U.S. Government and Politics AP Syllabus / Curriculum This course is an accelerated study of the American political system, its foundations and institutions. Civil liberties and rights are studied as well as the influence of the media, political parties, and interest groups have on formation of policy and elections. The relationship between federal, state and local governments will be explained and all topics will be related to current events and policy debates. The class will frequently read current American and Foreign newspaper coverage of political events. Students will take a current events quiz every Friday to ensure knowledge of recent political developments. The class is divided between lecture and discussions based on content and current events. Students are responsible for reading ahead and will take a preassessment before each chapter and then and a free response exam at the end of each unit. Class time is reserved for enrichment activities (i.e. debates, research, simulations ). Textbooks Schmidt, Steffen W, American Government and Politics Today. Belmont, CA: ThomsonWadsworth, 2005. Meltzer, Tom and Levy, Paul, The Princeton Review: Cracking the AP*U.S. Government & Politics Exam (20072008 edition). New York, NY: Random House Inc. 2007 The course will be supplemented with additional handouts, newspapers and web readings such as the Federalist Papers, Magna Carta, and philosophy of John Locke, Henry David Thoreau, Martin Luther King Jr and others. Summer Work Students are required to read the Federalist Papers and the first three chapters in the textbook. An exam on these items will be given on the first and second day of school. Assessments Graded discussions Reading quizzes Preassessments Research papers Unit exams Presentations Competitive debates Simulations Role playing skits Current events quizzes Take home essay s Prepared study guides Analysis of political cartoons Review games Statistical analysis (data int.) United States Government and Politics AP Page 1
Constitutional Underpinnings Unit 1 Time frame: Weeks 1 5 Textbook: Schmidt Chapters 1, 2, 3, & 6 I. Foundations of American Government (Chapters 1 and 6) A. Greek and Roman contributions B. What is Government (state, nation, political culture?) C. The Magna Carta as the first document of freedom D. Political beliefs and behavior E. Political socialization F. Political Ideology II. Steps Toward Constitutional Government (Chapters 1 and 2) A. American political climate of 18th century B. The legal justification for the Declaration of Independence C. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation D. Shays Rebellion E. Checks and balances, separation of powers and federalism F. Compromising to create a republican system III. The Constitution (Chapter 3) A. Advantages over the Articles of Confederation B. Rights in the Constitution (Habeas Corpus, no bills of attainder ) C. The Bill of Rights role in ensuring ratification D. Amendment process Additional Readings The Federalist Papers, the Funeral Oration of Pericles, the Magna Carta, The Second Treatise on Government by John Locke Enrichment Activities 1. Democracy debate (Classical Athens vs. Roman Republic) 2. Ideology Poster (conservative, liberal, Federalist ) Students must graphically represent % of each ideology 3. Constitution PowerPoint Presentation (explain 1 article or section) 4. Shay s Rebellion reenactment 5. Ratifying the Constitution Role Play (Federalists vs. AntiFederalists) United States Government and Politics AP Page 2
The Institutions of Government Unit 2 Time Frame: Weeks 6 14 Textbook: Schmidt chapters 11 14 I. Congress and the People (Chapter 11) A. Bicameralism B. Functions and Powers of Congress C. House Senate differences D. The committee process E. How a bill becomes a law F. Why filibuster? Impact of almost endless debate? G. Importance of the House Rules committee? H. The new Democratic majority and Speaker of the House I. How does the operation of Congress promote factionalism? J. The Incumbent advantages over new challengers K. Why does Congress continue to maintain the seniority system? L. The never ending campaign and campaign finance 1. Campaign spending data interpretation II. The Presidency (Chapter 12) A. The informal powers of the president to pass legislation B. The Constitutional powers of the Executive branch C. Congress, the President and the line item veto D. What techniques can the President use to defeat legislation when facing a majority opposition? E. What impact does the White House staff have on policy making? F. Do executive agreements and signing statements violate the intent of the framers of the Constitution? G. Gulf of Tonkin and the War Powers Act H. Abuses of Presidential Powers(statistical analysis of veto power usage) I. The Vice presidency and the 25th amendment J. The Appointment powers of the president III. The Bureaucracy (Chapter 13) A. The evolution and expansion of the cabinet B. The executive office of the President C. History of the Federal Civil Service 1. Spoils System, Pendleton and Hatch Acts D. The dynamic between political appointees and civil servants E. Bureaucratic reform IV. The Courts (Chapter 14) A. The common law tradition B. The makeup of the Federal Court System C. Powers of the Supreme Court D. What cases reach the Supreme Court? E. Supreme Court politics? F. Marbury vs. Madison (1803) G. John Marshall and the establishment of Judicial review H. The selection of federal judges as the presidents legacy United States Government and Politics AP Page 3
I. Judicial restraint or judicial activism? 1. Analytical essay of Framers intent for the courts J. Congressional and Presidential control over the judiciary Enrichment Activities (in class) 1. How a bill becomes a law (role play) Senate Dem s vs Rep s in proposal, passage of a campaign finance bill 2. U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania biography and voting record analysis Students must write a 6 10 page biography on a PA Senator with extensive commentary on the Senator s speeches and voting record from the Congressional Record. 3. Congress Jeopardy review game (boys vs. girls quiz game) 4. Presidential research paper (30 to 50 pages) In depth analysis of the past 8 presidents Must use data to support claim of whether each was effective, prestigious, encouraged patriotism... 5. Cabinet department Poster presentation In depth analysis of 1 cabinet departments and its functions Must include data of employees, budget, and functions 6. Simulated Bureaucracy Problems Political appointees face with Civil Servants with legislated job security 7. Supreme Court Justice Biography (5 10 pages) 8. Supreme Court Trial reenactment Scott vs. Sanford (1857) Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Unit 3 Time Frame: Weeks 15 19 Textbook Schmidt chapters 4 & 5 I. Civil Liberties (Chapter 4) A. Freedom of Religion (The Establishment Clause) 1. Engel vs. Vitale, Lemon vs. Kurtzman, Everson vs. Board of Education B. Free Exercise Clause (Oregon vs Smith) C. Freedom of Expression 1. Tinker vs Des Moines, Texas vs Johnson, Gitlow vs. New York, Miller vs. California, Schenk vs. U.S. D. The importance of a free press in a representative democracy 1. NY Times vs. Sullivan, Nebraska Press Assoc. vs Stuart E. The Right to Assemble and petition the Government F. Interpreting the Right to Privacy 1. Griswold vs. Connecticut, Roe vs. Wade G. The Right to Die? 1. Quinlan, Cruzan and Terry Schiavo H. Rights of the Accused 1. Habeas Corpus and The Military Commissions Act of 2006 2. Protection from Illegal search and Seizure 3. The Exclusionary rule (Weeks vs. U.S., Mapp case) I. Sixth Amendment Protections 1. Gideon vs. Wainwright United States Government and Politics AP Page 4
II. Civil Rights (Chapter 5) A. Why a 3/5 compromise in 1787? Sectional compromise? B. The Dred Scott case (Scott vs. Sanford) C. The Civil War and the 13th Amendment D. The 14th Amendment and selective incorporation E. The 15th Amendment and voting rights F. Civil Rights Act of 1875 and 1883 reversal G. Plessy vs. Ferguson and separate but equal doctrine H. Truman, The U.S. Army and Brown vs. Board of Education I. The 24th Amendment and poll taxes J. Civil Rights Act 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 K. Affirmative Action and the Bakke case L. Women s Suffrage and 19th Amendment M. Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Title IX 1972 N. Age Discrimination Act of 1967, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 O. The issue of Civil Unions and Gay marriage Enrichment Activities (in class) 1. Civil Liberties PowerPoint Presentation Related cases and the Bill of Rights Freedom of Expression (Texas vs. Johnson, Tinker vs. Des Moines) 2. Scott vs. Sanford (1857) courtroom reenactment 3. The Freedom Summer Research Paper 3 die to register voters in Mississippi Parties, Interests Groups, Elections and the Media Unit 4 Time Frame: Weeks 20 29 Textbook Schmidt chapters 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 I. Public Opinion and Political Socialization (Chapter 6) A. Models of political socialization B. History of opinion polls (statistical analysis of current political trends) C. Political culture, public opinion and government policy D. Methods of political participation II. Interest Groups (Chapter 7) A. What is an interest group? What role do they play in politics? B. The role of PAC s and their impact on the political process C. 527 and 501 groups D. Indirect and direct lobbying techniques E. Regulating lobbyists 1. 1946 act, 1995 and campaign finance reform III. Political Parties (Chapter 8) A. What parties do (role and functions then and now?) B. The history of U.S. political parties C. What coalitions make up the Democratic and Republican parties? United States Government and Politics AP Page 5
D. What are the obstacles to third parties in the American political system? E. Are there Constitutional controls on special interests? IV. Campaigns and Elections (Chapter 9) A. Who runs as a candidate for election? B. 21st century campaigning C. The strategy of winning (visibility, polling & focus groups) D. Why do incumbents win at such a high rate? E. Campaign Finance 1. Data on 2008 spending cycle limits 2. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 3. PAC s and political campaign F. Why an Electoral College? (history to present) G. Media coverage: The horserace instead of the issues H. Primary elections I. Conducting elections J. Turning out to vote: apathy or contentment? K. Voter fraud and voting restrictions V. The Media and Cyberpolitics (Chapter 10) A. The 6 media functions B. History of the U.S. media C. T.V. s influence on politics 1. Data interpretation of effectiveness of negative ads D. Media and campaigns 1. T.V. ads and debates E. Media bias? Enrichment Activities (in class) 1. Conducting a public opinion poll 2. Opinion poll results presentation 3. Interest groups, PAC and 527 essay (compare and contrast) 4. Primary debate simulation Democratic, Republican and third party candidates 5. Political Party campaign poster Students create poster for a political party of their choosing 6. Mock Election (over 1 week) Primary elections (vote in lunch Tuesday) Debate and speech assembly (Thursday) Final vote in homeroom, interpret data and declare winner (Friday) 7. Media Bias research paper Students will experience various forms of media (TV, radio, newspaper, web, blogs) Students will form an opinion if there is media bias and what outlets are biased United States Government and Politics AP Page 6
Public Policy Unit 5 Time Frame: Weeks 30 35 Textbook Schmidt chapters 15, 16 & 17 I. Domestic Policy (Chapter 15) A. The policy making process B. Obstacles to policy making process C. Current issues in domestic policy D. The issue attention cycle and elections E. Medicare and the prescription drug program F. The nature of Federalism and implementation of Social Welfare programs II. Economic Policy (Chapter 16) A. Laissezfaire capitalism vs. modern protectionism B. The difficulties of passing the budget (Office of Management and Budget, House Ways and Means Committee) C. World Trade: WTO (Developing countries vs. the developed?) D. Data interpretation of the solvency of Social Security: Is privatization the answer? E. The War on Poverty and the difficulty of Social Welfare programs F. The Federal Reserve and financial markets G. Does the U.S. need tax reform? (Progressive tax system vs. flat tax) III. Foreign Policy (Chapter 17) A. The role of the Congress and the president in foreign policy B. What should be the U.S. s role in confronting radical Islam? C. The War on Terror (Success?) D. The ArabIsraeli conflict E. Halting the proliferation of Nuclear weapons Enrichment Activities (in class) 1. 4 day overnight field trip to Washington D.C. Visit various government institutions and memorials to extend learning from this and previous units. 2. Federal Reserve PowerPoint Describe functions and operation of Federal Reserve System 3. ArabIsraeli Conflict Analytical essay Who is involved? Why did it start? Analyze the current Road Map and develop a new road map for peace. United States Government and Politics AP Page 7
A.P. U.S. Government and Politics Test Review Time Frame Week 36 (dependent on the scheduled test date) 1.A.P. review unit A.P. Review PowerPoint Competitive review games After class study sessions at local coffee shops/ restaurants Enrichment Activities 1. Extra Credit practice tests (Buy & take one in an AP study guide) State and Local Government Time Frame End of the School Year Textbook Schmidt Chapter 18 I. Pennsylvania and Harborcreek Government A. Comparing the U.S. and PA constitutions B. Federalism and the trend of devolution C. The relationship between Gov. Rendell and Erie County D. The PSSA and No Child Left Behind E. Paying for State and Local Government F. How Harborcreek Township government operates 1. Read minutes online at http://www.harborcreektownship.org/ Enrichment activities 1. Attend a Harborcreek township meeting 2. Attend a Harbor Creek School board meeting Final Paper Question: Is the United States a representative democracy? Yes or No? Would the founding fathers recognize current American politics? Students will incorporate all that they have learned this year to make their argument effective Must include statistical analysis (graph, chart, census data. Suggested length 8 12 pages United States Government and Politics AP Page 8