AP US Government and Politics for the 2015-2016 School Year
Mr. Kevin Purfurst
Prairie View High School
kpurfurst@sd27j.org
Cell: 720-560-0118
To Rising Seniors and Soon-to-be AP Government Scholars:
First of all, congratulations on surviving your Junior Year, especially those of you who went through the
AP US History program. I know it was a challenge, but one that will have prepared you well for both this
AP US Government and Politics (AP Gov) class and college. Secondly, I want to give you some information
that you will need for next year.
BOOKS, BOOKS, AND MORE BOOKS
There are numerous books that we will use for AP Gov next year. All of the materials you need, with the
exception of the book for your summer reading assignment (see below), will be provided for you. The
only thing you need to purchase is the book for your summer reading assignment. That said, some
of you might want to or benefit from purchasing one or more of the books that we will use for this class.
I’ve listed the books we will use below, as well as what each of them is, and how you will receive them if
you do not purchase your own copy.
Textbook: Government in America: People, Politics and Policy by Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry
(16th edition) – You will be able to check out a copy of this from the library. You will need it nearly every
day for this class.
Supplemental Readers: The Lanahan Readings in the American Polity by Serow and Ladd (5th edition)
and American Government: Readings and Cases by Woll, et al (15th edition) – You will not be able to check
out a copy of these, but I will make copies of the readings you will need and give them to you as needed.
There will be lots of these, and we will use it several days each week.
Summer Reading Assignment: Hardball, How Politics is Played Told by One Who Knows the Game by
Chris Matthews (1999 revised edition) – YOU MUST PURCHASE THIS BOOK YOURSELF. It will be used
for your summer reading assignment (see below).
AP Test Study Guides: Barron’s AP U.S. Government and Politics study guide, 5 Steps to a 5 U.S.
Government and Politics study guide, Cracking the AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam study guide,
and/or Kaplan’s AP U.S. Government and Politics study guide – We won’t use these directly in class, but
they might be useful to you when preparing for the AP Exam.
Other Good Reference Books: Duncan Watts’ Dictionary of American Government and Politics (expensive
but up to date), or Jay M. Shafritz’s American Government & Politics dictionary (less expensive but somewhat
dated) – We won’t use these directly in class, but they are great references and useful if you plan to study
Political Science at the university level.
SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS
Most AP classes require students to complete summer work, and this course will be no different. The full
explanation of the TWO things you need to complete over summer is on the next page. Your work will be due
on the first day of school, so be sure to complete it early! As you saw above, you will be required to purchase
the book for this assignment. Please make sure you discuss with me if you will not be able to purchase this book
so that we can make arraignments to get a copy for you!
SUMMER SUPPORT
Finally, if you have any questions about your work this summer, or any other items mentioned above, please do
not hesitate to contact me via email over the summer. I check my email very often, and should be able to get
back to you unless the school district’s email is down or if I am out of town. I hope you all have a great
summer!
Sincerely,
Mr. Purfurst
Advisor for Student Leadership Programs
Social Studies Teacher
AP Government Instructor
Prairie View High School
12909 East 120th Ave.
Henderson, CO 80640
Email: kpurfurst@sd27j.org
Cell: 720-560-0118
AP US Government and Politics Summer Assignment
Mr. Kevin Purfurst
2015 – 2016 School Year
Your summer assignment for AP Gov will consist of two parts: Part I – Hardball Reading, and Part II – Current
Events. See the specifics for each below. BE SURE TO COMPELTE ALL PARTS TO RECEIVE FULL
CREDIT! Also, make sure all of your work is completed for the first day of school!
Part I – Hardball Reading
Purpose: The study of government and politics requires a different perspective and approach than most of you
will be accustomed to. Throughout high school, your primary mode of study in the social sciences has been
from a historical perspective. This course, and the study of Political Science in general, requires you to think
politically, rather than historically. This assignment, developed collaboratively by teachers throughout the US at
the AP Institute and widely assigned by AP Gov teachers throughout the country, will help you begin to think
politically. We will make use of your work during the first week in class, and throughout the year.
Essential Understandings:
 American politics is influenced by individuals who know how to wield influence and maintain power.
 American voters are often affected and persuaded by politicians who understand the importance of
psychology and making a personal connection with voters.
 Public policy is created and implemented best when government officials are willing to compromise and
reach consensus.
Directions:
In the book Hardball, Chris Matthews defines the title term:
Hardball is clean, aggressive Machiavellian politics. It is the discipline of gaining and holding power,
useful to any profession or undertaking, but practiced most openly and unashamedly in the world of public
affairs.
So here’s what to do:
1. Buy Hardball, How Politics is Played Told by One Who Knows the Game by Chris Matthews (1999
revised edition). You can get this at Barnes and Noble, or online. A great place to look online is
half.com.
2. Read the book.
3. Matthews supports his observations and conclusions about American politics with a number of political
maxims and anecdotal evidence from his own experience as a Washington insider. Your task is to
choose FIVE of the political maxims that he discusses (also listed below) and answer Part A and
Part B for each of the maxims you have selected. BE SURE TO INCLUDE SPECIFIC DETAILS
AND EXAMPLES! A rubric for this work is attached as well. Make sure to reference it! Your work
should be typed and printed out for the first day of class. After you finish reading the book, this written
portion should take 1 – 2 hours to complete (some students will take less time, others more).
Political Maxims:
1. It’s not who you know; It’s who you get to know
2. All politics is local
3. Its better to receive than to give
4. Dance with the one that brung ya
5. Keep your enemies in front of you
6. Don’t get mad; don’t get even; get ahead
7. Leave no shot unanswered
8. Only talk when it improves the silence
9. Always concede on principle
10. Hang a lantern on your problem
11. Spin
12. The press is the enemy
13. The reputation of power
14. Positioning
Part A: Explain what the maxim means as it relates to American government and politics.
Part B: Describe at least one specific example used in Hardball and explain how it demonstrates the maxim.
Part II – Current Events
Purpose: Government and politics are constantly evolving entities. Because of this, scholars of government and
politics must follow current events and determine how they are impacted, and impacting, the political world.
This assignment will help you to follow current events so that when schools begins in the fall, you are relatively
up-to-date on current happenings and how they might impact government and politics.
Essential Understandings:
 Current events has a reciprocal impact on government and politics; what has happened impacts what
happens now, and what happens now impacts what will happen in the future.
 Analyzing current events is essential for understanding government and politics.
Directions:
Over the course of the summer you will collect 6 separate news articles. You can print these out form a
computer or clip them form a newspaper or magazine. Accompanying each article, you must write a paragraph
summary of the article.
1 article should be related to the Supreme Court
1 article should be related to Colorado’s state government
1 article should be related to civil rights/liberties
3 articles can be of any topic of your choice related to government
(Note: Some articles may fall into more than one of these categories, such as an article on a Supreme Court
decision dealing with civil rights. However, you may not use such articles twice. You must have 3 separate
articles for each category.)
All articles must be current news stores (no digging up old stories on the internet)
At least 1 must be from June 2015
At least 1 must be from July 2015
At least 1 must be from August 2015
3 articles can be from your choice or any combination of June, July, and August