AP AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS SYLLABUS 2012-13

MR. LIPMAN

This course is an intended to be an intensive study, at the college level, of the formal and informal structures of the American government and its political system. It will provide students with an analytical perspective of how our government was formed, developed over time and continues to operate today. It requires students to become familiar with the various institutions, groups, beliefs and ideas that constitute United States politics. It is also designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam which will be given in May. It is a reading and writing intensive course that will require dedication and time on the part of the student who seeks to master it and will be academically rigorous. It is also a dual credit course that is run in conjunction with MonmouthUniversity, where I am a professor. All eligible students who pay the tuition fee of $180.00 to MonmouthUniversity will earn college credits, transferable to almost all colleges in America, as long as they maintain an 82 average or higher for the year. These credits are earned regardless of a student’s score on the AP exam itself. The prerequisite for this course is successful completion of the Advanced Placement United States History course and teacher recommendation.

This syllabus and many of the class assignments will be available on the class web page at quia.com and my teacher web page here at Long Branch. You should check the web pages daily. You may also email me your questions at . We will also be using Nicenet.org for some “blogging” responses. If you lack internet access at home you must speak to me so that other arrangements can be made for you. As always, I will be available every morning before school starting at 7:00am for extra help, as well as after school until at least 4:00 pm. Do not hesitate to speak to me if you find that you need help.

Course Requirements: Students are expected to maintain an organized three ring notebook since numerous handouts will be provided. There will be notebook grades. All assignments are due on their announced date. In order for me to consider excusing your absence to extend a due date there must be a note from a parent or guardian explaining that absence. Assignments handed in late will lose credit as follows: 1 day late 25%; 2 days late 50%. No assignment will be accepted more than two days late. If you miss a scheduled exam you must make it up the next day you attend school. Thereafter you will lose 10% for each day the exam is not taken.

Course Readings will include the following:

1. American Government(2011); O’Connor and Sabato [course text]

2. Perspectives on American Politics; William Lasser

3. Selected Federalist Essays

4. American Polity; Ann G. Serow and Everett Ladd (selected readings)

5. In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action; E.Alderman and C.Kennedy (selected readings)

6. Selected Supreme Court cases;

7. Additional supplemental readings including the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and

The New York Times

Arrangement of the course: (Designed to benefit from the fact this is a national election year)

This is a year long course which will be divided into six (6) units. The remaining time will be utilized by reviewing for the Advanced Placement Exam and subsequent writing and research assignments to be announced following the AP exam. The units of study are as follows

Unit One- Constitutional Foundations (18 days)

Unit Two- Political Parties, Interest Groups and the Media (24 days)

Unit Three- Political Beliefs and Behavior (13 days)

Unit Four- National Institutions (40 days)

a. Legislative

b. Executive

c. Federal Courts

d. Bureaucracy

Unit Five- Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (18 days)

Unit Six- Public Policy (13 days)

Grading: Each unit will contain several quizzes and chapter tests, a unit test, reading questions, vocabulary words and essay homework assignments. In addition, there will be at least 3 projects spread throughout the course which will combine at least two units. Attendance and class participation will also count towards your overall grade.

Suggestions: Students should be prepared to enter into and use study groups throughout the

duration of the course. Class and reading notes should be used to form an

outline of the course. Numerous internet sites will be used and prove helpful to

you including findlaw.com, law.cornell.edu, congresslink.org, and oyez.org.

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