Ms. Raine
AP Government Course Outline
Fall 2014
This course outline is subject to change due to the discretion of the teacher as needed. Students will be notified in plenty of time should changes arise.
Unit One: Introduction, Constitution, and Federalism
Date / Monday August 18Chapter/textbook/novel / Edwards, Wattenberg, Lineberry. Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy
Standards/Learning Outcomes / Introduction to the course and AP Test, Assign Current Events
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Syllabus Review
- Student Survey
- Who We Are Activity
- What gov’t should and shouldn’t do
- Class Discussion/Debate Guidelines
Date / Wednesday August 20
Chapter/textbook/novel / Lecture Chapter 1: Introducing Government in America
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Identify the key functions of government and explain why they matter
- Define politics in the context of democratic government
- Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people
- Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today
- Outline the central arguments of the debate in America over the proper scope of government
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Lecture chpt 1
- John Locke Second Treatise of Government
- Current Events Discussion
Date / Monday August 25
Chapter/textbook/novel / Begin Chapter 2: The Constitution
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution
- Analyze how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to its failure
- Describe the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the core ideas they shared
- Categorize the issues at the Constitutional Convention and outline the resolutions reached on each type of issue
- Analyze how the components of the Madisonian system addressed the dilemma of reconciling majority rule with the protection of minority interests
- Compare and contrast the Federalist and Anti-Federalist in terms of their background and their positions regarding governments
- Explain how the Constitution can be formally amended and how it changes informally
- Assess whether the Constitution establishes a majoritarian democracy and how it limits the scope of government
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- FRQ Chapter 1
- Current Events
- Lecture Chapter 2
- Constitution Discussion from Summer Assignment
- Theories of Constitution from Founding Fathers
Date / Wednesday August 27
Chapter/textbook/novel / Lecture Chapter 2: The Constitution
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution
- Analyze how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to its failure
- Describe the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the core ideas they shared
- Categorize the issues at the Constitutional Convention and outline the resolutions reached on each type of issue
- Analyze how the components of the Madisonian system addressed the dilemma of reconciling majority rule with the protection of minority interests
- Compare and contrast the Federalist and Anti-Federalist in terms of their background and their positions regarding governments
- Explain how the Constitution can be formally amended and how it changes informally
- Assess whether the Constitution establishes a majoritarian democracy and how it limits the scope of government
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Compare and contrast Articles of Confederation and Constitution
Date / Thursday August 28
Chapter/textbook/novel / Continue Lecture Chapter 2: The Constitution
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution
- Analyze how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to its failure
- Describe the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the core ideas they shared
- Categorize the issues at the Constitutional Convention and outline the resolutions reached on each type of issue
- Analyze how the components of the Madisonian system addressed the dilemma of reconciling majority rule with the protection of minority interests
- Compare and contrast the Federalist and Anti-Federalist in terms of their background and their positions regarding governments
- Explain how the Constitution can be formally amended and how it changes informally
- Assess whether the Constitution establishes a majoritarian democracy and how it limits the scope of government
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Amending the Constitution Activity
- Bill of Rights Rapdue Tuesday September 2
Date / Tuesday September 2
Chapter/textbook/novel / Continue Chapter 2: The Constitution
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution
- Analyze how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to its failure
- Describe the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the core ideas they shared
- Categorize the issues at the Constitutional Convention and outline the resolutions reached on each type of issue
- Analyze how the components of the Madisonian system addressed the dilemma of reconciling majority rule with the protection of minority interests
- Compare and contrast the Federalist and Anti-Federalist in terms of their background and their positions regarding governments
- Explain how the Constitution can be formally amended and how it changes informally
- Assess whether the Constitution establishes a majoritarian democracy and how it limits the scope of government
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Current Events
- Federalist 10
Date / Thursday September 4
Chapter/textbook/novel / Lecture Chapter 3: Federalism
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Define federalism and explain its consequences for American politics and policy
- Outline what the Constitution says about division of power between national and state governments and states’ obligations to each other, and trace the increasing importance of the national government
- Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today
- Assess the impact of federalism on democratic government and the scope of government
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Division of Power Activity
- Federalism worksheet
- Marbury vs Madison activity
Date / Monday September 8
Chapter/textbook/novel / Lecture Chapter 3: Federalism
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Define federalism and explain its consequences for American politics and policy
- Outline what the Constitution says about division of power between national and state governments and states’ obligations to each other, and trace the increasing importance of the national government
- Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today
- Assess the impact of federalism on democratic government and the scope of government
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Current Events
- Review Marbury vs. Madison review
- Federalist 51
- U.S. vs Lopez Activity
Date / Wednesday September 10
Chapter/textbook/novel / Continue Lecture Chapter 3: Federalism
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Define federalism and explain its consequences for American politics and policy
- Outline what the Constitution says about division of power between national and state governments and states’ obligations to each other, and trace the increasing importance of the national government
- Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today
- Assess the impact of federalism on democratic government and the scope of government
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Analysis of United States vs. Lopez
- Review for test
Date / Thursday September 11
Chapter/textbook/novel / Unit One Test: Chapters 1, 2, and 3
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- All unit outcomes as previously stated
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Unit One Test
- Chapter 3 FRQ
- Homework- Socratic Seminar American Melting Pot
Unit Two: Public Opinion, Campaigns, and Voting Behavior
Date / Monday September 15Chapter/textbook/novel / Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Action
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics
- Outline how various forms of socialization shape political opinions
- Explain how polls are conducted and what can be learned from them about American public opinion
- Assess the influence of political ideology on Americans’ political thinking and behavior
- Classify forms of political participation into two broad types
- Analyze how public opinion about the scope of government guides political behavior
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Current Events
- Political Self-Analysis
- Review Unit I Test
- Socratic Seminar- American Melting Pot
Date / Wednesday September 17
Chapter/textbook/novel / Lecture Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Action
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics
- Outline how various forms of socialization shape political opinions
- Explain how polls are conducted and what can be learned from them about American public opinion
- Assess the influence of political ideology on Americans’ political thinking and behavior
- Classify forms of political participation into two broad types
- Analyze how public opinion about the scope of government guides political behavior
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Gender Gap Activity
- Public opinion polls
- Socratic Seminar: LGBT
Date / Monday September 22
Chapter/textbook/novel / Lecture Chapter 9: Nominations and Campaigns
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Evaluate the fairness of our current system of presidential primaries and caucuses
- Explain the key objectives of any political campaign
- Outline how fundraising for federal offices is regulated by campaign finance laws
- Determine why campaigns have an important yet limited impact on election outcomes
- Assess the advantages and disadvantages of having a long presidential campaign
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Current Events
- Chapter 6 FRQ
- Analyze PBS Documentary: The Choice 2012
Tuesday September 23rd – Friday September 26th Senior Kairos Retreat
*Seniors are responsible for watching the documentary and answering the questions that will count as a quiz grade assignment prior to September 29th.
Date / Wednesday September 24Chapter/textbook/novel / Lecture Chapter 9: Nominations and Campaigns
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Evaluate the fairness of our current system of presidential primaries and caucuses
- Explain the key objectives of any political campaign
- Outline how fundraising for federal offices is regulated by campaign finance laws
- Determine why campaigns have an important yet limited impact on election outcomes
- Assess the advantages and disadvantages of having a long presidential campaign
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Analyze PBS Documentary: The Choice 2012
Date / Thursday September 25
Chapter/textbook/novel / Chapter 9: Nominations and Campaigns
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Evaluate the fairness of our current system of presidential primaries and caucuses
- Explain the key objectives of any political campaign
- Outline how fundraising for federal offices is regulated by campaign finance laws
- Determine why campaigns have an important yet limited impact on election outcomes
- Assess the advantages and disadvantages of having a long presidential campaign
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Analyze PBS Documentary: The Choice 2012
- Assignment: Documentary Analysis questions due via Turnitin on September 29th.
Date / Monday September 29
Chapter/textbook/novel / Conclude Chapter 9: Nominations and Campaigns
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Evaluate the fairness of our current system of presidential primaries and caucuses
- Explain the key objectives of any political campaign
- Outline how fundraising for federal offices is regulated by campaign finance laws
- Determine why campaigns have an important yet limited impact on election outcomes
- Assess the advantages and disadvantages of having a long presidential campaign
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Current Events
- Lecture Chapter 9
Date / Wednesday October 1
Chapter/textbook/novel / Lecture Chapter 10: Elections and Voting Behavior
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Distinguish the types of elections in the United States
- Trace the evolution of the American electoral process from 1800 to the present
- Identify the factors that influence whether people vote or not
- Assess the impact of party identification, candidate evaluations, and policy opinions on voting behavior
- Evaluate the fairness of the Electoral College system for choosing the president
- Assess the extent to which elections make government officials pay attention to what voters want
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- FRQ Chpt. 9
- Formal/Informal reasons why people do not vote
Date / Thursday October 2
Chapter/textbook/novel / Continue Lecture Chapter 10: Elections and Voting Behavior
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Distinguish the types of elections in the United States
- Trace the evolution of the American electoral process from 1800 to the present
- Identify the factors that influence whether people vote or not
- Assess the impact of party identification, candidate evaluations, and policy opinions on voting behavior
- Evaluate the fairness of the Electoral College system for choosing the president
- Assess the extent to which elections make government officials pay attention to what voters want
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Ted Talks: Nate Silver, Does Race Affect Votes?
- Changing Demographics Analysis Race 2012 Discussion Questions
Date / Monday October 6
Chapter/textbook/novel / Continue Lecture Chapter 10: Elections and Voting Behavior
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Distinguish the types of elections in the United States
- Trace the evolution of the American electoral process from 1800 to the present
- Identify the factors that influence whether people vote or not
- Assess the impact of party identification, candidate evaluations, and policy opinions on voting behavior
- Evaluate the fairness of the Electoral College system for choosing the president
- Assess the extent to which elections make government officials pay attention to what voters want
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Current Events
- Electoral College Activity
Date / Wednesday October 8
Chapter/textbook/novel / Continue Lecture Chapter 10: Elections and Voting Behavior
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Distinguish the types of elections in the United States
- Trace the evolution of the American electoral process from 1800 to the present
- Identify the factors that influence whether people vote or not
- Assess the impact of party identification, candidate evaluations, and policy opinions on voting behavior
- Evaluate the fairness of the Electoral College system for choosing the president
- Assess the extent to which elections make government officials pay attention to what voters want
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Review Unit II
Date / Thursday October 9
Chapter/textbook/novel / Unit Two Test: Chapters 6, 9, and 10
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- All outcomes previously stated for unit
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Unit Two Test
- Chapter 10 FRQ
Unit Three: Linkage Institutions
Date / Monday October 13Chapter/textbook/novel / Chapter 7: The Mass Media and The Political Agenda
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media
- Outline the key developments in the history of mass media and American politics
- List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most media attention
- Analyze the impact the media has on what policy issues Americans think about
- Explain how policy entrepreneurs employ media strategies to influence the public agenda
- Assess the impact of the mass media on the scope of government and democracy in America
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Current Events
- Lecture Chapter 7
- TED Talk- News about the News
- Media Bias Scavenger Hunt
Date / Thursday October 16
Chapter/textbook/novel / Chapter 7: The Mass Media and The Political Agenda
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media
- Outline the key developments in the history of mass media and American politics
- List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most media attention
- Analyze the impact the media has on what policy issues Americans think about
- Explain how policy entrepreneurs employ media strategies to influence the public agenda
- Assess the impact of the mass media on the scope of government and democracy in America
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Campaign Advertisements Activity
- Analysis of campaign advertisement is due October 20thvia Turnitin
Date / Monday October 20
Chapter/textbook/novel / Chapter 8: Political Parties
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
- Determine the significance of party identification in America today
- Describe how political parties are organized in the United States
- Evaluate how well political parties generally do in carrying out their promises
- Differentiate the various party eras in American History
- Assess both the impact of third parties on American politics and their limitations
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Current Events
- FRQ Chapter 7
- Warning: Big vocab test coming up!
- Lecture Chapter 8
No Class: Special Schedule/No School Wednesday October 22-Sunday October 26th
Date / Monday October 27Chapter/textbook/novel / Chapter 8: Political Parties
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
- Determine the significance of party identification in America today
- Describe how political parties are organized in the United States
- Evaluate how well political parties generally do in carrying out their promises
- Differentiate the various party eras in American History
- Assess both the impact of third parties on American politics and their limitations
- Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of responsible party government
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Current Events
- Vocabulary Assessment
- V.O. Key Theory of Critical Elections
Date / Wednesday October 29
Chapter/textbook/novel / Chapter 8: Political Parties
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
- Determine the significance of party identification in America today
- Describe how political parties are organized in the United States
- Evaluate how well political parties generally do in carrying out their promises
- Differentiate the various party eras in American History
- Assess both the impact of third parties on American politics and their limitations
- Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of responsible party government
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- FRQ Chapter 8
Date / Thursday October 30
Chapter/textbook/novel /
- White House Halloween
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Students will learn the traditions of different Presidents in the White House and complete a photo analysis
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Photo Analysis
- Vocab Assessment # 2
Date / Monday November 3
Chapter/textbook/novel / Chapter 11: Interest Groups
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Describe the role of interest groups in American politics
- Compare and contrast the theories of pluralism, elitism, and hyperpluralism
- Analyze the factors that make some interest groups more successful than others in the political arena
- Assess the four basic strategies that interest groups use to try to shape policy
- Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns
- Evaluate how well Madison’s ideas for controlling the influence of interest groups have worked in practice
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Current Events
- Lecture Chapter 11
Date / Wednesday November 5
Chapter/textbook/novel / Chapter 11: Interest Groups
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Describe the role of interest groups in American politics
- Compare and contrast the theories of pluralism, elitism, and hyperpluralism
- Analyze the factors that make some interest groups more successful than others in the political arena
- Assess the four basic strategies that interest groups use to try to shape policy
- Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns
- Evaluate how well Madison’s ideas for controlling the influence of interest groups have worked in practice
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Lecture Chapter 11
- Iron Triangle Activity
Date / Thursday November 6
Chapter/textbook/novel / Chapter 11: Interest Groups
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- Describe the role of interest groups in American politics
- Compare and contrast the theories of pluralism, elitism, and hyperpluralism
- Analyze the factors that make some interest groups more successful than others in the political arena
- Assess the four basic strategies that interest groups use to try to shape policy
- Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns
- Evaluate how well Madison’s ideas for controlling the influence of interest groups have worked in practice
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- FRQ Chapter 11
- Review for Unit III exam
Date / Monday November 10
Chapter/textbook/novel / Unit Three Test: Chapter 7, 8, 11
Standards/Learning Outcomes /
- All previous standards in unit
Major Assignment/Assessment/Activity /
- Unit Three Test
- Current Events
Unit 4: Institutions: Congress and Presidency, Bureaucracy, and Budget