AP US Government 2016 ~ 2017

Contact: Mr. David Swaney

Linn-Mar High School

Tel: (319) 447-3478

Email:

Website:

AP US Government & Politics

This course is about the American political system. In an era of close elections, war and terror, many Americans are experiencing a new sense of patriotism, civic responsibility and interest in civic education. This course is a good place to begin active citizenship.

General Course Guidelines:

  1. This is a college-level course. College-level attitudes, work habits and products are expected of all students.
  2. This class requires more reading than the typical high school honors class. Students who want to do well must complete all assignments on time.
  3. Class time is important. Students who want to do well must attend and participate in class regularly. To participate effectively, all assigned work must be completed on time, even when absent.
  4. Evaluations are based on tests, quizzes,homework, projects and classwork.
  5. Learning is ultimately the responsibility of the student. In an advanced placement course, students are expected to be interested in their own learning and willing to devote the time necessary to explore the course content as fully as possible. Readings will be announced in advance, so students can plan and prepare for the classes.

What is the payoff for all this extra effort? Students who do well in this course will be prepared to take the AP American Government and Politics exam on Thursday, May4th, 2017. A score of 3 or better is considered a passing score. Students who earn a score of 4 or 5 on the exams usually also earn six or more college credits. Many colleges grant credit for a score of 3. Also, students will know lots more than most Americans about our government. Amaze your parents and friends!

Philosophy

Advanced placement courses, in general, have three purposes:

  1. To meet the Linn-Mar curricular requirements for government.
  2. To provide students with the opportunity to closely examine and evaluate the intricacies of the course.
  3. To provide students with the content and writing skills necessary to pass and earn a high score on the College Board Advanced Placement Exam.

Readings:

Edwards, George C., Wattenberg, Martin P., and Lineberry, Robert L., Government in America: People, Politics and Policy. 2012 AP Edition, Pearson.

The textbook is excellent preparation for the AP exam, and we will read the entire book over the course of the semester. Students must return the textbook at the end of the year in good condition (not written in). Readings should be completed prior to class. In many cases, class time will be spent reviewing the readings. In other cases, we may not discuss the readings at all, except as they apply to other concepts or ideas. Typical to college courses, students are responsible for the content of the readings, whether they are discussed in class or not!!! It will be presumed that the readings have been completed, and, unless questions are raised, understood.

is an interactive online resource that includes an E-book, multimedia simulations, video debates, research/writing support, practice tests, and exams to help you learn the course material more efficiently. We will be using this website a lot, so bookmark it early!

Supplemental Text: Serow, Ann G. (2007). “The Lanahan Readings in the American Polity” (4th Edition). Baltimore: Lanahan Publisher’s Inc.

The opinions of students are important. Possible answers to questions might challenge students’ long-held beliefs. Students will be urged not to sacrifice their own point of view, but to try to understand it and its background before they support, revise, or abandon it. Many times there are no “correct” answers. Balance and objectivity are very important components in this class, it should be recognized that balance often comes over a long term. Students should question, but they should also:

  1. Have a basis for disagreement.
  2. Be willing to pursue their point and do research to gain the necessary background.
  3. Be willing o try to understand opposing points of view, even if they don’t agree with them.
  4. Demand that their opponents provide support for their views, but also expect to be asked to provide support for the views they espouse.

Grades: Course grades are earned on a point system. Student grades will be calculated

based on a percentage of the total points possible.

Grading Scale:A = 89.5 – 100%

B = 79.5 – 89.4%

C = 69.5 – 79.4%

D = 59.5 – 69.4%

E = 0 - 59.4%

A few more words on grading…

Late work can earn at best 90% up until the unit exam on that unit, at which point it will not be accepted. Late work cannot be remediated.

Remediation

All students in AP NSL will be given the opportunity for remediation on assignments turned in on time and assessments after re-teaching of the topic has occurred. Test remediation follows a specific format, which will be handed out to you.

2017 AP Examination ~ Tuesday, May 4th, 2017

The AP US Government and Politics exam is divided as follows:

45 minutes (50%): 60 multiple-choice questions

100 minutes (50%): 4 mandatory (no choices) free-response questions (25 minutes each)

All students taking this course are encouraged to take the AP exam. All quizzes and tests in this course follow the format and language usage patterns found on the AP exams, meaning both multiple choice and free response essays. Therefore, students will be comfortable dealing with the questions that will be on the exam.

Academic Support:

I will be available for help in Room 135A before school at 7:45 am most days, during 1st Block (my planning period), Dlunch, and after school, by appointment. You can check the Linn-Mar website regularly for assignments, handouts (including this syllabus), due dates, and a discussion forum. You can also e-mail me any time. I check my e-mail several times a day. I encourage you to work together in pairs or small groups, especially when it comes time to review for the AP exam in the spring.

Rough Calendar:

Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings & Federalism2.5 weeks

Unit 2: Political Beliefs and Behaviors1 weeks

Unit 3: Political Parties, Elections, Interest Groups, Media3.5 weeks

Unit 4: Institutions of Government6 weeks

Unit 5: Civil Rights & Civil Liberties1.5 weeks

Unit 6: Public Policy 1 week

Review/In Class practice/tests/Final Exam

Course Outline Provided by the College Board Course Description:

*Use for more information throughout the semester

I.Constitutional Underpinnings of US Government (5-15%)

A.Considerations that influenced the formulation/adoption of the Constitution

B.Separation of Powers

C.Federalism

D.Theories of democratic government

II. Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the federal courts (35-45%)

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. Sub national governments

III. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (5 – 15%)

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

IV.Political Beliefs and Behavior (10-20%)

A.Beliefs that citizens hold about their government and 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

V. Political parties, interest groups, and mass media10-20%

A.Political parties and elections

1.Functions

2.Organization

3.Development

4.Effects on the political process

B.Interest groups, including political action committees (PAC’s)

1.The range of interests represented

2.The activities of interest groups

3.The effects of interest groups on the political process

4. The unique characteristics and roles of PAC's in the political process

C.The mass media

1.The functions and structures of the media 2. The impacts of media on politics

  1. Public Policy (5 – 15%)

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.Current Public Policy topics.

F.Linkages between policy process and the following:

  1. Political institutions and federalism
  2. Political parties
  3. Interest groups
  4. Public Opinion
  5. Elections
  6. Policy networks

Unit Topics and Chapter Expectations:

Topic / Textbook Chapters
Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings / Chapters 1- 3
Unit 2: People & Politics / Chapters 6-10
Unit 3: Political Institutions (Congress, Presidency, Budget, Bureaucracy, Courts) / Chapters 11-15
Unit 4: Civil Rights & Civil Liberties / Chapters 4-5
Course Review, Final, and AP Test / Review Binder