Advanced Placement
United States Government and Politics
2013-2014
Jeff Moore
Room 600
(816)892-1458
Plan period-
Jeff.Moore@raypec.org
1st period
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is a weighted class with high expectations for the students.
It provides a comprehensive understanding of how the American governmental system
operates. Although students will receive credit for taking the government course (required for
all juniors in the district), the AP course will be more in depth and requires more reading and
writing. Grades will depend on a fewer number of assignments, but those assignments are
more heavily weighted. The course is taught much like a college, freshmen level course. The
text book Government in America- People, Policy and Politics is a college level text. Class
participation is vital, since a great deal of a student’s grade relies on it.
To graduate from RPHS, students must pass both semesters of the course with at least 60%. All
students must also pass both the U.S. and Missouri constitution exams with at least a 70%. This
course will also prepare students for the AP exam in May. If students do well on the AP exam,
they may receive college credit. The ultimate goal of this course, however, is to produce
knowledgeable young citizens who will go on to live productive lives within our democratic
society.
RULES & PROCEDURES:
1. The grading scale for AP U.S. Government and Politics is the same used for all courses at
RPHS.
2. All school policies and rules must be followed in the classroom.
3. Respect is the key! Respect yourself, the teacher, guests and your fellow classmates.
4. Assignments are due on time! A date will be given for each assignment and it is considered
late if it is not turned in by that date. This is an AP course which requires college level
expectations- no late work!
5. If a student is absent, they are expected to request missing assignments or make up
quizzes/tests during the next class period.
6. Students should take notes, read assignments thoroughly, participate in class discussions
and complete work in a timely manner.
7. Students are expected to act like young adults. I have high expectations for every student!
ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDINGS:
1. Students will identify how interactions within our democratic system of government affect
our daily lives.
2. Students will determine the changes that have taken place within our government
throughout history.
3. Students will be productive citizens in society based on the knowledge gained from this
course.
4. Students will be prepared to successfully complete college level work.
Course Schedule
UNIT I Introduction- The underpinnings of the U.S. government- basic information on governments
and why our system developed. A great deal of time will be spent studying the Articles of
Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, & the Federalist papers.
UNIT II Constitutional Framework- Studying the actual constitution itself, especially the concepts of
separation of powers, states’ rights, checks and balances, direct democracy and representative
democracy
UNIT III Congress- Article I changes in the role of Congress throughout history and differences
between the two houses. Terms such as, Speaker of the House, President pro tempore, filibuster,
cloture and the law making process will be covered.
UNIT IV Executive- Article II- roles of the President/VP and how they have changed, the bureaucracy
and the Electoral College. A major project will be assigned during this unit.
UNIT V Judicial- Article III- policymaking of the courts, the nomination process, judicial review, the
appellate process and original jurisdiction are main topics. Specific cases will be studied.
UNIT VI POMMEPPIG- the other influences on government- public opinion, mass media, elections,
political parties and interest groups. Concepts such as linkage institutions, the “iron triangle”, political
ideology and PACs will be discussed.
UNIT VII Civil Rights and Civil Liberties- discussing the Bill of Rights and 14th Amendment; especially
due process, equality
UNIT VIII MO Constitution and History- basic study of our state government and history
*Each unit will be followed by an AP style examination.
*First semester will end with the U.S. Constitution test and the second semester will end with the MO
Constitution test.
Grades for AP Government are based on: reading quizzes, various other quizzes, unit exams, one major
project per semester and one local government report per semester.
The local government report assignment1. Attend either a school board or city council meeting (look online for dates and times).
2. Take notes and make observations.
3. Write a two/three page report. Roughly the first half should describe the meeting-what
procedures were followed, what topics were discussed, etc. The second portion of the
paper should contain your thoughts and concerns about the meeting’s structure and topics
of discussion.
4. Although the paper is not due until the last day of the semester, I highly suggest that you go
to the meeting and write the paper early in the semester. Do not procrastinate!