1 AP US Government and Politics Palo Verde High School, 2015-16 Mr. Hechter mshechter@interact.ccsd.net PVHS Room 328 Office Hours are by appointment TEXTBOOK, RESERVED READINGS; and MATERIALS: (1) Edwards, George C., Wattenburg, Martin P., and Lineberry, Robert L. Government in America. (2) Serow, Ann G. and Lass, Everett C. (eds.) (2011). The Lanahan Readings in the American Polity, Fifth Edition is on reserve in the library for supplemental readings as assigned. (3) Selected articles from journalist or other academic sources will be assigned. (4) Blue or black ink pens only for any assignments. (5) College-ruled notepaper is recommended. COURSE DESCRIPTION: This survey course emphasizes the philosophical and institutional framework of the federal government. The principles of the US Constitution, intergovernmental relations between the States and the national government, the evolution of civil rights, civil liberties, and citizen responsibilities will be examined. The course will also examine American political economy, and domestic and foreign policy. State government structure and institutions will be examined as time permits. All students are expected to sit for the AP US Government and Politics examination. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: This is considered a college level course. Students need to be prepared for each class, and take thorough reading, lecture and discussion notes. Students are expected to demonstrate higher-level verbal and written communication skills. Lectures tend to follow the text, or other assigned readings. Students must keep abreast of current issues and events affecting US politics and policy. Students are responsible for all information posted on the instructor’s website at my.ccsd.net. At these pages students will find, among other items, conduct and academic dishonesty policies, support materials including slides, chapter vocabulary and objective questions, talking point formats, and .pdf files of supplemental readings, as well as other assignments and learning tools. Extra credit assignments are not offered for this course. Tests and Quizzes: Tests and quizzes will account for 60% of the quarter grade. Quiz and test questions are selected from the reading assignments, lectures, and class discussions. Chapter quizzes are comprised of 10-15 multiple choice and 2-3 short answer questions. These quizzes may be used for both formative and summative measurement. Unit tests are comprised of 35-50 multiple-choice questions and 2-3 free response questions. This format is consistent with the AP Exam. Correct answers may require demonstrating descriptive, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive skills. Projects: Socratic Seminars and Analysis exercises will account for 20% of the quarter grade. Seminar discussions are based upon assigned selected readings from academic and quality journalism sources, or other similar narratives. Students will be required to critically annotate each article, and to develop meaningful talking points to guide their discussions. Analytical exercises involving both individual and, as appropriate, group responses to theses, resolutions, printed activities, short narratives, political and socioeconomic and political scenarios, statistical data, political history, and similar activities from a variety of sources will be assigned from time to time. Revised 08/15 2 Classwork: Free response practice essays, and general discussions will account for 20% of the quarter grade. The essay assignments will mostly be written in class. On occasion, extended time essays on central or critical questions, research questions, outside non-text readings, or text-based essay questions may be assigned. Chapter Objective Questions and Lecture Slides: Students will have access to recommended vocabulary and chapter objective questions as guides for their text based readings. These are not assignments to be turned in for grading. The vocabulary listings and questions, along with the posted lecture slides that accompany the text, are tools to help students develop an understanding of the course content. Students are strongly encouraged to use the vocabulary and objective questions, as well as the slides, to guide reading for understanding and to prepare for tests and quizzes. Semester Exams and Grades: There will be a semester exam for each semester. The semester grade is based on each quarter weighted at 40%, with the semester exam comprising the remaining 20% of the semester grade. Semester exams will be comprised of two to three questions selected randomly from a set of five to six questions that the students will be given to study prior to the semester exam. Plagiarism: Directly quoting, summarizing, paraphrasing the ideas of others, or handing in the work of others as your own, without specific identification of the sources constitute plagiarism. Plagiarism, and any other form of academic dishonesty, will result in an “F” for the assignment and an automatic “U” for the quarter citizenship grade. Attendance, Tardy Arrival, and Participation: The policies and regulations regarding attendance are found in the student handbook. Regular attendance and active participation in discussions is expected. Tardy arrivals will result in a reduction of both your class and citizenship grades. Consistent disregard for the classroom conduct policies, available online, will result in a reduction of both your citizenship grade and your class grade. Make-up and Late Assignments: Make-up assignments will be scheduled in accordance with CCSD policies. Late assignments will be subject to a 50% reduction in credit. Assignment and topic dates are subject to change as the timing and sequencing of the course over the school year necessitates. COURSE GRADES: Student grades are regularly reported on line. Students may earn the following grades: A = 90-100% B = 80-89% C = 70-79% D = 60-69% F < 60%. Citizenship grades are also awarded. Students are “graded” based on “participation” points: O = Outstanding (70-100) S = Satisfactory (50-79) N = Needs Improvement (<50). Revised 08/15 3 UNIT TOPICS, TEXT & SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS, QUIZ, AND TESTS (SY 2015-2016) Dates are subject change, as course requires. Units Text Assignments, Quizzes, & Unit Tests Supplemental Readings Date TBD Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings Introduction to Government The Constitution Ch. 1 Reading & Quiz Ch. 2 Reading & Quiz John Locke: Second Treatise of Civil Government (handouts) Robert Dahl: Who Governs… P88-94 09/03/15 09/17/15 Publius (James Madison): Federalist No. 10. P56-62 Federalism Ch. 3 Reading & Quiz Publius (James Madison): Federalist No. 51. P97-101 Unit 1 Test 09/25/15 09/29/15 Unit 2: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Civil Liberties and Public Policy Ch. 4 Reading & Quiz Civil Rights and Public Policy Ch. 5 Reading & Quiz Eugene Rostow: The Democratic Character of Judicial Review. P316-320 Donald Kettl: System Under Stress. P360370 Unit 2 Test 10/06/15 10/19/15 10/21/15 Unit 3: Political Ideology, Public Opinion, & Mass Media Public Opinion and Political Action Mass Media and the Political Agenda Unit 3 Test Ch. 6 Reading & Quiz V.O. Key: Public Opinion and American Democracy. P419-24 10/29/15 Ch. 7 Reading & Quiz Larry Sabato: Feeding Frenzy. P581-588 11/12/15 11/16/15 Revised 08/15 4 Unit 4: Political Parties & Interest Groups Political Parties Ch. 8 Reading & Quiz Interest Groups Ch. 11 Reading & Quiz Morley Winograd & Michael Hais: Millennial Makeover. P549-556 E.E. Schattschneider: The Semisovereign People. P454-458 Unit 4 Test 11/24/15 12/04/15 12/08/15 Unit 5: Campaigns and Elections Nominations and Campaigns Ch. 9 Reading & Quiz Elections and Voting Behavior Ch. 10 Reading & Quiz David Mark: Going Dirty. P506-514 David Campbell: Why We Vote. P515526 12/16/15 01/07/16 Unit 5 Test 01/11/16 SEMESTER EXAM TBD Unit 6: Institutions – Congress Congress Ch. 12 Reading & Quiz David Mayhew: Congress: The Electoral Connection. P147-150 01/29/16 Sarah Binder: Stalemate. P157-162 Unit 6 Test 02/02/16 Unit 7: Institutions – The Presidency The Presidency Ch. 13 Reading & Quiz The Federal Bureaucracy Ch. 15 Reading & Quiz Thomas Cronin & Michael Genovese: The Paradoxes of the American Presidency. P236-246 Paul Light: A Government Ill Executed. P282-289 Unit 7 Test 02/17/16 02/29/16 03/02/16 Unit 8: Institutions – The Federal Courts The Federal Courts Ch. 16 Reading & Quiz Publius (Alexander Hamilton): 03/16/16 Revised 08/15 5 Federalist 78. P311315 Richard Fallon: The Dynamic Constitution. P333341 Unit 8 Test 03/18/16 Unit 9: Economic Policy Economic Policymaking Ch. 14 Reading & Quiz Ch. 17 Reading & Quiz Kevin Phillips: Bad Money. P668-675 Milton Freidman: Free to Choose. P636-641 Unit 9 Test 04/04/16 04/12/16 04/14/16 Unit 10: Social, Health Care, and National Security Policy Social Welfare Policymaking Health Care and Environmental Policy Ch. 18 Reading & Quiz Ch. 19 Reading & Quiz 04/22/16 Sharon Hays: Flat Broke with Children. P642-651 04/29/16 Joseph Nye: Soft Power. P706-714 National Security Policymaking Ch. 20 Reading & Quiz 05/05/16 Unit 10 Test 05/09/16 AP TEST PREPARATION TBD AP EXAM 08:00 5/10/16 SEMESTER EXAM TBD Revised 08/15