AP US Government and Politics Schedule
WeekTopicReadings
8/28-9/1 / -Course Introduction-Introductory Writing Assignment
-Foundations/Theories of American Government / -Edwards, Chapter 1
-Articles on current issues
-Woll: John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government
9/5-9/8 / -Early Documents of Political Thought
-Independent Government
-Articles of Confederation / -Edwards, Chapter 2
-Declaration of Independence
-Articles of Confederation
9/11-9/15 / -Constitutional Convention
-Ratification Debate
Unit 1 Test – Foundations of Government / -Woll: Framing the Constitution, The Founding Fathers: A Reform Caucus in Action
-Federalist No. 47,48,
9/18-9/22 / -Principles of the U.S. Constitution
-Structure/Powers of Govt. / -U.S. Constitution
-Edwards Chapter 2
-How not to Read the Constitution
9/25-9/29 / -Bill of Rights
-Amendments
Unit 2 Test – U.S. Constitution / -U.S. Constitution
-Powers of Government Chart
-Anti-Federalist 17
10/2-10/6 / -Federalism – changing nature of federal and state govt. relationships
-Functions of State/Federal Government
-Revenue/Responsibilities / -Edwards, Chapter 3
-Woll: The Merits of the Federal System,
-Budget excerpts, revenue charts
-Woll: The Federal System, A Republic Subverted
10/9-10/13 / -Powers of Government
-Separation of Powers / -Federalist No. 10
-Excerpts from various Supreme Court cases
-Case studies on Federalism
10/16-10/20 / Unit 3 Test – Limits on Government - Federalism
-Public Opinion and Political Action
-Elections and Voting Behavior / -Edwards, Chapter 6, 10
-Woll: Party Government, Perspectives on American Politics
-Various articles on current political figures/behavior
10/23-10/27 / -Campaigns
-Impact of Media / -Edwards, Chapter 7, 9
-Woll: Democratic Practice and Theory, The Responsible Electorate
-Articles on political strategy –Upcoming primaries
10/30-11/3 / -Campaign Finance/PAC influence
-Analysis of recent elections
-Changing political landscape
Unit 4 Test – Media, Voting Behavior, Elections / -Current events – election coverage, public opinion polls, voter turnout charts, exit polls, etc.
-Election articles
-How to run for President
11/6-11/8 / -Political Parties – purpose, organization, trends, impact on electorate / -Edwards, Chapter 8
-Articles
-Unfree Speech: the Future of Regulatory Reform
-
11/13-11/17+ 11/20,11/21 / -Changes in 2 party system - Partisanship
-Interest Groups – impact on policy
-Interest Groups – impact on elections
-Campaign Finance
Unit 5 Test – Parties, Interest Groups / -Recent voting trends analysis
-Edwards, Chapter 11
-Woll: Madison’s Dilemma
-Woll: Interest Groups and the American Political System, The Misplaced Obsession with PACs
11/27-12/1 / -Congress – powers and responsibilities
-Apportionment / -Edwards, Chapter 12
-Federalist No. 56,58
-Speech to the Electors of Bristol, How Come we Love our Congressmen so Much
12/4-12/8 / -Congressional Committee System – House v. Senate / -Woll: Congressional Government, The Rise of the Washington Establishment
12/11-12/15 +12/18-12/20 / -Congress as institution/policy-maker
-Voting Patterns, Partisanship / -Woll: Congress-Bashing for Beginners
-Woll: Congress: The Electoral Connection
1/3-1/5 +
1/8-1/12 + 1/16-1/19 / -Semester Course Review
-Unit 7 Introduction
Midterm Exam – Covering Units 1-6 (Required for all students) / -Edwards, Chapter 13
-Time for Midterm TBA
Spring Semester
1/23-1/26 / -Presidency – powers and responsibilities-Changing nature / -Edwards, Chapter 13
-Federalist No. 70
1/29-2/2 / -Presidency – expansion of office – relationship among the branches / Woll: Presidential Paradoxes, The Presidency and Political Parties
2/5-2/9 / -Bureaucracy – powers and responsibilities - changing nature of scope and regulations
Unit 7 Test – Executive Branch / -Edwards, Chapters 14/15
-Woll: Constitutional Democracy and Bureaucratic Power
-Woll: Rise of the Bureaucratic State
2/12-2/16 / -Judiciary – independent nature – powers and responsibilities / -Edwards, Chapter 16
-Federalist No. 78
2/19-2/23 / -Confirmation hearings/battles
-Activism v. Restraint
Supreme Court Procedures – lasting impact / -Current event articles
-Various opinions from Supreme Court Docket
-Woll: Judicial Self-Restraint
2/26-3/2 / Unit 8 Test – Federal Judiciary
Civil Rights – Constitutional applications
Supreme Court Cases / -Edwards Chapter 4,5
-Woll, Chapter 3
-Supreme Court Cases
3/6-3/9 / Civil Rights – historical contexts and public policy / -Edwards Chapter 5
-Numerous primary sources + govt. legislation
3/12-3/16 / Civil Rights Wrap-up discussion + Introduction to Economic Policy
Unit 9 Test – Civil Rights and Constitutional Protections / -Edwards Chapter 17
-Primary Sources – Current Events
3/19-3/23 / Tools of Government Regulation
Budget Process / -Edwards Chapters 14 and 17
3/26-3/29 / Fiscal and Monetary Policy
Govt. and the economy – current economic issues – impact on elections/campaigns, and policy
Unit 10 Test – Economic Policy / -Edwards Chapters 14 and 17
-Primary sources – legislation
-Numerous current events articles related to economic policy
4/9-4/13 / Public Policy – Health Care/Environment-Social Policy - Education / -Edwards Chapters 18 and 19
-Govt. legislation
-Current Events Articles
4/16-4/20 / Public Policy – National Security
- Emerging issues
Unit 11 Test – Public Policy / -Edwards Chapter 20
-Govt. legislation
-Current Events Articles
4/23-4/27 + 4/30-5/4 / Review for AP Exam
5/7-5/11+ 5/14-5/18+ 5/21-5/25 / AP Exams
Research Topics – Public Policy / AP Govt. and Politics – Thursday, May 10th – 8:00 AM
5/29-6/1+ 6/4-6/8 / Final Exams / Turn in Research – Date TBA