Advanced Placement NSL Government Course Syllabus

Transcription

1 Advanced Placement NSL Government Course Syllabus Ms. Ulmer Welcome to Advanced Placement NSL Government and Politics. The purpose of this course is to help students gain and display an understanding of American politics and the processes of government that help shape our public policies. Throughout the course we examine and try to evaluate our institutions of government, the people who run those institutions, the public policies made by those institutions, and the influences of the electorate and other groups on policy. By the completion of the course students will have developed an interest in public issues; will be able to understand and evaluate competing arguments; formulate and express opinions on political and policymaking processes; and carry on an intelligent discussion of social issues. In short, students will be prepared to take on the responsibilities of active, informed citizens. This course culminates in an Advanced Placement exam, so it is imperative that the course exposes students to all areas of information covered on the AP test. In order to accomplish that goal, a high-level academic environment must exist. All students must be dedicated to learning, highly motivated, and willing to put forth both time and effort both in and outside of the classroom. Advanced Placement Exam All students are encouraged to take the AP exam, which will be given on, Tuesday, May 15 at 8:00 am. The test consists of the following: 60 multiple choice questions 45 minutes (50%) 4 free response questions 25 minutes each (50%) Exam results will be sent directly to students in early July and in many cases a passing score can result in college credit and/or course waivers.

2 Textbooks and Required Readings The textbook for the course is American Government (10th edition) by Wilson and DiIulio, Houghton/Mifflin Seminar Readings will also be assigned from Point Counterpoint Readings in American Government 7th edition by Herbert M. Levine and The Enduring Debate 3rd edition, edited by David T. Canon, John J. Coleman and Kenneth R. Mayer. Additionally, throughout the course, articles from major periodicals and newspapers (such as Time, Newsweek, the Washington Post, the Washington Times, New York Times and Wall Street Journal) will be assigned. Course Outline The following units will be covered. These units have been developed to prepare students for success on the AP test. The percentage in parenthesis represents the range for that unit on the multiple choice portion of the AP exam. Unit One Constitutional Underpinnings of the U.S. Government (5-15%) 1. Identify the ideologies that helped form the foundation of the American government and identify events influencing the adoption of the Constitution 2. Explain why separation of powers and federalism became key parts of the Constitution 3. Show how Madison s notions of human nature played an important part in the framing of the Constitution 4. Explain what is meant by political power in terms of authority, legitimacy, and democracy in the context of American government 5. Analyze the difference between majoritarian and elitist politics and show the relationship of the Bill of Rights to democratic rule 6. Explain how the structure of the federal system affects the application of the Bill of Rights 7. Analyze why the resolution of civil liberties issues involves politics as well as law 8. Describe the historical evolution of federalism, including the demise of the concept of dual federalism 9. Differentiate among grants-in-aid, categorical grants, and revenue sharing 10. Discuss whether or to what extent federal grants to states have succeeded in creating uniform national policies comparable to those of centralized governments Wilson, Chapters 1-3 Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and U.S. Constitution Excerpts from John Locke Second Treatise on Government Federalist Papers #10 and #51

3 Unit Two Political Beliefs and Behaviors (10-20%) 1. Define what political scientists mean by political culture and identify the dominant aspects of political culture in the U.S. 2. Analyze differences in political attitudes of American citizens and citizens of other countries and identify the sources of our political culture 3. Explain the causes of the recent growth of citizen distrust in American government and analyze why some observers are concerned about it while others regard it as normal and healthy 4. Define internal and external feelings of political efficacy and explain how the level of each has varied over time 5. List the sources of political attitudes (agents of political socialization) indicating which are the most important and why 6. Evaluate the usefulness of the terms liberal and conservative given the fact that most Americans do not think ideologically 7. Analyze to what degree public opinion affects public policy 8. Explain why the popular description, analysis, and proposed remedies for low voter turnout rates may be erroneous 9. Discuss the factors that appear to be associated with high or low political participation 10. Describe how the control of elections has shifted from the states to the federal government and explain the effects of this shift on minorities, women and youth Wilson, Chapters 4-6 Excerpts from Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (1835) David Brooks, One Nation, Slightly Divisible Atlantic Monthly 288 (Dec.2001) Unit Three Political Parties, Interest Groups and Mass Media (10-20%) 1. Trace the rise and decline of political parties from the Constitutional Convention to today 1. Compare and contrast the national Democratic and Republican parties in terms of their structure, national conventions, presidential nomination process, continued existence and coalitions 2. Offer two explanations for the persistence of the two party system, despite the occurrence of minor parties within the U.S. 3. Explain why U.S. elections are both more and less democratic that those of other countries 4. Analyze whether elections result in major changes in national public policy 5. Assess the importance of campaign funding to election outcomes 6. Describe what is required for a major party to forge a successful national coalition to win power in an election 7. Identify the conditions under which interest groups are likely to form and specify the kinds of organizations Americans are most likely to join 8. Describe the methods interest groups use to formulate and carry out their political objectives 9. Analyze how the characteristics of the electronic media have affected the actions of public officials and candidates for national office 10. Assess the impact of the media on politics and indicate why it is difficult to make an accurate assessment 11. Describe the rules governing the media, contrasting the regulation of electronic and print media

4 Wilson, Chapters 7-10 Gerald M. Pomper, Parliamentary Government in the United States? from The State of the Parties Ralph Nader, Remarks at the National Press Club from The Enduring Debate Unit Four Institutions of National Government (35-45%) 1. Identify and explain the formal and informal powers of Congress, 2. Describe the structure and organization of Congress 3. Identify the factors that help explain why a member of Congress votes as s/he does 4. Describe the formal process by which a bill becomes a law 5. Describe the characteristics of members of Congress 6. Identify the role that party affiliation plays in the organization and functioning of Congress 7. Describe the role the framers of the Constitution expected Congress to play 8. Discuss the approach of the founders toward executive power and the evolution of the presidency from 1789 to the present 9. Discuss the formal and informal aspects of presidential power 10. List and describe the various offices that go to make up the office of the President 11. Review discussions of Presidential character and describe how these relate to the achievements in office of various presidents 12. Describe the growth of the United States bureaucracy 13. Describe the recruitment, retention, and personal characteristics of federal bureaucrats 14. Explain the structure of the federal bureaucracy and identify the function and purpose of prominent bureaucratic agencies/departments 15. Analyze the pathologies of the federal bureaucracy and evaluate potential reforms 16. Explain the controls the President and Congress exercise over the bureaucracy 17. Trace the historical development of the role of the Federal courts. 18. Describe the structure and jurisdiction of the Federal courts. 19. Explain what is meant by a dual court system and describe the effects it has on how cases are handled and appealed. 20. Describe the steps that cases go through to be appealed to the Supreme Court 21. Contrast the arguments for judicial activism with those supporting strict constructionism. 22. Evaluate the role/power of the court in policy making Wilson, Chapters Excerpts from Arthur.Schlesinger Jr., Imperial Presidency (1973) Full Speed Ahead by Evan Thomas and Daniel Klaidman, Newsweek, January 9, 2006 Federalist #78 Marbury v Madison Is the Rehnquist Court an Activist Court? Insights on Law & Society, Fall 2004

5 Unit Five Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (5-15%) 1. Differentiate between civil rights and civil liberties 2. Assess the significance of the 14th Amendment to both civil liberties (incorporation) and civil rights (equal protection) 3. analyze significant Supreme Court cases and assess the impact of the decisions on the development of individual rights and liberties 4. evaluate judicial interpretation of various civil rights and liberties (such as freedom of speech, religion, rights of accused and the rights of minority groups and women) 5. describe the legal, social and political evolution of the concept of Equal Protection following the Supreme Courts decisions regarding racial segregation 6. Trace the campaign by African Americans and other minority groups for civil rights legislation Wilson, Chapter Bill of Rights Excerpts from Supreme Court Decisions including: Gideon v Wainright Miranda v Arizona Brown v Bd. of Education Grutter v Bollinger (2003) and dissenting opinions by Kennedy and Scalia in Gratz v Bollinger Letter from Birmingham City Jail Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unit Six Public Policy (5-15%) 1. Explain how certain issues at certain times get placed on the public agenda 2. Describe the policy making process and the major actors involved at various stages of the process 3. Define the four types of politics and give examples of each 4. Explain the major economic theories that affect economic policy 5. Describe the government budgetary process and the branches/agencies involved in the process 6. Analyze fiscal policy measures and the role of the FED in our economy 7. Describe the goals and provisions of the major social welfare programs 8. Discuss the politics of Social Welfare Reform Wilson, Chapters From American Business, Public Policy, Case Studies, and Political Theory, Theodore J. Lowi Call for Federal Responsibility Campaign speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt, reprinted in The Enduring Debate Against the Proposed New Deal Campaign speech by Herbert Hoover, reprinted in The Enduring Debate