AP Political Science
Mr. Nicolosi
Period: ____
Room Number: ______
Class Expectations:
1. Honesty and respect is expected from all to all
2. All assignments must be handed in on time
a. make-ups will be determined by number of class days missed
b. major papers and projects will be due on due date – NO EXCEPTIONS
c. tests and quizzes will be determined by number of class days missed
d. there are no “make-up” homework assignments or extra credit assignments
3. cuts and lateness – will not be tolerated
a. for unexcused lateness or absence – no credit for assignment
b. if you arrive late – have a pass – NO EXCEPTIONS
4. come prepared
a. notebook
b. writing instrument
c. texts –
Lowi, Theodore J. and Benjamin Ginsberg. American Government: Freedom and Power.
Norton, New York, 1998
Lowi and Ginsberg. Readings for American Government.
Wilson, James Q. and John J. Dilulio, Jr. American Government. Boston: Houghton Mifflin,
2006.
other readings – NYT, Federalist Papers, The Prince
5. DO NOT ASK TO LEAVE ONCE CLASS BEGINS
6. Absentee policy will be enforced as stated in handbook
7. No food in class
Class Format:
1. Class participation is expected and required
2. Class will be taught in a lecture / discussion format where your input and participation are
essential
3. Grade is calculated as follows: (Total points you received / Total points possible) * 100
4. Reading assignments will be assigned – usually with a quiz to follow
5. There are required reaction / opinion papers that will be assigned
6. WARNING: if you are disinterested in American Politics, Government, Controversial Issues,
and Political Theories – this is NOT the course for you.
Some other class rules and procedures:
1. Essays will be assigned. Late policy is enforced.
LATE POLICY for ESSAYS, RESEARCH PAPERS and PROJECTS:
 Loss of 10 points (or one letter grade for each day late) from grade received. Once
point total equals a zero, the assignment will no longer be accepted.
 No computer-related excuses will be accepted – Late penalty policy as stated above
applies. In case of a computer failure, a handwritten copy of the assignment will be
handed in (on the due date) instead with a loss of 5 points. Once the typed version is
handed in, the 5 points will be reinstated. If a typed version never materializes, the 5
point penalty remains.
 All essays and multi page assignments must be stapled BEFORE you get to class.
Asking to use the stapler at the beginning of class is not only distracting, but wastes class
time. A 3 point penalty for being unprepared will be deducted from the assignment.
2.
NO CELL PHONES IN CLASS – cell phones MUST be turned off before entering the
class. If a cell phone is not turned off and interrupts the class (ringing, vibrating, use of text
messages, use of cameras, etc.) it will be confiscated and turned over to the administration.
Assessments:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Several readings from various news sources will be assigned – quizzes, which include an
analysis of bias, content, and comparison, will follow
Examples of new sources: NYT, Washington Post, Newsweek, US News and World Report,
Time, and local newspapers
Articles from political readers and journals will also be assigned and evaluated.
Examples: Lowi and Ginsberg. Readings for American Government and Foreign Policy
Presentations on television news coverage of various issues and events like the State of the
Union Address, passage of major legislation, and foreign policy decisions will be required.
Presentations will involve groups watching different new programs and evaluating bias and
content. A class comparison of news coverage will follow.
Suggested news sources – ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, C-Span, FoxNews, CNN, MSNBC
Tests: One major test per unit. Format will include free response questions, which will
evaluate a student’s understanding of the topic, comparison to previous topics or issues, and
evidence of historical or contemporary examples. There will also be multiple choice
questions and extended essays.
Practice questions from past AP tests will be used in class.
Cartoon and data analysis: Frequent analysis of contemporary and past political cartoons and
data will be analyzed and compared. These activities will be completed as both test questions
and classroom activities. Cartoon analysis and data analysis will be completed with
appropriate analysis sheets and reaction / response papers will follow.
Legislation and court case decisions will be analyzed and compared. Examples: Title IX,
Civil Rights Act of 1964, ADA, NCLB, PATRIOT ACT, Brown v. Board, TLO v. NJ, Texas
v. Johnson, Wallace v. Jaffree, etc. Legislation and Court cases will be used when appropriate
and when the topic dictates that legislation or court cases enhance the understanding.
Suggestions:
1. As this is an AP course, the pace, workload, and depth of material will be college level – be
prepared
2. It is strongly suggested that you invest in an AP Review Book – ARCO publishes a good one
3. I have some suggested readings – they should be required for those wishing to do well on the
AP exam
The following is a list of topics that will be covered this year – The course outline is dictated by the AP test
I.
II.
III.
IV.
What is Government?
A. Introduction
1. what is government
2. what is politics
B. Early political theories
1. Sophists, Plato, Aristotle, etc.
2. Renaissance changes
3. Politics as a science
C. Machiavelli and The Prince
1. chapters : dedication, 1,2,3,5,14,15,16,17,18,19 (to page 100), 21, 22, 23, 25
2. evaluation of a leader
D. Social Contracts
1. Thomas Hobbes
2. John Locke
3. Jean Jacques Rousseau
4. How did these thinkers influence the American System of Government
Founding of the Constitution
A. Interests and Conflicts
1. From Compromise to the Convention
2. the Constitution and the goals of the framers
B. Federalism
1. defined
2. dual federalism
3. federalism today
C. Separation of Powers
1. Checks and balances
2. Legislative Supremacy
3. Limiting aspect of the amendments
D. Principles of a democracy
1. four components of a democracy
2. democracy and constitutionalism
E. The Constitution
1. quick overview of the Content
2. What goals of the framers were met?
Civic Values
A. defined
1. looking at civic values in our cherished documents
2. closer evaluation of civic values in the Preamble – how well is the government doing
B. Voting
1. qualifications
2. Nonvoting issues
3. voting behavior
4. elections in recent American History
Political Affiliation
1. Parties and what they do
2. The 2 party system
3. Minor parties
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
4. History of political parties
5. Organization of political parties
Nominations and Running for Office
A. The election process
1. how to nominate
2. primaries / caucuses
B. Presidential nominations
1. Conventions
2. The electoral college
C. Money and the Election Process
1. FECA
2. Why give? Is it freedom of speech? Future trends in campaign financing laws
Media and Public Opinion
A. Public Opinion
1. what is it?
2. What shapes it?
B. Educating Americans about public issues in an era of distrust
C. Control of the Media
1. mergers
2. other trends
D. Media and Public Opinion polling
1. measuring public opinion
2. media and the shaping of public opinion
E. The media and the Presidency
1. Relationship between presidency and press
3. Changing campaigning and effects on campaign finance reform
4. Presidential campaigning on TV- negative / attack ads
a. Living Room Campaign
b. samples
Executive Branch
A. President’s roles
1. term
2. pay
3. amendments that changed the presidency
B. The Vice Presidency
1. roles
2. duties
C. Changing view of the Presidency
1. expansion of power
2. effects
D. Presidential Problems / Rankings
1. impeachment
2. scandals
3. abuse of executive privilege
E. The EOP and Cabinet
Bureaucracy
A. Defined
1. what is it?
2. Bureaucrats
3. Size of bureaucracy
B. Bureaucratic agencies
Legislative Branch
A. Bicameralism
1. House of Reps
2. Senate
B. make-up and characteristics of Congress
1. backgrounds, etc
2. profiles of members
3. how legislators legislate
C. Scope of Congressional Powers
1. expressed / implied & strict v. loose interpretations
2. expressed powers
3. implied powers
4. nonlegislative powers
D. Organization of Congress
1. presiding officers
2. committee chairs
3. committees and caucuses
E. How a bill becomes a law
1. introduction
2. creation
3. floor action
4. senate side
5. presidential action
X.
Interest Groups
A. the nature of interest groups
B. types of interest groups
C. what interest groups do - lobbying
XI.
Government and the economy
A. techniques of control
1. regulatory techniques
2. redistributive techniques
B. Federalism and public order
C. Taxes
1. power to tax
2. types of taxes
D. Spending and the budget
1. debt and deficit
XII.
The Judiciary
A. Creation of Judiciary
B. Jurisdiction of the Courts
1. Supreme Court
2. Inferior courts
3. Special courts
XIII. The Experimental Nation – Equality Before the Law
A. equal protection clause
B. Segregation in America
C. Gender and Race
1. diversity and discrimination
2. women and discrimination
D. Poverty
1. who is poor?
2. Affirmative action
3. Welfare state
E. Disability
1. ADA
2. NCLB / Education
F. Citizenship
How? Is their equality
1. naturalization
2. birth
3.
XIV.
loss of citizenship
Amending the Constitution & our rights
A. How
1. formal
2. informal
B. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
1. civil liberties / civil rights
2. limited government
3. rights are relative
4. federalism and rights
XV.
First Amendment
A. Freedom of religion
1. origins
2. original intent
3. where we are today
B. Freedom of Speech and Press
1. Free Press
2. Speech
C. Speech, Press, the Military and National Security
D. Freedom of assembly and petition
XVI.
Freedom and Security of the Individual
A. 13th amendment
B. right to keep and bear arms
C. security of the home and person
1. 4th amendment – search and seizure
a. drug testing
b. locker searches
2. 3rd amendment – quartering of soldiers
XVII. Due Process
A. types
1. procedural
2. substantive
B. Police Power
C. Right to privacy
D. Rights of the accused
1. 5th
2. 6th amendment rights
3. punishments
a. 8th amendment
E. Treason
XVIII. Can the government govern?
A. evaluative unit
B. decline of voting and the rise of politics by other means