Detroit Catholic Central High School Class: AP American Government Credits: 1 Department: Social Studies Texts: Patterson, Thomas. The American Democracy. 9. New York, NY: the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2009. Print. Bose, Meena, and John DiIlulio. Classic Ideas and Current Issues in American Government. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007. Print. Litz, A Walton, et al, eds. Supreme Court Drama: Cases That Changed America. 4 vols. Detroit: UXL, 2001. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Sept. 2010. Digital. A.P Government Study Guides (available on reserve at the Library Media Center): Testing and Education Reference Center: contains practice tests and a study booklets o This will be the one that I will reference throughout the course. Students will be required to keep documents in a three ring binder. Teaching Strategies: This course is taught with an emphasis on lecture and project based learning. Current event issues are included in the lecture with periodic documentary videos used to enhance the illustrations of topics. Written assignments, quizzes, projects and exams, both traditional and open-note are assigned. Class participation does impact upon the grade. A traditional feature of the course is a field trip to the City of Detroit court facilities, hosted by former graduates of our school, who are now employed as attorneys and judges. Course Overview/Description: This course investigates the complexity of modern government in the United States and the traditional values that are expressed in the United States Constitution. An obvious purpose is to prepare students to write the AP Exam for U.S. Government and Politics. The course is year-long and is presented on a college level. It requires daily preparation of reading of both the text exam other outside readings as determined by the instructor. This is not a basic course; it goes beyond the average investigation oh how government functions. Today s students have an apathetic attitude toward their duties as citizens. Students are challenged to provide an alternative to our system, or to suggest ways that the system can be improved upon. Course Goals: Students successfully completing this course will be able to: know important facts, concepts, and theories pertaining to U.S. government and politics understand typical patterns of political processes and behavior and their consequences (including the components of political behavior, the principles used to explain or justify various government structures and procedures, and the political effects of these structures and procedures) analyze and interpret basic data relevant to U.S. government and politics (including data presented in charts, tables, and other formats) critically analyze relevant theories and concepts, apply them
Grading and Course Requirements: Grades are computed based upon a cumulative point basis. Each work assignment, quiz, project, and exam is assigned a certain number of points according to the type of work. All assignments will include a rubric. At the quarter s end, a grade average is determined by dividing the total points possible by points earned. Exams always include essay questions reflecting information that has been emphasized during the readings, lecture and class discussion. Current Events: Students are required to keep up-to-date by the examination of legitimate sources of media information. This includes national (New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, Newsweek, Time ) and local news sources (Detroit News, Detroit Free Press) and some internet sites (Global Issues in Context Database, www.npr.org, www.realclearpolitics.com). Course Plan Unit I: Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government Chapters 1-3 in the text are assigned. These three chapters outline the basics of American Government. Definitions and illustrations of politics, government, sovereignty, ideology, separation of powers, division of powers, and federalism are all presented. How American evolved into a constitutional democracy and a federal system are examined. Students are required to take careful lecture notes. The teacher provides an outline for each chapter and a list of significant names and terms. Homework, quizzes, projects and exams are assigned on a regular basis. The Readings for this Unit Include: All Readings are subject to announced/unannounced quizzes: multiple choice and free response Chapter 1 American Political Culture: Seeking a More Perfect Union (Patterson) 3.1 Democracy in America (1825-1840) Alexis De Tocqueville 3.2 Bowling Alone: America s Declining Social Capital (1995) Robert D. Putnam Trust in Federal Government Chapter 1 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response Chapter 2 Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government (pp. 27-56) 1.1 The Second Treatise of Government (1690) John Locke 1.2 The Declaration of Independence (1776) 1.3 The Articles of Confederation (1781) 1.4 The Federalist No. 10 and No. 51 (1787-1788) James Madison 1.5 The Anti-Federalists, Cato No. 3 and Brutus No. 2 (1787) 1.8 Constitutional Reform and Effective Government
Who Has the Power- The Federal Government or the States? Part 1 Chapter 2 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response Chapter 3 Federalism: Forging a Nation 2.1 The Federalist No. 39 (1788) James Madison 2.3 Hard Road Ahead: Block Grants and the Devolution Revolution (1995) Richard P. Nathan Who Has the Power- The Federal Government or the States? Part 2 Chapter 3 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response Unit II: Political Beliefs, Behaviors, Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media Chapters 6-8, 10 are assigned. These four chapters are assigned to assist students in their understanding an impact of political socialization and public opinion. The importance of pools in shaping popular opinion will be reviewed. The strength and influence of the media on the nomination process and elections will be reviewed. Chapter 6 Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the People s Voice (pp. 147-170) 1. 4.2 Election Results, Rally Effects, and Democratic Futures (2003) John J. DiIulio, Jr. 2. 4.3 Culture War? The Myth of a Polarized America (2005) Morris P. Fiorina Voter Turnout in the United States Chapter 6 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response Chapter 7 Political Participation and Voting: Activating the Popular Will (pp. 171-190) 5.1 The Responsible Electorate (1966) V.O. Key, Jr. 5.3 Engaging Youth: Combating the Apathy of Young Americans Toward Politics (2003) Kevin Mattson 5.4 Where Have All the Voters Gone? (2002) Martin P. Wattenberg Election Laws and Systems Voter Turnout in the United States Chapter 7 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response
Chapter 8 Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice (pp. 191-220) 6.1 The Nader Calculation (2004) William Schneider Nader Is Left with Fewer Votes, and Friends, After 04 Race (2004) Scott Shane 6.2 Dynamics of Party System: Alignment and Realignment of Political Parties in the United States (1983) James L. Sundquist 6.3 The Social Basis of Politics (2004) Stephen J. Wayne 7.1 Theories of Retrospective Voting (1981) Morris P. Fiorina 7.3 Even with Campaign Finance Law, Money Talks Louder Than Ever (2004) Glen Justice Party Identification Chapter 8 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response Chapter 10 The News Media: Communicating Political Images (pp. 247-274) 8.1 Whereas, He is an Old Boy, If a young Chief, Honor Him 8.2 Spin Cycle: How the White House and the Media Manipulate the News Chapter 10 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response Unit III: Civil Rights and Liberties Students should understand that the goal of the United States Constitution is to guarantee both political and civil rights. The judicial branch must always interpret each case based upon the Constitution, not on the popular beliefs of the people at that time period. Many court cases will be reviewed. Students must be able to explain the constitutional implications upon which each case was decided. Historical dissents will also be examined. Chapter 4 Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights Supplemental Readings: Cases to be provided during unit. Chapter 4 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response Chapter 5 Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness Supplemental Readings: Cases to be provided during unit. Chapter 5 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response
Unit IV: Political Institutions and Public Policy This Unit covers a variety of chapters. Students should understand the three branches of government as well as the way in which various groups and policies affect that branch. In addition, student must understand the relationship between the various branch of government in terms of separation of powers, checks and balances, the evolution of each of the branches of government, the role and personality of the branch, and the reaction of the people to each branch. Chapter 14: The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law (pp.365-392) The Federalist No. 78 (1788) Alexander Hamilton 12.3 A Matter of Interpretation: Federal Courts and the Law (1997) Antonin Scalia 12.4 Active Liberty: Interpreting Our Democratic Constitution (2005) Stephen Breyer Confirmation of Judicial Nominations Chapter 14 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response Chapter 11 Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests (pp. 275-306) 9.1 The Federalist No. 57 (1788) Alexander Hamilton or James Madison 9.2 The Federalist No. 63 (1788) Alexander Hamilton or James Madison 9.3 Congress: The Electoral Connection (1974) David R. Mayhew Attitude Toward U.S. Congress Congressional Incumbency & Reelection Chapter 11 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response Chapter 9 Interest Groups: Organizing the Influence (pp. 221-246) 6.4 The Semisovereign People: A Realist s View of Democracy in America 6.5 Showdown at Gucci Gulch: Lawmakers, Lobbyists, and the Unlikely Triumph of Tax Reform Political Action Committees (PACs) Chapter 9 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response
Chapter 15 Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity (pp. 393-424) The Federal Budget Chapter 15 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response Chapter 12 The Presidency: Leading the Nation (pp. 307-338) 10.1 The Federalist No. 70 (1788) Alexander Hamilton 10.2 Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents (1990) Richard E. Neustadt 10.3 The Presidential Differences (2004) Fred I. Greenstein 10.4 The Two Presidencies (1966) Aaron Wildavsky Presidential Vetoes and Veto Overrides Chapter 12 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response Chapter 13 The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government (pp. 339-365) 11.3 Government by Proxy: A Faithful Overview (2003) John J. DiIulio, JR 11.4 Bureaucracy: What Government Agencies Do and Why They Do It (1989) James Q. Wilson Chapter 13 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response Chapter 17 Foreign and Defense Policy: Protecting the American Way (pp. 449-472) Chapter 17 Exam: Multiple Choice and at least (1) Free Response