Advanced Placement US Government and Politics
Unit I: Constitutional Underpinnings of the US Government
Topics for In-Depth Study:
1. The Nature of political power
2. Theories of democratic government
3. Considerations that influenced the formulation and adoption of the Constitution
4. Key components of the Constitution: Separation of powers and Federalism
Monday 8/29 – Welcome Back – Course overview and distribution of materials
- Homework:
o Read Wilson, Chapter 1 (1-8)
o Read Woll, Chapter 1 “Second Treatise on Government” (3-9)
Tuesday 8/30 – Political Power, Authority and Legitimate Governments
- Homework: Read Wilson, Chapter 1 (8-15)
Wednesday 8/31 – Theories of Democracy: Who Governs and Why?
- Homework: Read Wilson Chapter 2 (17-28)
Thursday 9/1 – The Articles of Confederation
- Homework: Read Wilson, Chapter 2 (28-39)
Friday 9/2 – The Constitutional Convention
- Homework: Read Woll, “Framing the Constitution” (31-40) “Founding Fathers: A Reform Caucus in Action” (1030) and “The Anti-Federalist Papers No. 17” (58-61)
Tuesday 9/6 – Views of the Convention and Motives of the Framers
- Homework: Read Woll, “Federalist 47,48 and 51” (41-45), and “Federalist 39” (66-71)
o Chapter 1, 2 and 3 Quiz Assigned
Wednesday 9/7 – Key Principles and Provisions of the Constitution
- Homework: Read Wilson, Chapter 2 (39-46)
o Read Woll, “How Not to Read the Constitution” (31-40), “Federalist 44 (61-63)
Thursday 9/8 – Constitutional Reforms – Modern Views
- Homework: Read Wilson, Chapter 3 (49-59)
o Read Woll, “McCulloch v. Maryland” (75-79), “Gibbons v. Ogden” (79-84) “US v. Morrison” (84-94), and
“Gonzales v. Raich” (94-97)
Friday 9/9 – Federalism and Constitutional Law
- Homework: Read Wilson, Chapter 3 (59-74)
o Read Woll, “Federalist 45” (64-66)
Monday 9/12 – Federal/State Relations
- Homework: Read Woll, Chapter 3 “A Republic Subverted” (97-104)
Tuesday 9/13 – The Politics of Federalism
- Chapter 1, 2 and 3 Quiz due
- Prepare for Unit I Multiple Choice Test
Wednesday 9/14 - Unit I Multiple Choice Test
- Prepare for Unit I Free Response Test
Thursday 9/15 - Unit I Free Response Essay Exam
- Read Wilson Chapter 4 (77-82)