ADVANCED PLACEMENT
U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
COURSE SYLLABUS
2009-2010
Mrs. V. Thomas
Forestville Military Academy
Welcome to Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics. This course is designed to give
you an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. It includes both the study of
general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific examples. This course also
requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. politics.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
 Teacher - Mrs. V. Thomas, Room 117, 301-817-0400, vanessa.thomas@pgcps.org
 Planning Periods – 4A/B 2:00pm until 3:10pm
 Hours available for calls - 2:00pm until 3:10pm or upon request
I.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
II.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
III.
OTHER MATERIALS
 To learn and understand important facts, concepts, and theories pertaining to U.S.
government and politics
 To understand typical patterns of political processes and behaviors and their
consequences (including the components of political behavior, the principles used to justify
various government structures and procedures, and the political effects of these structures
and procedures)
 To be able to analyze and interpret basic data relevant to U.S. government and politics
(including maps, charts, graphs, tables, exit poll data, and Supreme Court decisions)
 To prepare students for the Advanced Placement Exam
 Textbook: Wilson & Dilulio, American Government: Institutions & Policies, 9th Edition,
2003
 Supplemental/Primary Source Readings: Lasser, Perspectives on American Politics ,4 th
Edition, 2003 – Provided by the School
 AP Government notebook
 Notebook Paper
 Ten Dividers
 Pens, Pencils and a Highlighter
The following will be assigned and used in class on a weekly basis:
 Articles from current newspapers, such as the Washington Post , the Washington Times
and the New York Times as assigned
 News magazine articles and/or excerpts from Time, Newsweek, or others as assigned
 News footage and documentaries as assigned
 C-SPAN’s coverage of current events as assigned
 Various websites as assigned
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IV.
GRADING FACTORS
Quarter grades will be computed according to the following factors:
 Tests (AP Format)/Projects
40%
 Quizzes
10%
 Homework/Research/Activities
25%
 Classwork/Conduct/Participation/Attendance
25%
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V.
CONDUCT
VI.
METHODOLOGY
VII.
COURSE OVERVIEW/OUTLINE
Students are expected to follow all rules in this class that correspond to those stated in the Prince
George’s County Code of Student Conduct and Forestville Military Academy’s Classroom Rules.
Punctuality is a necessity and tardiness to class will result in the loss of participation points. Work
missed because of an unexcused absence may not be made up. Work missed because of an
excused absence must be made up within the week the student returns to school. It is the
responsibility of the student to arrange for make-up work. All assignments must be handed in
on time; late work will not be accepted.
This course is conducted using a variety of methods: lecture/discussion, simulations, cooperative
learning activities, and independent study/research. All students are responsible for reading the
assignments before coming to class (both in textbook & in supplemental/primary source readings
book) so that they may actively participate. Periodically, simulations and cooperative learning
activities replace and/or supplement the lecture/discussion. A variety of film clips and videos are
also used throughout the course. During each unit, students must complete numerous freeresponse questions that demonstrate their ability to analyze and interpret information
presented within that unit. The purpose of this is to prepare students for the free-response
section of the A.P. U.S. Government & Politics exam.
I. Foundations of American Government
Wilson Chapters 1, 2, 3
Lasser Federalist No.10, Federalist No. 51, Federalist No. 45,
What the Antifederalists Were For
Additional Readings
The Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
Two Treatises of Civil Government by John Locke
The Social Contract by Jean Jacques Rousseau
Selected Websites:
http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/philosophers/hobbes.html
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke
www.lucidcafe.com/library/96jun/rousseau.html
Preparing for the AP United States Government and Politics Examination, Ch. 1-3
Wilson Student Handbook Ch. 1-3

Principles of Government
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--What is Government?
--Forms of Government
--Themes of Government

Origins of American Government
--British Contributions
--Unification of the Colonies
--Declaration of Independence
--Articles of Confederation and the Critical Period
--Constitutional Design----Creation and Ratification
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
The United States Constitution
--Basic Principles (including separation of powers)
--Articles
--Amendment Process
--Amendments----Formal and Informal

Federalism
--Views of Federalism
--National Supremacy vs. States’ Rights
--Interstate Relations
--Politics of Federalism (fiscal, regulatory)
II. Political Beliefs and Behaviors
Wilson Chapters 4, 5, 6
Lasser Democracy in America, One Nation, Slightly Divisible, American
Exceptionalism: A Double-Edged Sword
Selected Websites:
www.census.gov
www.pollingreport.com
www.wjla.com
www.nbc12.com
http://cagle.msnbc. Com (political cartoons)
Preparing for the AP United States Government and Politics Examination, Ch. 4-6
Wilson Student handbook Ch. 4-6

Public Opinion and Political Socialization
--Public Opinion and Democracy
--Distribution of Public Opinion
--Agents of Socialization
--Process of Socialization
III. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and the Mass Media
Wilson Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10
Lasser Towards a More Responsible Two-Party System, The Crabgrass Wars,
Lobbying, Euro-Style, New York Times Co. v .United States, Victim Politics
Selected Websites:
www.c-spanclassroom.org
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http://cagle.msnbc.com
www.politicsl.com
www.elections.state.md.us
www.goprincegeorges.com
www.fec.gov.
www.unitedstreaming:campaign essentials
www.libarts.ucok.edu/political/links/interest/htm
www.ksg.harvard.edu/presspool/
www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/
Preparing for the AP United States Government and Politics Examination, Ch. 7-10
Wilson Student Handbook Ch. 7-10

Political Parties
--Functions of Political Parties
--History of the Two-Party System
--Nature of American Parties (major and minor)
--Party Ideology and Organization
--Parties and Elections
--Parties and Governments

Political Interest Groups
--Individuals, Groups, and Society
--Development of Groups
--Electoral Activity of Political Action Committees
--Lobbying
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
Campaigns and Elections
--Suffrage
--Participation and Voting
--Voter Turnout and Voter Behavior
--Election Campaigning
--Analyzing Election Results
--Elections and Governments

Politics and the Mass Media
--Media and Freedom of the Press
--Development of the Media in the United States
--Media and Politics
--Media and Government
--Impacts of Media on Public Policy
--Evaluating the Media in Government
IV. Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, the
Bureaucracy, and the Federal Courts
Wilson Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14
Lasser Federalist No. 55, Federalist No. 57, Changing Perceptions of the British
System, Federalist No. 70, Presidents & Prime Ministers, Bureaucracy,
Federalist No. 78, Marbury v. Madison, Beyond Bush v. Gore
Selected Websites:
www.house.gov
www.senate.gov
www.cqpolitics.com
www.c-spanclassroom.org
www.lamdmarkcases.org
www.supremecourtus.gov
www.whitehouse.gov
Preparing for the AP
United States Government and Politics Examination, Ch. 11-14
Wilson Student Handbook Ch. 11-14

Congress
--Institution of Congress----Origin and Powers
--Election to Congress
--Organization of Congress (parties, leadership, committees, staff)
--Functions of Congress (legislation, representation)
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--Congressional Procedures
--Congressional Ethics and Reform

The Presidency
--Constitutional Basis of Presidential Authority
--Expansion of Presidential powers
--Presidential Elections----Electoral College
--Presidential Leadership
--Executive Office of the President
--Relations with the Cabinet
--Vice Presidency
--Struggle for Power (setting agenda, influencing legislature, building public support,
implementing priorities, exercising leadership)
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
Executive Bureaucracy
--Organization of Bureaucracy
--Staffing the Bureaucracy
--Policymaking----Formal and Informal
--Bureaucratic Influence
--Accountability
--Reforming the Bureaucracy

The Judiciary
--Judicial Federalism
--Judicial Review
--Justices and Judges
--Supreme Court
--Landmark Cases
--Politics of Judicial Policymaking
V. Public Policy
Wilson Chapters 15, 16, 17, 20, 21
Lasser Domestic Policy Making, Nine Misconceptions About Social Security,
America and the World
Selected Websites:
www.census.gov
www.lib.lsi.edu/gov/alpha
www.landmarkcases.org
www.pollingreport.com
www.epinet.org
www.un.org
www.smartgrowth.state.md.us/projects.htm
Preparing for the AP United States Government and Politics Examination, Ch. 15-18
Wilson Student Handbook Ch. 15-17 and 20-21

Policymaking Process
--Types of policies
--Stages of Policymaking
--Politics of the Policy Process

Domestic policy
--Education Policy
--Health and Welfare Policy
--Housing Policy
--Environment and Energy Policy
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
Economic Policy
--Modern American Economy
--Economic Policy Objectives
--Monetary Policy
--Fiscal Policy
--Government Intervention in the Economy
--Politics of Economic Policymaking

Foreign and Defense Policy
--Policymakers
--Roots of Foreign and Defense Policy
--Evolution of Foreign and Defense Policy
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--Contemporary Challenges
VI. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Wilson Chapters 18, 19
Lasser Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education, Bolling v. Sharpe, On
Liberty, Terrorism and the Limits of the Law, The Universal Declaration and
the U.S. Constitution
Selected Websites:
www.landmarkcases.org
Preparing for the AP United States Government and Politics Examination, Ch. 19-20
Wilson Student Handbook Ch. 18-19

American Political Environment
--Personal Freedom and Social Welfare
--Distribution of Power
--Majority Rule and Minority Rights
--Individual Liberties

Rights, Liberties, and Constitutional Politics

Rights and Liberties vs. Economic Interest

Civil Rights
--Civil Rights and Criminal Justice----Equality Before the Law
--Diversity and Discrimination
--Federal Civil Rights Laws

Civil Liberties
--First Amendment Freedoms
--Protecting Individual Freedoms (due process, rights of the accused)
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SIGNATURE PAGE
_________________________
Nathaniel Laney, Principal
_________________________
Vanessa Thomas, Instructor
_________________________
Student Signature
_________________________
Parent(s) Signature
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