AP American Government
Ms. Jackson
Unit One: Constitutional Underpinnings of the U.S. Government –
The Constitution (Chapter 1 and 2)
Big Ideas: Failures of the PostRevolutionary War Period led to the
development of the U.S. Constitution.
Unit Two: Constitutional Underpinnings of the U.S. Government –
Federalism (Chapter 3)
Big Ideas: Federalism established a
complex and dynamic relationship
between the state and national governments.

















Politics
Political Culture – Significance of and
Sources of
Democracy – Concepts of and Core Values
of
Direct/Indirect Democracy
Classical Democracy
Pluralism/Hyperpluralism
Elitism
Articles of Confederation – Strengths and
Weaknesses of
Constitutional Convention – Predicament,
Consensus, Conflict and Compromises
U.S. Constitution
Federalism
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Philosophers – Ideas/Motives
Ratification of Constitution
Federalists/Anti-Federalists
Formal/Informal Changes

















Federal System
Confederal Systems
Unitary Systems
Advantages and Disadvantages of
Federalism
Major Features of Federalism
Necessary and Proper Clause
Supremacy Clause
Tenth Amendment
Nation-centered Federalism
State-centered Federalism
Dual Federalism
McCulloch v. Maryland
Growth of Federalism
New Federalism
Cooperative Federalism
Mandates (unfunded)
Interstate Relations – Constitutional
Relationships, Voluntary Cooperation,
Interstate Competition
AP American Government
Ms. Jackson
Unit Three: Institutions of the
National Government – The Legislative Branch (Chapter 10)
Unit Four: Institutions of the
National Government – The Executive Branch (Chapter 11 and 12)
Big Ideas: The complex interworkings of the Legislative Branch serve
as a check and balance in our federal
system of government.
Big Ideas: The role of the Executive
Branch, the power of the President,
and the size of the federal bureaucracy have continually increased.






















Constitutional Qualifications to Run of
Congress
Congressional Membership – Tenure, Social
Characteristics, Renumeration, Party
Identification, Constituencies
Reapportionment/Redistricting
Advantages of Incumbency
Working with Colleagues
Speaker of the House
Majority/Minority Leaders
Majority/Minority Whips
Committees – Membership, Chairs,
Subcommittees
House Rules Committee
Functions of Committees – Nominations,
Appropriations, Oversight, Mark Up
How a Bill becomes a Law
Filibuster/Cloture
Functions of Congress – Oversight, Federal
Budget Making Process






The Growth of the Presidency
Terms of Office – Qualifications, Rewards,
Tenure, and Succession
Formal Duties and Powers – Chief
Executive, Head of State, Chief Diplomat,
Commander in Chief
Presidential Powers – Veto, Pardons,
Signing Statements, Executive Orders &
Appointments
Informal Duties and Powers – Chief
Citizen, Chief Administrator, Chief of Party,
Chief Legislature
Presidential Staff/Advisors
Executive Office of the President / White
House Office
Office of the First Lady
Office of the Vice President
The Relationship between the President and
the People
The Relationship between the President and
Congress
Foreign Policy and Military Leadership
Divided Government
Limits on Presidential Power
continued
AP American Government




Types of Offices within the Federal
Bureaucracy
Role of Bureaucracy
Delegated Legislative Authority
Regulation
Ms. Jackson






Criteria for Deciding Cases
Restrained and Activist Judges
Power of the Supreme Court
Role of the Courts in the System of Checks
and Balances
Bill of Rights – Civil Rights and Civil
Liberties
Gitlow v. New York – the 14th Amendment /
Incorporation
Unit Six: Components of the
Political Process – Public Opinion
(Chapter 4)
Unit Five: Institutions of the
National Government – The Judicial Branch; Civil Rights & Civil
Liberties (Chapter 13 and 14)
Big Ideas: Public opinion influences
how the government responses to
major issues.
Big Ideas: The interworking for the
Federal Court System influence national policies as well as individual
liberties.














Development of the Court’s role in
Government
Judicial Review
Marbury v. Madison
Role of John Marshall
McCulloch v. Maryland
Issue of Slavery in the Courts
Court-packing Plan (FDR)
Warren, Burger, Rehnquist Courts
Structure of Federal Courts
Jurisdiction of Federal Courts
Selection of Federal Judges
Access to the Courts – Criminal and Civil
Court Cases
Standing to Sue
Writ of Certiorari; Stare Decisis










Public Opinion Polls
Agents of Political Socialization –Family,
School, Peers, Mass Media, Adult
Socialization
Measuring Public Opinion
Emergence of Scientific Polling
Role of Polls in Politics
Exit Polls
Public Opinion
Ideology – Liberalism and Conservatism
Political Tolerance
Trust in Government
AP American Government
Ms. Jackson
Unit Eight: Components of the
Political Process – Interest Groups,
Money & Politics (Chapter 6 and 9)
Big Ideas: interest groups play an
important role in the formation of
American policy. Money spent in
campaigns influences the outcome of
the American political process.

Unit Seven: Components of the
Political Process – Political Parties
(Chapter 7)



Big Ideas: Political parties have
become the mainstay of the democratic process in our federal system of
government.

















Political Parties
Evolution of the Political Parties – Rise of
the Democrats; Rise of the Republicans
Two Party System
Party Base / Swing Voters
Role of Minor Parties
Barriers to Minor Party Success
Party in the Electorate
Party in Government
Party Organization
Nominating Process
Caucuses, Convention
Closed and Open Primaries
The best argument
against democracy is a five-minute
conversation with the average voter.
-- Winston Churchill
Government, even in its best state,
is but a necessary evil; in its worst
state, an intolerable one.
-- Thomas Paine











Interest Groups
Membership in Special Interest Groups –
Benefits
Types of Interest Groups
Multiple and Single Issue Groups
Tactics of Interest Groups
Direct Lobbying Techniques
Indirect Lobbying Techniques
Success of Interest Groups
Resources, Competition, and Goals
Money and Politics in America
Regulating Money in Campaigns
Reform of the 1970’s
Independent Spending / PACs
Failures of the Campaign Finance
Soft Money
Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act
Sources of Campaign Funds – Individuals,
Party Organizations, Corporations, Union
and PACs
Role of Money in Election
Role of Money in Public Policy
Conflict of Interest
AP American Government
Ms. Jackson
Unit Nine: Components of the
Political Process – Elections (Chapter 8)
Unit Ten: Components of the
Political Process – Mass Media
(Chapter 5)
Big Ideas:
The current election
process guarantees individuals the
right to vote yet inhibits voter
participation.
Big Ideas: Mass media is an agent of
socialization that shapes people’s
perception of candidates and policy
issues.


















Voting Rights Act
Reapportionment;
Redistricting
Gerrymandering –
Cracking, Stacking and Packing
Majority-Minority Districts
Right to Vote
Voter Turnout – Recent Turnout / Who
Does Not Vote?
Reasons for Low Voter Turnout
President Caucuses
President Conventions
President Preference Primaries
National Conventions
General Election Campaign
Electoral College – Strengths and
Weakness; Reforms
Use of the Media in Presidential Campaigns
Permanent Campaign
Congressional Campaigns














Mass Media
Concentration of the Media
Atomization of the Media
Relationship between the Media and
Politicians
Symbiotic Relationship – Interviews, Leaks,
Press Conferences, Media Events
Adversarial Relationship
Media: Reagan Administration
Media: Bush Administration
Media: Clinton Administration
Bias of the Media
Political Bias
Commercial Bias
Consequences of Bias
Impact on the Public Agenda
Impact on Public Opinion
Media Malaise
Unit Eleven: Public Policy (Chapter
16, Chapter 17, 18, and 19)
Big Ideas: Public policy making is an
ongoing process that requires the
federal government to work together
to address the issues facing the nation.






Making Public Policy
Recognizing the Problem
Formulating the Policy
Adopting the Policy
Implementing the Policy
Evaluating the Policy