AP United States Government & Politics Textbook & Supplementary Sources: Textbook: American Government and Politics Today

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1 AP United States Government & Politics Instructor: Katie Jarboe /Course Website: misskjarboe.weebly.com Textbook & Supplementary Sources: Textbook: American Government and Politics Today ( AP Edition) United States Government & Politics AMSCO - Prep Book for the Advanced Placement Exam in May AMSCO Publication - can be ordered directly through AMSCO or Amazon **Order this ASAP as we will use it frequently in class and readings out of class Center for Learning materials, primary sources, charts/graphs interpretation drills, and readings College Board on the Web: Foundation s web site: Various readings and sources will be provided as they are assigned. AP Government and Politics Introduction The Advanced Placement Program offers a course of government and politics that is intended for qualified students who wish to complete studies while in high school that are equivalent to a onesemester college introductory course. Political scientists serving on the AP Government and Politics Development Committee have selected the material on the examination you will be taking next May. Their goal is to have the exam reflect and measure the skills and knowledge required by college courses. The Course An introductory college course in U.S. Government and Politics is generally one semester in length. In terms of content, there is no specific college course curriculum that an AP course in United States Government and Politics must follow. Therefore, the aim of an AP course should be to provide the student with a learning experience equivalent to that obtained in most college introductory courses. Students will develop an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also requires familiarization with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. politics. Students should become familiar with theoretical perspectives that explain various behaviors and outcomes. The following is a brief overview of the grading scale, topics and questions that will be explored in the course. Textbook & Supplemental Readings Students will be assigned chapters in the textbook, AMSCO Exam Prep book, and various other readings (as provided) for each unit. As the readings are assigned, as noted in the class calendar, students are responsible for reading and taking comprehensive notes. Since our class is fastpaced, it is not possible for us to cover everything in class; reading and note-taking are essential to doing well in this course.!1

2 Vocabulary & Chapter Quizzes (Minor Grades - 40% of Average) Vocabulary & Chapter Quizzes, given online via Engrade, will be made available the day Chapter Notes are due according to class calendar. Quizzes will remain open for one day (24 hours). Students will have 2 attempts on quizzes and the higher of the two scores will be recorded; however, since these are minor grades - retakes will not be offered. Unit Exams (Major Grades - 70% of Average) Each Unit Exam will be formatted similarly to the AP exam that students will take in May. However, not all exams will consists of both multiple choice questions and free response questions. The course calendar details what type of exam will be given for each chapter and/or unit. **Other forms of assignments will be assigned throughout the semester include but are not limited to: research papers, current event responses, class discussions, group presentations and projects, class debates. Grading Procedures This course follows the grade procedures outlined by Irving ISD for the school year. Since these procedures have recently changed, they are outlined below. Summative Grades are now called Major Grades and Formative Grades are now referred to as Minor Grades. Minor Grades include assignments like homework, quizzes, daily class assignments, and other similar assignments that may not be listed here. Major Grades include projects, exams, research papers, and other similar assignments not listed. Major Grade Re-Teach/Re-Assess - once a student receives a failing grade, the student will have ONE week to attend tutoring for their one reteach/reassess opportunity. Students will NOT be permitted to wait until the end of the 6-week period to reassess failing grades. The highest possible grade that can be earned on a re-assess of a major grade is 70%. Please note that this is different from past years when the highest possible grade was 85%. Weighting of grade categories has also changed. Minor Grades are 40% of class average and Major Grades are 60% of class average. More weight is now placed on Minor Grades so they should not be neglected. Tutoring Hours Wednesday - Friday Mornings (8:00-8:40) Monday, Wednesday & Thursday Afternoons (4:20-5:00) All other times by appointment Supplies: Binder (optional) 8 Dividers (optional) Spiral Pens/Pencils!2

3 Curriculum & Course Outline I. Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government 5-15% A. Considerations that influenced the formulation and adoption of the Constitution B. Separation of powers C. Checks and balances D. Federalism E. Theories of democratic government Unit One: Underpinnings, US Constitution, and Federalism August 21 - First Day of School - Normal Boring 1st Day Stuff - Syllabus, Contact, Etc. August 22 - Time to Jump In with Government Topics Pre-Test FRQ Day - Tips, Tools, Vocab, and How to Write of AP GoPo FRQ About You August 23 - Types of Government, US Demographics August 24 - Political Philosophers - Comparison of Philosophers READ: Two Treatises of Government by John Locke (excerpt) August 25 - Declaration of Independence CHAPTER 3 NOTES DUE TODAY - QUIZ OPENS AT 6:00 P.M. August 28 - Declaration of Independence, Structure of Articles of Confederation August 29 - Articles of Confederation - Structure and Failures August 30 - Articles of Confederation Failures, Shay s Rebellion CHAPTER 3 QUIZ CLOSES TODAY AT MIDNIGHT August 31 - Philadelphia Convention September 1 - Philadelphia Convention - What is in the Constitution? READ: Federalist 10, 51, 78 September 4 - LABOR DAY - NO SCHOOL - WOO!!! September 5 - US Constitution - Articles and Powers September 6 - US Constitution & Federalism CHAPTER 6 NOTES DUE - QUIZ OPENS AT 6:00PM September 7 - Federalism September 8 - Unit One Review September 11 - UNIT 1 Test - Multiple Choice & FRQ CHAPTER 6 QUIZ CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT II. Political Beliefs & Behaviors, Political Parties, Elections % A. Political Beliefs & Behaviors 1. Beliefs that citizens hold about their government and its leaders 2. Processes by which citizens learn about politics 3. The nature, sources, and consequences of public opinion 4. The ways in which citizens vote and otherwise participate in political life 5. Factors that influence citizens in terms of political beliefs and behaviors B. Political Parties and Elections 1. Functions 2. Organization 3. Development 4. Effects on the political practice 5. Electoral laws and systems!3

4 Unit Two: Political Beliefs & Behaviors, Political Parties, Elections September 12 - Citizenship as an Example of Applying Federal Powers September 13 - Citizenship, Liberal vs. Conservative CHAPTER 8 NOTES DUE - QUIZ OPENS AT 6:00PM September 14 - Liberal vs. Conservative September 15 - Democrats and Republicans - History of Parties CHAPTER 8 QUIZ CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT SUNDAY (9/17) September 18 - Democrats & Republicans, Political Party FRQ September 19 - Third Parties in American Politics CHAPTER 9 NOTES DUE - QUIZ OPENS AT 6:00PM September 20 - Voting Patterns: Age, Ethnicity, Regional September 21 - Voting Patterns September 22 - Voting Patterns & Electoral College CHAPTER 9 QUIZ CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY September 25 - Propaganda Techniques in Campaigns September 26 - Propaganda Techniques September 27 - ACT Testing (no class today) September 28 - Electoral College September 29 - Electoral College & FRQ October 2 - Gerrymandering October 3 - Gerrymandering CHAPTER 10 NOTES DUE TODAY - QUIZ OPENS AT 6:00PM October 4 - Gerrymandering & FRQ October 5 - UNIT TWO REVIEW October 6 - Student Holiday / Parent Conference Day CHAPTER 10 QUIZ CLOSES TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT October 9 - NO SCHOOL TODAY! WOO! October 10 - UNIT TWO TEST III. Interest Groups, Campaign Finance & Mass Media % A. Interest groups, including political action committees (PACs) 1. The range of interests represented 2. The activities of interest groups 3. The effects of interest groups on the political process 4. The unique characteristics and roles of PACs in the political process B. The mass media 1. The functions and structures of the new media 2. The impacts of the news media on politics 3. The news media industry and its consequences Unit Three: Interest Groups, Campaign Finance, & Mass Media October 11 - PSAT DAY - Media Examples October 12 - Media Structure and Powers CHAPTER 7 NOTES DUE TODAY - QUIZ OPENS AT 6:00 P.M.!4

5 October 13 - The Media and Politics October 16 - Interest Groups: Types of Interest Groups, What Makes Interest Groups So Powerful? Lobbying CHAPTER 7 QUIZ CLOSES TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT October 17 - Campaign Finance, Interest Groups and Campaign Finance, PACS October 18 - Campaign Finance and PACs October 19 - UNIT 3 REVIEW & FRQ October 20 - UNIT 3 TEST - MC QUESTIONS IV. Institutions of the National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, the Bureaucracy, and the Federal Courts 35-45% A. The major formal and informal institutional arrangements of power B. Relationships among these four institutions and varying balances of power C. Linkages between institutions and the following: 1. Public opinion and voters 2. Interest groups 3. Political parties 4. The media 5. State and local governments Unit Four: Institutions of the National Government October 23 - Congressional Duties and Powers CHAPTER 11 NOTES DUE TODAY - QUIZ OPENS AT 6:00 P.M. October 24 - Congressional Duties and Powers October 25 - Congress Duties and Committee Structure October 26 - How Members of Congress Decide - How A Bill Becomes a Law October 27 - How a Bill Becomes a Law October 30 - Congress - Powers of Committees CHAPTER 11 QUIZ CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT October 31 - Congress - Why Legislations Fails November 1 - Congress - Why Legislations Fails November 2 - Major Legislation November 3 - Congress - The Budget Process November 6 - Congress - The Budget Process CHAPTER 12 NOTES DUE TODAY - QUIZ OPENS AT 6:00 P.M. November 7 - Legislation Quiz & FRQ November 8 - House of Representatives vs. Senate November 9 - House of Representatives vs. Senate November 10 - Congress Test & House v. Senate FRQ November 13 - Formal Executive Powers CHAPTER 12 QUIZ CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT November 14 - Informal Executive Powers November 15 - Military & War Making Powers of President November 16 - Executive & Legislative Balances!5

6 November 17 - Executive & Legislative Balances CHAPTER 13 NOTES DUE TODAY - QUIZ OPENS AT 6:00PM CHAPTER 13 QUIZ CLOSES NOVEMBER 26 AT MIDNIGHT THANKSGIVING BREAK - NOVEMBER 18 - NOVEMBER 26 November 27 - The Federal Bureaucracy - Nature of the Bureaucracy, Size of the Bureaucracy November 28 - Organization of Federal Bureaucracy, Independent Executive Agencies, Structure of Bureaucracy CHAPTER 14 NOTES DUE TODAY - QUIZ OPENS AT 6:00PM November 29 - Challenges and Staffing of Bureaucracy, Modern Attempts at Control, Bureaucrats as Politicians and Policy-Makers, Congressional Control November 30 - EXECUTIVE BRANCH & BUREAUCRACY TEST December 1 - The Dual Court Sytstem December 4 - Federal and State Jurisdiction CHAPTER 14 QUIZ CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT December 5 - Structure of the Federal Judiciary December 6 - Structure of the Federal Judiciary December 7 - Civil Rights and Civil Liberties December 8 - Key Terminology of the Amendments December 11 - Key Terminology of the Amendments December 12-14th Amendment and Incorporation December 13-14th Amendment and Incorporation December 14 - Federal Judiciary Test & FRQ DECEMBER 16 - JANUARY 1 - NO SCHOOL!! ENJOY YOUR WINTER BREAK! Over winter break it s your responsibility to read, take notes, and take the quizzes for Chapter 4: Civil Liberties & Chapter 5: Civil Rights - Both quizzes will be due January 2nd at Midnight V. Public Policy % A. Policymaking in a federal system B. The formation of policy agendas C. The role of institutions in the enactment of policy D. The role of the bureaucracy and the courts in policy implementation and interpretation E. Linkages between policy processes and the following: 1. Political institutions and federalism 2. Political parties 3. Interest groups 4. Public Opinion 5. Elections 6. Policy Networks Unit Five - Public Policy January 2 - Public Policy - Domestic & Economic January 3 - Public Policy - Domestic & Economic January 4 - Public Policy - Foreign & Military January 5 - Public Policy - Foreign & Military!6

7 Attendance In the event that you are absent, please note that it is your responsibility to contact the instructor for your make-up work. Come by before or after school to pick up your assignments. If you have missed class notes during your absence, make arrangement to copy the notes from one of your classmates. Being absent does not excuse you from assignments. This is an AP course, but still only one semester, so we will move quickly and cover a lot of material each day. If you know that you will be absent in advance, make arrangements with me or a classmate to get the materials and/or notes that you will miss BEFORE your planned absence. This includes absences for extracurricular activities. If you are absent on the day of a test, you will need to make arrangements with me to take your test either before or after school. Scheduling a time to take your test is your responsibility. Tardy Policy Any student not in class when the Tardy Bell rings will be required to go to the Cafeteria to receive a Tardy Pass back to class from their Assistant Principal. No student shall be allowed in class once the bell has rung, without a pass. Review Sessions before AP Test I will hold weekly tutoring sessions for all of my AP students during the Spring semester to review for the AP Test. All students (especially those who had class in the Fall) are highly encouraged to attend.!7