American Government
Course
American Government
Prerequisite none
Instructor
Mr. Houchens
Email
brack.houchens@mail.scoca-k12.org
Course Description
American Government is designed to give students an analytical perspective on
government and politics in the United States. It involves both the study of general
concepts and specific case studies in seven major areas: the constitutional underpinning
of American democracy, political beliefs and behaviors, political parties and interest
groups, institutions and policy processes in national government, civil rights and civil
liberties, economics, and state/local government.
Course Goals and Expectations
 Students will have an in-depth understanding of the American political
system.
 Students will cultivate an analytical understanding of current political
issues and their history using a variety of sources including news
magazines, news programs, and newspapers.
 Students will effectively participate in class discussion.
 Students will further reading comprehension skills.
 Students will become increasingly effective essay writers.
 Students will research current political topics using the Internet.
Teaching Strategies
This course is based on lecture with accompanying Power Point slides (using
SMART Board) and the Socratic Method. Audiovisuals, internet-based activities, and
other instructional tools will be utilized throughout the year. Students will also work
collaboratively.
Current Events
Students are responsible for keeping up with current events as they pertain to
American government and politics. Students are encouraged to read/watch a variety of
sources. Some daily newspaper sources that may be accessed on the internet are: The
New York Times, the Washington Post, the Washington Times, and the Wall Street
Journal. The Columbus Dispatch is widely available locally in print and has an excellent
editorial section. Students should also get in the habit of listening to National Public
Radio (89.9). There are a wide variety of television news networks that students may
watch, such as CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News.
Student Text/Materials
Wilson, James Q. and DiIulio, John J., Jr. American Government: The
Essentials. Ninth Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004
American Government
Woll, Peter. American Government: Readings and Cases, Sixteenth
Edition, New York: Longman, 2006
Additional Resources
Close Up Foundation. Perspectives: Readings on Contemporary American
Government. 1997
Stinebricker, Bruce. Annual Editions: American Government 02/03.
Thirty-Second Edition. McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, 2002
Benedict, James A., and Ludlum, Daniel S. Advanced Placement United
States Government and Politics: Institutions, Policy, and Politics. The
Center for Learning, 1998
Cassutto, George ed. Teaching Government and Citizenship Using the
Internet. Social Studies School Service. 2001
Internet Resources
OYEZ (Supreme Court decisions): http://www.oyez.org/
U.S. National Archives: http://www.archives.gov/
U.S. Government’s Official page: http://www.usa.gov/index.shtml
Chronology of historical documents: http://www.law.ou.edu/hist/
Wilson text site:
http://college.hmco.com/polisci/wilson/am_gov/9e/students/index.html
Statistics: http://www.fedstats.gov
College Board site (AP Central): http://apcentral.collegeboard.com
Tests


All tests will be modeled after the AP test and will consist of multiple
choice and analytical free response questions. Students will also be
required to complete analytical free response questions from prior College
Board tests given as chapter assignments. Free response questions will
include statistical tables, political cartoons, maps and charts.
Tests will be either chapter-based or unit-based. There will be a midterm
test and a final test.
Grading Policy
American Government



Grading scale: as per Student Handbook.
Grades are figured on a cumulative point basis
Grades will based on:
 Test Scores
 Class Participation
 Homework
 Portfolio
 Current Events Quizzes
Unit I: Constitutional Underpinnings
 Wilson
Chapters 1-3; Federalist #10
 Woll
John P. Roche “Founding Fathers: A Reform Caucus in Action”
Charles A. Beard “Framing the Constitution”
James Madison “Federalist 47, 48, 51
“The Anti-Federalist Paper No. 17”
“The Anti-Federalist Paper No. 84”
James Bryce “The Merits of the Federal System”
I. Historical precedents to the U.S. Constitution
What are the philosophical and historical roots of American democracy?
A. Ancient Heritage
B. English Heritage
C. Enlightenment Heritage
D. Democracy defined
II. The Founding of the United States
What led to the Constitutional Convention? What motivated the Framers of the
Constitution? What were the central issues debated during the Constitutional Convention
and during the ratification debate?
A.
The Colonial Mind
B.
Government under the Articles of Confederation
C.
The Constitutional Convention
III. Principles of the Constitution
Trace the historic relationship between the national government and the states?
Why is McCulloch v. Maryland considered a landmark case? Has the nature of
cooperative federalism benefited the national government, the states, or both? What are
the pros and cons of federalism and what are alternative forms of government?
A. Federalism

Division of Powers

National Supremacy

Historical Development

Political Ramifications
B. Popular Sovereignty
C. Separation of Powers
D. Checks and Balances
E. Judicial Review
American Government
Unit II: Political Beliefs and Behaviors
 Wilson
Chapters 5-10
 Woll
Martin P. Wattenberg “Perspectives on American Political
Parties”
V.O. Key “A Theory of Critical Elections”
Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein “Myths and Realities
About the BCRA or 2002”
Larry J. Sabato “The Misplaced Obsession with PACs
David Brooks “How to Run for President”
David R. Mayhew “Divided We Govern”
I. Public Opinion and the Media
What are the sources of American Political Culture? What effect do socioeconomic elements have on political socialization in the United States? What effect has
the media had in shaping political attitudes and public opinion? How is public opinion
measured? What are the pros and cons of public opinion polls?
A. The Origins of Political Attitudes
B. Political Ideology
C. Opinion and Policy
D. The Media
II. Political Participation
Why has the United States developed a two-party system? How does the impact of
political parties today compare with the past? What effect do socio-economic elements
have on political participation in the United States? In what ways do Americans
participate in politics? Who wins elections and why?
A. Voting and other forms of participation
B. Analysis of participation
C. Political Parties
D. Elections and Campaigns
E. Interest Groups
Unit III: Institutions of Government
 Wilson
Chapters 11-14
 Woll
James Madison “Federalist 53, 56, 57, 58, 62, 63
Morris P. Fiorina “The Rise of the Washington Establishment”
Richard E. Neustadt “Presidential Power”
James D. Barber “The Presidential Character”
James Q. Wilson “The Rise of the Bureaucratic State”
Alexander Hamilton “Federalist 78”
William J. Brennan “How the Supreme Court Arrives at
Decisions”
American Government
I. Congress
How has Congress developed as an institution? Who goes to Congress and do
they represent their constituents? How does Congress exercise its powers? Where is the
power within Congress? What are the differences between the House and the Senate?
A. Historical Evolution
B. The Make-up of Congress
C. The Organization of Congress
D. The Legislative Process
II. The Presidency
How does the power of the President compare with other institutions? How does
the president exercise his power? Who assists the President in the exercise of his powers?
What is the role of presidential character in assessing presidential power?
A. Historical Evolution
B. Presidential Power
C. The Office of the President
D. Presidential Character
III. The Bureaucracy
What is the role of the bureaucracy in public policy? What characteristics of the
bureaucracy make it influential and difficult to control? What are bureaucratic
pathologies?
A. Historical Evolution
B. Characteristics of the Federal Bureaucracy
C. Congressional Oversight
D. Bureaucratic Pathologies
IV. The Judiciary
How has the Supreme Court developed as an institution? What is the structure of
the federal judiciary? How does the Supreme Court operate? Where does the power of
the judiciary lie?
A. Historical Evolution
B. Structure and Jurisdiction
C. The Supreme Court
D. Judicial Power
Unit IV Civil Liberties and Civil Rights


Wilson
Woll
Chapters 15-16
Oliver Wendell Holmes “The Need to Maintain a Free
American Government
Marketplace of Ideas”
“Engle v. Vitale (1962)”
“Adarand Constructors, v. Pena”
I. Civil Liberties
How may rights conflict? Under what circumstances may expression be limited?
Under what circumstances have the rights of the accused been incorporated?
A. Selective Incorporation
B. Expression
C. Unprotected Speech
D. Press
E. Assembly, Petition, Association
F. Rights of the Accused
II. Civil Rights
How have the courts played a role in civil rights? Why is the 14th Amendment
significant? On what basis may the government make distinctions? What has the Court
most recently had to say about issues addressed in this segment of the unit?
A. Equal Protection
B. Plessy and Brown
C. Affirmative Action
D. Gender-based distinctions
E. The Disabled
F. Current Issues
Unit V: Policy Processes
 Wilson
17
 Wilson (old edition) 15-17
I. The Politics of Public Policy
What are the four types of politics?
A. Setting the Agenda
B. Types of Politics
II. Social Policy and Economic Policy
Which is more important, fiscal or monetary policy? How should Social Security
be reformed?
A. Welfare Politics and Policy
B. Politics and Economics
C. The Budget Process
III. Military and Foreign Policy
What is the relationship between foreign policy and majoritarian politics? How
are military spending decisions made? Why is civilian control of the military important?
A. The President versus Congress
American Government
B. Foreign and Defense Policy Agencies
C. Tools of Foreign Policy
D. The War Powers Resolution
Special Assignments

Unit I
Origins of Constitutional Principles (primary sources)
Internet Assignment: Federalism: Old and New

Unit II
The Voice of the People: Table Analysis
What Are You, Liberal or Conservative?
Internet Assignment: Minor Parties
Statistical Analysis of the 2004 and 2006 Elections
Internet Assignment: Special Interest Groups
Internet Assignment: Campaign Financing Analysis
Evaluating Critical Historical Elections
Oral Presentation: Selected current issue.

Unit III
Independent Executive Agencies Networking Assignment
Landmark Supreme Court Cases Networking Assignment
Analyzing a Supreme Court Case
Internet Assignment: The Legislative Process
Bureaucratic Pathology

Unit IV
Current Issue Debate (formal, research based)

Unit V
Case Study: Landmark Social Legislation
Statistical Analysis: Can You Survive at the Poverty Line?
Case Study: The Cuban Missile Crisis