William Jones College Preparatory High School AP United States Government & Politics Mr. John Lund jglund@cps.edu 2017-2018 Mr. Jonathan Smith jdsmith72@cps.edu Welcome to AP Government! I hope we have great success in learning the essentials of American government and politics. It is an exciting subject with a great deal of emphasis on current events and thinking critically about issues our government faces. This class should prepare you for lifelong citizenship, perhaps encouraging you to one day see your name on a ballot. COURSE DESCRIPTION We will explore the principles and practices of the American government system including the federal system, Congress, the President, the judiciary, the political and administrative process, including public policy. This is a college level course and is designed to provide you with the foundations of American Government and to help you succeed on the AP U.S. Government exam. The course will rely heavily on your input including group discussions, projects, debates, data analysis and presentations. The AP curriculum and exam is divided into the six major areas listed below: The Constitution (5-15% of AP Exam material) The Three Branches of the Federal Government (35-45%) Political Beliefs and Behaviors (20-40%) Political Parties, Interest Groups and the Media (10-20%) Public Policy (5-15%) Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (5-15%) COURSE OBJECTIVES In accordance with National Standards for Civics and Government, Students will: Explain what the roles of the citizen is in American democracy Evaluate how federal, state and local governments are organized and what do they do. Analyze how the government established by the Constitution embodies the purposes, values, and principles of American Democracy. In accordance with the Common Core State Standards, students will: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas. Evaluate authors differing points of view on the same historical event or issue by assessing the authors claims, reasoning, and evidence Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research GOALS The primary goal of this course is to foster a passion for political citizenship. Studies continue to show sharp declines in political participation among young people. With a wide array of ongoing political debates including terrorism, the environment, abortion, immigration, among others, there are plenty of hot-button issues to consider. More than anything, I hope this course spurs you into action so that you make your voices heard and that you recognize you can facilitate change! In order to support Jones Grad and Grad mission this course will focus on developing personal moral integrity, centered on issues of social justice, and critical thinking skills. The second goal is to prepare you for successful completion of the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam. Therefore, you can expect discussion, exams and projects that reflect topics you may encounter when taking the exam. OBJECTIVES Upon completion of the course, students will master the following topics: The origins of the American Political Thought The origins of the American Constitution The framework for American Government The roles and functions of American Government The role(s) of the people, Media and PACs in American government LUND AP GOVERNMENT 2017-2018 1
Social and Political movements in American Government American Government in World view Critical examinations of primary and secondary sources including data charts, graphs and tables GRADING POLICY Your final grade will be based upon the following: The grading scale is: A = 100-90 Notes, Homework, Projects, Classwork 40% B = 89-80 Quizzes, Tests, Exams 40% C = 79-70 Final 20% D = 69-60 F = 59-0 GRADE COMPOSITION 1) Notes / Homework / Classwork It is critical that students keep up with regular reading assignments and take through notes on readings. Included in notes, should be notation of the day s news. Notes will be looked over by the teacher in class. Notes are to be handwritten, as the FRQ portion of the AP Exam in May is to be handwritten as well. Class discussion will often be based on the prior day s reading assignment. There are times when your handwritten notes may be used on a reading quiz only when the teacher announces they may be used, so take good notes! Expect 30-45 minutes of homework each night. Students can expect notes to be checked in class, or other methods used to check for reading understanding. Binder Checks - you are expected to bring your binder to class, on time, every time. Binders will be checked periodically to ensure that you are organized. Hot Topics Weekly debates about current and ongoing political issues 2) Quizzes / Tests / Exams Quizzes may be announced or unannounced. They may be on current material, or reviewing prior topics, readings, material discussed in class, and current events. There will be no re-takes or make-ups for quizzes. Unit Tests You will have a Unit Test at the end of each unit. All tests will reflect the AP Government Test format and will include multiple choice questions and FRQs (free response questions) and possibly interpretive questions using charts, tables and images. There MAY be partial points recovery allowed after unit tests. 3) Projects will be assigned for most units. 4) The Final Exam will count for 20% of your final grade for the class. 5) Your final grade should most likely align with what you will score on the AP exam. (Students with A s should score a 5, students with B s should score a 4, students with C s should score a 3, students with D s should score a 2, and students failing should score a 1.) That being said, come the end of the semester, do not ask for extra credit or for your grade to be bumped. You earn what you earn. CURRENT EVENTS Keeping up with news and current events national, international, and local is mandatory. Real newspapers, magazines, and smart phone news apps make this easy. We will focus on government and politics, but will be able to look at any appropriate news makers of the day and how it affects the national agenda. We WILL be following the 2016 presidential campaigns, election, presidential transition, and new president s first 100 days very closely. Every unit will be tied to this. Know the candidates, hotly contested races, what are the big issues, who is playing dirty politics, and who has that heroic storyline WATCH / READ / FOLLOW THE NEWS DAILY! -- Suggested news publications / journals / websites / programs / apps to visit are: Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, Washington Post (Chris Cillizza s The Fix), New York Times, POLITICO, CNN, Time Magazine, FiveThirtyEight.com, NBC s Meet the Press with Chuck Todd, ABC s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, CNN s State of the Union with Jake Tapper, and Associated Press. -- If you are on Twitter, follow those mentioned above s Twitter accounts. -- Have a smart Phone? Get Push Notifications on your phone for some of those news outlets and you ll have an idea what is going on without even searching! -- Feel free (and encouraged!) to email or bring in any journalistic publication to class to share for discussion. TEXTBOOK The primary text is American Government: Institutions and Policies by James Q. Wilson, John J. Dilulio, Jr., and Meena Bose, Thirteenth Edition, 2013. If you lose your book, you will be required to pay the cost for a replacement. Additional readings will be provided for you and/or posted on the homework site. You should also purchase an AP Review book (i.e. Barrons, McDougal Littel s Fast Track to a Five, Kaplan s AP Government & Politics), to help you review for the exam. Review applications are available for purchase and can be a great resource for you as well. Learnerator.com is also an excellent online source of practice questions. LUND AP GOVERNMENT 2017-2018 2
SUPPLIES (please contact me if you have any difficulty attaining these supplies) 3 ring binder divided for 8 sections, one for each unit (Bring to class by Sept. 10 th ) Loose-leaf Notebook Paper, pens (blue or black), pencils, highlighters Fee for the AP Gov exam (May 4, 2017) which is approximately $87 (paid with your JCP fees). CLASSROOM LAWS Students should come to class ready to participate fully in the topic of the day. Each day the student must bring all relevant class materials, contribute to the learning environment in a positive manner, be respectful of others, participate in the class discussion, complete classwork as assigned, and cooperate with partners in group work. Homework and projects are expected to be turned in on by the beginning of their AP Government class on the assigned date. Anything turned in after the beginning of the class period will be considered late. If you are struggling to understand the material, it is your responsibility to ask questions or for extra help. Cell Phones and Head Phones are strictly forbidden in the classroom at all times. Put your phone away BEFORE you enter the classroom. Present cell phones / MP3 devices / ipods will be confiscated and kept for the remainder of the school day. There may be times the teacher says it is okay to use them. Any form of academic dishonesty (copying, plagiarizing, etc.) will result in a zero (0) for the particular assignment with no possibility of making up the work. This includes having a cell phone during a test. You will also receive disciplinary action as outlined in the Jones College Prep handbook. Be in your assigned seat, prepared, and ready to begin work on-time. Always write your first AND last name AND period number on ALL work. No food or drink, with an exception for bottled water. LATE WORK POLICY Assignments will be collected at the BEGINNING of the period. Anything turned in after the beginning of the class period will be considered late. Late assignments will be accepted within two days (not class periods) of the assigned due date for half credit at most. After those two days, missing work will not be accepted and a grade of zero (0) will be entered. TARDY POLICY Often class will begin with a bell ringer. These are short response questions meant to help students think critically about or review class content / material. If a student is not in the classroom by the start of class (tardy), the student is not able to do the bell ringer, and has no opportunity to make this up. Tardy students will miss the bell ringer/opening activity, which counts as a graded assignment. Any work due at the start of class will also be considered late if a student arrives late to class. ABSENCE POLICY You are responsible for missed assignments caused by any absence. If absent, you should email as soon as you know of your absence or, if that is not possible, you should see me the day you return from your absence for any missed work failure to do so could result in late work. If absent during a quiz or test, you are responsible for scheduling a make-up examination. The make-up examination must occur within one week of the original examination date. If you fail to do this, the grade of zero (0) will be entered. Any missed examination requires a direct email from student s parent/guardian before the exam starts. If a student cuts class, they will receive a zero (0) on anything conducted that day. If an assignment is due during that class period, they will receive a zero (0). If there is a quiz or a test, they will receive a zero (0). There is no make-up option whatsoever for anyone cutting a class. In addition, a class cut will result in appropriate consequences in accordance with the school handbook COLLEGE CREDIT The Advanced Placement (A.P.) program is an opportunity for students to earn college credit while still in high school. To do so, a student must take and pass the A.P. U.S. Government and Politics exam. The exam is 2 hours and 25 minutes in length. Half of the exam is a 45-minute, 60-question multiple-choice section. The other half of the exam is a 100-minute FRQ (free response question) section with four FRQs. The A.P. U.S. Government exam is graded on a five-point scale. Generally, most public universities award credit to students who earn a 3 or higher while many private colleges require a score of 4 or higher. We will hopefully have an extensive review for the Exam in class during the spring, but it is your responsibility to study, study, study, outside of class! LUND AP GOVERNMENT 2017-2018 3
THE AP GOV EXAM IS THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2018 50% Multiple Choice (60 questions) (each one = 0. 83%) 8:00 A.M. 50% FRQ Essays (4 questions) (each one = 12.5%) Course Outline (Subject to change at the teacher s discretion) Week (s) Unit: Topic Objectives / Overriding Questions / Resources / Outside Readings / Discussions / Activities / Assignments / Projects 1-3 Unit 1: Constitution, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights 4-7 Unit 2: Political Parties, Campaigns / Elections Wilson Chapters 2, 5, 6 To preview the major questions asked throughout the course and introduce students to some key terms of American politics To introduce students to the historical context which the U.S. Constitution was written 1. How are the Courts responsible for social change/ civil rights? 2. How are the Courts responsible for impacting federalism? 3. How are the Courts responsible for the expansion of civil liberties? 4. How has the role of the Court changed since the Founding? Primary Source Documents: Locke s Treatise on Civil Gov t Thomas Hobbes, excerpts from Leviathan (1651) John Locke, excerpts from Two Treatises on Gov t (1690) Montesquieu, excerpts from The Spirit of the Laws (1748) James Madison, Federalist # 10 James Madison, Federalist # 51 Alexander Hamilton, excerpts from Federalist # 84 Antifederalist, excerpts from Centinel I Antifederalist, excerpts from Brutus I Articles of Confederation U.S. Constitution (see Wilson text) The Bill of Rights (Amendments #'s 1-10) (see Wilson Text) U.S. Citizenship Test Political Compass -We should elect the common man, not elitists to office. -Hobbes vs. Locke -Federalist vs. Antifederalist Intro to the FRQ (AP Test Free Response Question) Wilson Chapters 9, 10 To explore the two-party system that has evolved in the U.S. To examine some of the intricacies and myths surrounding 1. How has the decline of political parties influenced elections and campaigning? 2. How do political parties positively influence campaigns and elections and how do they negatively influence campaigns and elections? 3. How have campaigns and elections changed over time? How have they stayed the same? 4. How has money influenced elections and campaigns in a LUND AP GOVERNMENT 2017-2018 4
8-11 12-16 Unit 3: Political Culture, Federalism Unit 4: Public Opinion and Participation positive and negative manner? Online Resources: Campaign Financing PAC Contributions Create Your Own Political Party Project Elections Timeline Project Presidential Campaign Simulation Political Ads: Living Room Candidate Kennedy Nixon Debate Exercise 2016 Presidential Debates: September 26, October 9, October 19 2016 Vice Presidential Debate: October 4 Mock Presidential Debates (and Election November 8, 2016) The Electoral College Two-Party System Necessity of Third Parties Campaign Finance Reform: Super PACs Primary Source: Citizen s United v. Federal Election Commisssion Wilson Chapters 3, 4 To introduce students to the many complexities of government in the U.S. arising from the adoption of the federal system and how the nature and effects of federalism have changed throughout history and continue to change today To introduce students to the inherited beliefs, attitudes and opinions that Americans have about how their government ought to operate 1. How has the concept of federalism changed over time? 2. How does American Political Culture view economic and political rights? 3. How has American Political culture expanded civil rights and liberties since the Founding? 4. How has American changed since the Founding and how has it stayed the same? Primary Source Documents: Federalist Papers 10, 39, 51, 78 Issues of Federalism: The federal government should leave regulation of to the states. Wilson Chapters 7, 8 To explore what we mean by public opinion and to ask what sorts of effects public opinion has on our supposedly democratic form of government To review the much-discussed lack of voter turnout and other forms of political participation in the U.S. LUND AP GOVERNMENT 2017-2018 5
1. How does public opinion influence voting behaviors? 2. How do demographics influence political participation? 3. What are the siginificant demographic trends in political participation? 4. How does public opinion affect the three branches of government? Online Resources: Public Opinion Polls Voter Turnout Register to Vote Political Polling Project Voting: Should everyone vote? Political Participation Outside Reading: Pew Research Center: Angry Silents, Disengaged Millennials: The Generation Gap and the 2012 Election 17-18 Unit 5: Judicial Branch Wilson Chapter 16 To explain how the courts, particularly the Supreme Court, came to play a powerful role in forming public policy in this country and how that role has been played to very different effects at different stages of history To examine the role of the Bill of Rights related to the concept of democratic rule of the majority with particular attention to the tension between majority rule and minority rights, the conflicts that may arise between those who claim First Amendment rights and those who are in favor of sedition laws that might restrict freedom of speech, the structure of the federal system and how it affects the application of the Bill of Rights, the Supreme Courts classification of speech, the Supreme Courts decision in Miranda vs. Arizona, and the resolution of civil liberties issues that involve politics as well as law -Free Speech -Campaign Finance -Affirmative Action 19 SEMESTER 1 FINAL MIDTERM EXAM 1. What is the process that the Supreme Court uses to add cases to its docket? 2. How are the justices politically insulated and how are they tied to public opinion? 3. What guides the Court when granting a writ? 4. How does the Judicial Branch make policy? How has that role changed over time? Primary Source Documents and Online Resources on the top 30-35 U.S. Supreme Court Cases. Outside Reading: Pew Research Center: The Invisible Court LUND AP GOVERNMENT 2017-2018 6
19-23 Unit 6: Media and The Presidency Wilson Chapters 12, 14 Objective: To examine the presidency in terms of executive power, the evolution of the presidency from 1789 to present, the various offices that make up the president, the relationship between the president and his cabinet members, presidential character, and the president s role in shaping domestic and foreign policy 1. How has the power of the Presidency changed since the creation of the Constitution? 2. Power of the Presidency rests on public opinion, why? 3. How would the agenda change under different presidents? Media Assignment Who s Got the Bias? Presidential Report Presidential Impact & Accomplishment State of the Union Assignment Rock the Vote Activity: Who is your Media Candidate? Presidential Powers vs. Legislative and Judicial Powers Presidential Succession 24-26 Unit 7: Bureaucracy, Policymaking, Economic, and Social Policy Outside Reading: Pew Research Center: Cable Leads the Pack as Campaign News Source Wilson Chapters 15, 17, 18, 19 Objective: To examine what is "big" about government, the bureaucracy; both the distinctiveness and the size of the federal government bureaucracy will be reviewed, along with various roles that have been assigned to it throughout its history, including the extent and character of its authority, how members are recruited, and other factors that help to explain the conduct of bureaucrats in office, along with ways in which Congress attempts to control the behavior of bureaucrats and the "pathologies" of various large bureaucracies 1. How has the bureaucracy become the fourth branch of policymaking? 2. How has the role of the bureaucracy changed over time? 3. How does the President influence the bureaucracy? 4. How does creating policy differ from implementing policy? Better Know a Department Activity Economic Policy: Role of Congress in Creating a Budget Social Policy: 1964 Civil Rights Act, 1964 Voting Rights Act Foreign Policy: War Powers Act 27-33 Unit 8: Congress & Special Interest Groups Should the US engage in nation building Should the US cut the defense budget? Wilson Chapters 13, 11 To survey the wide variety of interest groups, or lobbies that operate in the United States and to assess the impact they have on the political system of the country To examine the historical evolution of relations between LUND AP GOVERNMENT 2017-2018 7
government and the media, to include how the media affects government and politics and how government seeks to affect the media To describe the framers' understanding of the role of Congress and to describe the roles and organization of Congress today, paying particular attention to the effects of organizational characteristics on the behavior of members of Congress and on the way that the House and the Senate perform their functions 1. How do Interest Groups positively influence the legislative process? Negatively influence the legislative process? 2. How does hyperpluralism influence the law making process? 3. How has Congress changed over time? 4. How has Congress struggled with the President for power since the founding? Interest Groups Research Project Who is your Representative? How a Bill becomes a Law Iron Triangle Outside Readings: -Take Back the Senate, Senators -Olympia Snowe: Why I m Leaving the Senate Interest Groups vs. Political Parties Interest Groups and PACs Incumbency Advantage Congress vs. Constituents & Congressional Approval Documentary: Taking The Hill: Inside Congress 33-34 AP Gov REVIEW Review for AP Government & Politics Exam 34 FINAL EXAM AP Government & Politics Final Exam will be an actual old AP exam (20% of your grade) 34 The AP Exam on May 10, 2018 35-40 Post AP Test Project Mock Congress simulation 36 Close Up Washington, D.C. Thursday, May 10, 2018. 8:00 A.M. Research, legislate, debate, mark-up, floor vote on bills (Optional) Trip to Washington, D.C. May 20-25, 2018 See Mr. Lund or Mr. Smith for more information. Visit closeup.org To contact Mr. Lund, please e-mail him at jglund@cps.edu. Please share this syllabus with your parent(s) and both you and a parent must sign to acknowledge that you understand the course requirements. Please turn this into Mr. Lund the next class period. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I, (print name), have read and understand the AP U.S. Government & Politics syllabus for the 2017-18 school year. Student Signature Date Parent Signature Date LUND AP GOVERNMENT 2017-2018 8