edition,
Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill / Dushkin, 2002.
Cigler, Allan J. and Burdett A. Loomis, American Politics: Classic and
Contemporary Readings, 5th Edition, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002.
Combs, James E. and Dan Nimmo, A Primer of Politics,
New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1984.
Hastedt, Glenn Ed., Annual Editions: Foreign Policy 99/00,
Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill / Dushkin, 1999.
Lasser, William, Perspectives on American Politics, 3rd Edition,
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.
Payne, Keith Ph.D., Nuclear Peacekeeping: The U.S., the U.S.S.R., and Nuclear Deterrence.
New York: McDougal, Littell & Company, 1990.
Serow, Ann G. and Everett C. Ladd, The Lanahan Readings in the American Polity, 2nd Ed.,
Baltimore: Lanahan Publishers, Inc., 2000.
Stinebrickner, Bruce Ed., Annual Editions: American Government 02/03,
Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, 2002.
Stinebrickner, Bruce Ed., Annual Editions: State and Local Government, 11th Edition,
Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, 2003.
Thompson, Dennis F., Political Ethics and Public Office.
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1987.
Ziegler, David W. War, Peace, and International Politics, 3rd Edition,
Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1984.
WORKBOOKS / ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Benson, David G. and Karen K. Warples, Fast Track to a 5: Preparing for the AP United States
Government and Politics Examination (To accompany American Government 9th and 10th Editions by Wilson and Dilulio). Evanston, Illinois: McDougal Littell, 2006.
Benedict, James A. and Daniel S. Ludlum, Advanced Placement United States
Government and Politics: Institutions, Policy, and Politics. The Center for
Learning, 1993, 1999.
Melchior, Mary Beth, Instructor’s Resource Manual: American Government, 10th Ed.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.
Ruckman, P.S., Jr. Test Item File: American Government, 10th Ed.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.
Wilson, James Q. and John J. Dilulio, Jr. Overhead Transparencies: American Government,
10th Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.
Wilson, James Q. and John J. Dilulio, Jr., State and Local Government, 5th Ed.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.
The Political Cartoon Journal
1. Each quarter, students will be required to submit a political cartoon journal with 25 political cartoons and an accompanying one-page analysis that will identify the author’s bias, his message, his audience, and a evaluation of how effective the author was in accomplishing his goal.
2. Students can create their cartoon journal in either a notebook or binder. The journal must be set up in the following format:
Editorial Cartoon Citation
Ramirez, Michael. Michael Ramirez, "On the Bright Side, We Have