AP U.S. Government and Politics

Western Sierra Collegiate Academy 2015-2016

Richard Dahl

Email:

Phone: (916) 778-4544

Welcome to AP U.S. Government and Politics! I am so excited about the discussions we will have this year concerning our nation and the things that matter most.

Class Goals

My goal for this class is that you would leave Western Sierra Collegiate Academy ready to participate in the political process. This could be as simple as casting your vote in an election, engaging in a discussion of the issues our country is currently facing, or even one day running for president of the United States.

Course Overview

This college-level course will examine government institutions and political processes in the United States of America. Every unit will seek to answer how that particular topic influences policy and policy makers. As a student you will be expected to think critically about the political structures and policies currently in place and will be challenged to create solutions for the struggles our nation is facing.

Text and Readings

Edwards, George C., Robert L. Lineberry, and Martin P. Wattenberg. 2003. Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy. 15th ed. New York: Longman.

Woll, Peter, ed. 1999. American Government: Readings and Cases. 14th ed. New York: Longman.

Required Student Materials:

3-Ring, 1.5+ inch binder with dividers (this is the basis for studying & portfolio)

Set of black or blue pens Set of highlighters

Set of #2 Pencils (box) at the ready for essays and multiple choice tests

Year’s supply of binder paper (loose, not in a tear-out binder)

Flash Drive (minimum 8GB)

APGOPO Units:

  1. Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government(5-15%)
  2. Political Beliefs and Behaviors(10-20%)
  3. Political Parities, Interest Groups, and Mass Media(10-20%)
  4. Institutions of National Government(35-45%)
  5. Public Policy(5-15%)
  6. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties(5-15%)

Classroom Rules/Expectations

AP Government and Politics is a college level class and I will treat it as such. There is a certain level of professionalism that I will expect from each of you because you are almost adults. You will do the following:

Behavioral Expectations:

All students are expected to conform to the rules outlined in the Student Handbook. In my class I expect you to:

  1. WORK HARD
  2. BE NICE

Students not following the rules will be:

1. Given a verbal warning
2. Sent to the office and a phone call home
3. Referral

Grading Policy

This class follows the grading policy adopted by the Rocklin Academy Board of Directors. Progress reports will be available at the end of Quarters 1& 3. Students can receive a letter grade of A, B, C, or I (Incomplete). This grade is comprised of a Summative Assessments (worth 90% of the grade) and Formative Assessments (worth 10% of the grade). Assessments include tests, essays, projects, and presentations. Formative work includes homework and many of our in-class activities.

Homework Policy

AP Government requires a great deal of reading, writing and studying outside of class. Students will be expected to come to class having read the assigned reading, taken notes, and studied the topic of the chapter. Assignments are expected on time.

Reading and Vocabulary Quizzes

There will be two to four reading quizzes per chapter to hold you accountable for the reading. There will also be one vocabulary quiz per chapter. These quizzes are formative.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to abide by the WSCA Academic Integrity policy. Cheating, plagiarism, or other violations will not be tolerated and will result in academic and administrative consequences. Parents and school administration will be notified of any suspected instances of academic dishonesty.

Breakdown of Units and Assignments:

Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings (Q1)

Readings:

Edwards, Lineberry, and Wattenberg: Chapters: 1, 2, 3

-“The Constitution”

-“English Bill of Rights”

-“Bill of Rights”

-Federalist Papers 16, 17

-“The Founding Fathers: A Reform Caucus in Action” John P. Roche

-Time magazine article on the Constitution

Activities:

  • Constitution Boot camp-guided annotation of the US Constitution
  • Reading and vocabulary quizzes
  • Debate: IS the Constitution still relevant?
  • Constitution writing activity
  • McCulloch v Maryland, Gibbons v Ogden,
  • Unit 1 Exam (Multiple choice and FRQ)
  • Debate:
  • The Federal government has been devolving more power to the states. This trend is positive because it allows states to better meet the individual needs of their citizens.

Unit 2: Political Beliefs and Behaviors (Q1):

Readings:

-Edwards, Lineberry, and Wattenberg: Chapters 1, 6, 8

-Toward a Responsible Party System?” Arthur Paulson

-“Divided We Govern” David R. Mayhew

Activities:

  • Political Ideology Quiz
  • Unit 2 Exam Multiple Choice and FRQs
  • Reading and vocabulary quizzes
  • Cornell Notes
  • Political Party Research
  • Current Events
  • Debate:
  • Low voter turnout among people threatens democracy in America.

Because of political apathy among young people, their issues are not adequately addressed.

Unit 3: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (Q2)

Readings:

  • Edwards, Lineberry, and Wattenberg: Chapters: 4-5
  • -“The Need to Maintain a Free Marketplace of Ideas” Oliver Wendell Holmes
  • “Bill of Rights”

Activities:

  • Reading and vocabulary quizzes
  • Unit 2 Exam (Multiple choice and FRQ)
  • Civil Rights Timeline Project/Presentation
  • Plessy v. Ferguson
  • Brown v. Board of Education
  • Roe v. Wade
  • Gideon v. Wainwright
  • Current event news show
  • Debate:
  • Affirmative Action programs are necessary to safeguard equal opportunity in both education and employment for minorities.
  • In the interest of public safety, the Fourth Amendment rights of those under the age of 18 should be severely limited.

Unit 4: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media (Q2)

Readings:

-Edwards, Lineberry, and Wattenberg: Chapters 7, 9, 10, 11

-Federalist 10”

-“The Responsible Electorate” V.O. Key, Jr.

- “The Governmental Process” David B. Truman

-“The Changing Nature of Interest Groups” Burdett A. Loomis and Allan J. Cigler

-“The Perils of Polling” Benjamin Ginsberg

-Washington’s Farewell Address

Activities:

  • Reading and vocabulary quizzes
  • Unit 3 Exam (Multiple choice and FRQ)
  • Campaign project
  • Mock election
  • Election watch journal
  • Current event news show
  • Reading group presentations
  • Lecture: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and the Media
  • Sticky note reading activity
  • Debate:
  • Interest groups, PACs, and 527s have too much clout in shaping public policy.
  • Multi-party political systems more effectively represent citizen interests than does the American two-party system.

Unit 5: Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, the Bureaucracy and the Federal Courts (Q3)

Readings:

  • Edwards, Lineberry, and Wattenberg: Chapters: 12-16
  • Federalist 44”
  • “Presidential Power” Richard Neustadt
  • “The Presidential Character” James David Barber
  • “The Contemporary Presidency: parties, process and presidential power: Learning from confirmation politics in the US Senate” Gary J. Andres
  • “The Rise of the Bureaucratic State” James Q. Wilson
  • “Congress: The Electoral Connection” David R. Mayhew
  • “Federalist 78”
  • “Judicial Self-Restraint” John P. Roche
  • “How the Supreme Court Arrives at Decisions” William J. Brennan Jr.

Activities:

  • Reading and vocabulary quizzes
  • Unit 4 Exam (Multiple choice and FRQ)
  • Three branches simulation
  • Case Study: Obamacare
  • Supreme Court Cases project
  • Marbury v. Madison
  • Current events
  • Debate:
  • The Supreme Court is too heavily influenced by politics.
  • The United States should reduce the number of regulatory agencies, because they generate red tape, raise prices, and reduce competitiveness in the world market.
  • Judicial review is undemocratic. It permits non-elected judges to decide whether or not a law is constitutional. It can frustrate the intentions of democratic governments by overruling the actions of elected officials.
  • The president has become so powerful that there is no longer an effective balance of powers.

Unit 6: Public Policy (Q4)

Readings:

  • Edwards, Lineberry, and Wattenberg: Chapters: 17-20

Activities:

  • Reading and vocabulary quizzes
  • Unit 5 Exam (Multiple choice and FRQ)
  • What is public policy? (handout)
  • -The Federal Budget: A look at Spending (pg 185 in NB)
  • -Connecting the policy agenda to the issue makers
  • -Policy assessment project
  • Debate:
  • The Congressional committee system gives too much power to the majority party in setting the political agenda. As a result, the views of the minority party are ignored.