AP GOVERNMENT COURSE CALENDAR
2009-2010 1st 6 WEEKS
UNIT / DATE / TOPIC COVERED / ASSESSMENTS, HANDOUTS, AND REQUIRED READINGSUNIT I- An Introduction to Government in America / 8/24 - Monday / Course overview, syllabus, classroom orientation, notes, other AP semester handouts
8/25- Tuesday / Free Response Question from 2009 Exam
8/26- Wednesday / Functions of Government – “Government Does Matter” activity
What is government?
8/27- Thursday / American Political System Model – Concept / Chap 1 – pp 2-25
BOOKS
8/28- Friday / American Political System Model and Health care reform / Students work in groups and complete
8/31- Monday / American Political System Model – MADD / Classroom application
Definitions
9/1- Tuesday / Theory What is Politics - Definition
Laswell Model
Schattschneider Model / H/O Power Chart
9/2-Wednesday / French and Raven’s Power Theories of Democracy
Dahl’s Democratic Theory / H/O Who governs whom?
Pluralist, hyperpluralist, elitists
9/3 -Thursday / UNIT I EXAM / 40 Multiple Choice questions.
Handout American Founding Parts I, II and III readings and questions. Due 9/8- Daily Grade
UNIT II – Constitutional Foundations and Underpinnings / 9/4- Friday / Origins of the Constitution
Sunnylands Seminar Key Constitutional Concepts / Chap 2 – pp 26-63
Chap 3 –pp 64-93
Assign Peterson /Locke readings for presentation
9/7 - Monday / HOLIDAY
9/8- Tuesday / Declaration of Independence – Predicting Meaning / H/O Free Response Question
American Founding Questions DUE –
Read Locke 2nd Treatise
9/9- Wednesday / Political Theory – Locke and Jefferson / Discussions 2nd Treatise – Locke
Presentation by Locke group
9/10- Thursday / Failures of Articles of Confederation -
Weaknesses / Chap 2 Quiz – Daily Grade
H/O Chart, complete AC part
9/11 – Friday / Major Principles of US Constitution
What is the Constitution? / H/O “ The Fix”
9/14- Monday / Major Principles of US Constitution
What is the Constitution
Limited Gov’t, popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances / H/O The Constitution and Federalism Chart
Sunnylands Separation of Powers
H/O US v. Lopez brief due 9/18
AP GOVERNMENT COURSE CALENDAR
2009-2010 1ST 6 WEEKS
UNIT / DATE / TOPIC COVERED / ASSESSMENTS, HANDOUTS AND REQUIRED READINGS9/15 - Tuesday / Ratification Struggle and Anti federalist Objections
Discussion of objections
9/16- Wednesday / Federalists #10 and #51 Discussion / Chap 3 Quiz
9/17- Thursday / Federalists #10 and #51
Discussion and Model Presentation
9/18- Friday / Constitutional context of Federalism – Discussion US v. Lopez / H/O The Constitution and federalism
Peterson Group presentation
Brief due US v. Lopez
H/O Grant Chart
9/21- Monday / Fiscal Federalism
Types of Grants and Grant Chart / Discussion
9/22- Tuesday / UNIT II TEST / 40 Multiple Choice, 1 Free Response Q
UNIT III The Federal Court System/Judiciary / 9/23- Wednesday / Court Structure and Jurisdiction- Dual Court system
State vs. Federal, Trial v. Appellate, Civil v. Criminal / Chap. 16 pp 502-539 – Free Response
H/O Basic Court Structure, Texas Court Structure
Brennan “ How the Supreme Court Arrives at Decisions”Questions Due 9/30
9/24-Thursday / Court Structure and Jurisdiction
State vs. Federal, Trial v. Appellate, Civil v. Criminal / Assign to groups Judicial Vigilantes and Judicial Imperialism
Power Point and notes
9/25 –Friday / US Supreme Court Operations – How a case gets to US Supreme Court / H/O Supreme Court BIO Chart and BIO Sheets
9/28- Monday / Judicial Decision Making- Micro and Macro Influences on Judicial Decision Making / Chap 16 Quiz
9/29- Tuesday / Implementation of Judicial Decisions Presentation and Discussion of Court Decisions are not Self Executing
- Federalist #78 / CLIPPINGS FILE DUE
Presentation of groups
9/30- Wednesday / The Status of the Current Court Analysis of Court ideologies and predictions / Brennan Questions DUE Daily grade
10/1- Thursday / UNIT III TEST / 50 Multiple Choice/Free Response
UNIT IV
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties / 10-2- Friday / Overview of Bill of Rights and Incorporation Doctrine Discussion and Summary of Bill of Rights
Explanation of 14th Amendment and Incorporation Doctrine / Ch. 4- pp. 94-135
Ch. 5- pp. 136-71
Notes & completion of Bill of Rights table
Notes and completion of Incorporation Doctrine
Santa Fe ISD v. Doe brief due 10/7
Reno v. ACLU brief due 10/14
END 1ST 6 WEEKS
10/5 - Monday / Establishment Clause
“Lemon Test” Presentation / Notes & application of “Lemon Test”
AP GOVERNMENT COURSE CALENDAR
2009-2010 2ND 6 WEEKS
UNIT / DATE / TOPIC COVERED / ASSESSMENTS, HANDOUTS AND REQUIRED READINGS10/6 - Tuesday / Establishment Clause
10/7- Wednesday / Free Exercise Clause Discussion and presentation of “accomodationist” v. “separationist” views on Free Exercise / Notes & completion of Free Exercise views
Group Assignment- “Religion and the Public Schools”
10/8- Thursday / Free Exercise Clause / Continuation
10/9 - Friday / HOLIDAY
10/12-Monday / HOLIDAY
10/13- Tuesday / Protected Free Speech Discussion and presentation of pure and symbolic speech / Notes and completion of free speech table (Part I)
Chap 4 Quiz
10/14- Wednesday / Unprotected Free Speech Discussion and presentation of obscenity and defamation / Reno Brief due
Notes and completion of free speech table (Part II)
Group Assignment- “What is Free Speech?”
10/15- Thursday / Search and Seizure (4th Amendment Discussion and presentation of search and seizure law, including warrantless searches / Notes on search and seizure
Analysis of probable cause continuum
Adarand v. Pena Case Brief Assigned due 10/21
10/16- Friday / Contemporary Rights of the Accused Discussion and presentation of contemporary rights of the accused cases / Notes & case research of assigned cases
10/19- Monday / Unenumerated Rights and Privacy Issues Discussion and presentation of “Penumbra Theory” / Discussion Roe v. Wade
Chap 5 quiz
10/20- Tuesday / Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment Discussion and presentation of “good v. bad” forms of discrimination / Notes & completion of discrimination tests model
Group assignment- “Wait a Minute- That’s Discrimination!”
10/21- Wednesday / Contemporary Equal Protection Issues Discussion and presentation of current status of affirmative action and reverse discrimination / Notes on affirmative action & reverse discrimination
Adarand Case Brief Due
10/22- Thursday / UNIT IV EXAM / MULTIPLE CHOICE AND FR Q
UNIT V
Political Socialization and Public Opinion / 10/23- Friday / Political Ideology plot, and Discussion about what is ideology. / Chap 6 pp 172-205
Free Response Questions
Class Plot “Political Ideology Survey
10/26- Monday / Political Socialization Power Point
Political Socialization Model / Notes on Socialization Power Point
Notes and completion of Socialization Model
AP GOVERNMENT COURSE CALENDAR
2009-2010 2ND 6 WEEKS
UNIT / DATE / TOPIC COVERED / ASSESSMENTS, HANDOUTS, AND REQUIRED READINGS10/27- Tuesday / Participation Power Point
Political Participation Model / Notes on Participation Power Point
Notes and completion of Participation Model -Chap 6 Quiz
10/28- Wednesday / Public Opinion Discussion and Presentation – “Measuring Public Opinion” and Model / Take home NY Times Poll article and questions
10/29- Thursday / Public Opinion Polls Discussion and Presentation- “Understanding Public Opinion Polls” / Poll Questions Due
10/30 – Friday / UNIT V TEST / 50 Multiple Choice. Turn in Free Response
UNIT VI
Campaigns, Elections, and the Role of Media / 11/2- Monday / Nominating Process Presentation and Discussion- Primaries and Caucuses, “Testing the Waters” / Chap 9 - pp 264-293
Chap 10- pp 294-319
Chap 7- pp 206-233
V.O Key reading assigned
11/3- Tuesday / Political Ad Activity lecture and background, with examples.
11/4- Wednesday / Analysis of prior years presidential political ads, using political ad techniques / Livingroom.com
11/5-Thursday / Electoral College Presentation and Discussion-
Explanation of Electoral College / http://www.270towin.com/ and play with electoral college map
11/6-Friday / Voting Behavior
Presentation and Discussion- “The Keys to the White House” / Chap 9 & 10 Quiz
H/O “Keys to the Whitehouse
11/9 –Monday / Campaign Finance
Presentation and Discussion- “Money: The Mother’s Milk of Politics”
Distribute Campaign Finance Activity / V.O Key project due – PPT, visual graphic of concept of article using questions as a guide line.
11/10 – Tuesday / Role of Media in the Presentation and Discussion of Media Power Point Political Process
11/11- Wednesday / UNIT VI TEST
UNIT VII Political Parties and Interest Groups / 11/12- Thursday / Political Parties Role and Function Political Parties Power Point Part I
Political Party Components Model / Ch. 8- pp.234-63
Ch. 11- pp.320-351
Notes on Party Power Point
Notes and completion of Party Model
11/13- Friday / Differences between Democrats and Republicans
Distribution & Explanation of Party Platform Activity / Political Party Platform Group Activity
END OF 2ND 6 WEEKS
AP GOVERNMENT COURSE CALENDAR
2009-2010 3RD 6 WEEKS
UNIT / DATE / TOPIC COVERED / ASSESSMENTS, HANDOUTS, AND REQUIRED READINGS11/16 –Monday / Current State of Political Parties
Political Parties Power Point Part II: “Political Parties: Decline or Resurgence?” / Notes & completion of Reasons For Two Party System and Party Decline/Resurgence Chart
11/17- Tuesday / Interest Groups: Types, Role, and Function
Power Point Pt 1 / Notes on Interest Groups Power Point Part I
Chap 8 Quiz
11/18-– Wednesday / Interest Group Success in Policy Making
Power Point Part II
“Interest Groups: Criteria For Success” / Notes and completion of Interest Group tactics
Notes and completion of Interest Group Success Model
11/19 - Thursday / Interest Group Success in Policy Making
Power Point Part II
“Interest Groups: Criteria For Success” / Notes and completion of Interest Group tactics
Notes and completion of Interest Group Success Model
11/20-Friday / Iron Triangles, Explanation and discussion / Notes and completion of sample Iron Triangle
11/23-Monday / Minor Party Project / Computers in class and Project
11/24 – Tuesday / UNIT VII TEST / Multiple choice and FR Q
11/25-Wednesday / HOLIDAY
11/26-Thursday / HOLIDAY
11/27-Friday / HOLIDAY
UNIT VIII
Congress / 11/30- Monday / Congress and Decentralization- Congress Facts / Chap 12- pp 352-391
Notes and completion of Congress Components Chart
Fiorina & Stark group assigned.
12/1 –Tuesday / Congress and Decentralization / Free Response Q
12/2 – Wednesday / Representation / Notes and completion of Concentric Circle Model
12/3 Thursday / Gerrymandering / Notes & completion of Gerrymandering Activity (Packing and Cracking)
Chap 12 Quiz
12/4-Friday / Congressional Elections / Discussion
12/7- Monday / Committee’s and Committee Structure / Power Point and mini quiz
12/8 –Tuesday / Status Quo / Article and discussion
Grp presentation Fiorina and Stark
12/9- Wednesday / Comparison with Texas Legislature
12/10- Thursday / Reforming Congress / Notes and completion of Congressional reforms table
12/11- Friday / Additional information About Congress- Review
AP GOVERNMENT COURSE CALENDAR
2009-2010 – 3RD 6 WEEKS
UNIT / DATE / TOPIC COVERED / ASSESSMENT, HANDOUTS, AND REQUIRED READINGS12/14- Monday / UNIT VII EXAM / 60 Multiple Choice
12/15-Tuesday / Congress Free Response Q / 2 Free Response Questions
UNIT IX
The Presidency and the Bureaucracy / 12/16- Wednesday / Introduction to the Presidency
Power Point Presentation and Discussion- “Roles of the Modern-day President”
Presentation and Discussion of Power Characteristics of President from Article II and Federalist #70 / Chap 13- pp 392-435
Chap 15-pp 466-501
Notes over power point
Notes on Article II
Notes on Federalist #70
H/O Wilson “What Government Agencies do and Why They Do it.”
FREE RESP QUESTIONS DISTRIBUTED
12/17-Thursday / Presidential Power Presentation and Discussion- “Power as Prerogative”
Presentation and Discussion- Neustadt’s Power Thesis”
Presentation and Discussion- “Barber’s Presidential Character / Notes and completion of 3 Presidential Power Models
Power as Prerogative
Power as Persuasion
Presidential Character
12/18- Friday / Presidential Power
HOLIDAY 12-21 THRU 1/4/2010
1/5- Tuesday
1/6-Wednesday / Politics of Shared Power Presentation and Discussion- “An Invitation to Struggle”
Explanation of Presidential Power Constraints / Notes & completion of power constraints table
1/7-Thursday / Bureaucratic Policy Making
Presentation and Discussion of- “The Fourth Branch of Government?” / Chap 13 Reading Quiz
Notes and Completion of Bureaucratic Policy Making table
Notes and Completion of Bureaucratic Controls Table
1/8 – Friday / Bureaucratic Policy Making
1/11 –Monday / Overview view of Policy Making Presentation and Discussion- “Policy Making Basics: Steps of the Process / Notes over table on policy making
Wilson Q Due
1/12- Tuesday / Policy Making Types and their Politics / Power Point Presentation and Discussion- “The Politics of Policy Making” Notes over table on policy making
1/13- Wednesday / UNIT EXAM / FREE RESPONSE Q DUE
1/14- Thursday / SEMESTER EXAMS
1/15- Friday / SEMESTER EXAMS