Advanced Placement (AP) United States Government
& Politics
Mr. Ingram
Course Description
This course is an intensive, college-level study of American politics and governance. The purpose of the
course is to prepare students to be successful in college and to do well on the College Board’s AP exam,
enabling them to earn college credit. Please note that this course will contain substantial reading
assignments, which will require advanced planning on the part of the student. Remember, this is a
college level course. This means taking responsibility for much of your own learning process and
keeping up with daily assignments.
By taking this course, you will gain an analytical perspective of government and politics in the United
States. You will study general concepts used to interpret U.S. government and politics, learn to analyze
specific examples, become familiar with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that
constitute U.S. government and politics, and become acquainted with a variety of theoretical
perspectives and explanations for various behaviors and outcomes. Certain topics, as listed in the
College Board outline provided below, are usually covered in all college courses and will be included in
our study. The degree to which each topic is emphasized on the multiple choice portion of the AP exam
is indicated by the percentages provided.
This outline will serve as the basic guide for our study of United States Government and Politics, and we
will cover each of the listed below topics during the course of the semester.
Content Area (multiple-choice section)
Percentage Goals for Exam
I.
Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government.
A.
Considerations that influenced the formulation and adoption of the
Constitution
B.
Separation of powers
C.
Checks and balances
D.
Federalism
E.
Theories of democratic government
5–15%
II.
Political Beliefs and Behaviors.
A.
Beliefs that citizens hold about their government and its leaders
B.
Processes by which citizens learn about politics
C.
The nature, sources, and consequences of public opinion
D.
The ways in which citizens vote and otherwise participate in political
Life
E.
Factors that influence citizens to differ from one another in terms
of political beliefs and behaviors
10–20%
© 2010 The College Board. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.com.
III.
Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media.
A.
Political parties and elections
1.
Functions
2.
Organization
3.
Development
4.
Effects on the political process
5.
Electoral laws and systems
B.
C.
IV.
10–20%
Interest groups, including political action committees (PACs)
1.
The range of interests represented
2.
The activities of interest groups
3.
The effects of interest groups on the political process
4.
The unique characteristics and roles of PACs in the political process
The mass media
1.
The functions and structures of the news media
2.
The impacts of the news media on politics
3.
The news media industry and its consequences
Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, the
Bureaucracy and the Federal Courts.
A.
The major formal and informal institutional arrangements of power
B.
Relationships among these four institutions and varying balances
of power
C.
Linkages between institutions and the following:
1.
Public opinion and voters
2.
Interest groups
3.
Political parties
4.
The media
5.
State and local governments
V.
Public Policy.
A.
Policymaking in a federal system
B.
The formation of policy agendas
C.
The role of institutions in the enactment of policy
D.
The role of the bureaucracy and the courts in policy implementation
and interpretation
E.
Linkages between policy processes and the following:
1.
Political institutions and federalism
2.
Political parties
3.
Interest groups
4.
Public opinion
5.
Elections
6.
Policy networks
VI.
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties .
A.
The development of civil liberties and civil rights by judicial
interpretation
B.
Knowledge of substantive rights and liberties
C.
The impact of the Fourteenth Amendment on the constitutional
development of rights and liberties
© 2010 The College Board. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.com.
35–45%
5–15%
5–15%
Goals
Students successfully completing this course will:
• know important facts, concepts, and theories pertaining to U.S. government and politics
• understand typical patterns of political processes and behavior and their consequences including the
components of political behavior, the principles used to explain or justify various government structures
and procedures, and the political effects of these structures and procedures
• be able to analyze and interpret basic data relevant to U.S. government and politics (including data
presented in charts, tables, and other formats)
• be able to critically analyze relevant theories and concepts, apply them appropriately, and develop
their connections across the curriculum
Texts
Patterson, Thomas E. The American Democracy, 9th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009.
Serrow, A. & Ladd, E. (2007).
The Lanahan Readings in the American Polity, 5th Ed. Baltimore, MD: Lanahan Publishers Inc.
5 steps to a 5 AP US Government and Politics, 2012-2013 by Pamela Lamb.
AP U.S. Government and Politics Crash Course by Larry Krieger.
These readings will be supplemented with classroom handouts throughout the year.
Grading and Course Requirements
Grading at Ramsay High School is based on a total point system. The total of points earned is divided by
the total number of points possible to determine the student’s average.
Each test, quiz, homework assignment, etc., is worth a given number of points according to the difficulty
and importance of the particular assignment.
Each nine weeks grading period will count as 40 percent of your final grade, and the semester exam will
account for the remaining 20 percent of your grade.
Free-Response Questions
Tests will routinely include analytical free-response question. The goal is for students to complete at
least one free-response question per week.
Current Events
Students are responsible for keeping up with national and world events on a daily basis. Students will
need to skim the front page of a major newspaper such as the Washington Post or
Washington Times, listen to NPR or another radio news program, watch a TV news station such as CNN,
or access a reliable online source.
Using Graphs, Maps, and Charts
A variety of materials such as graphs and charts will routinely be presented to assist students in
developing an ability to understand and interpret quantitative and visually presented information.
Supplies
 Three ring binder, or a spiral notebook with perforated pages and pockets
 Folder for keeping loose papers
 Black or blue ink pen
 Pencils
 Student planner
 Textbook
Reading Assignments and Course Calendar
The Course Calendar is currently being revised and has been reduced to its bare bones for the time
being. Also, please keep in mind that the calendar is intended to be a flexible document which is subject
to change as events unfold in the nation and worldwide.
Unit 1 – Constitutional Underpinnings of the United States Government
(1 Week)
The American Democracy, Chapters 1, 2, 3
Chapter 1, American Political Culture: Seeking a More Perfect Union
Chapter 2, Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government
Chapter 3: Federalism: Forging a Nation
Unit 2 – Political Beliefs and Behaviors (2 Weeks)
The American Democracy, Chapters 6, 7
Chapter 6, Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the People’s Voice
Chapter 7, Political Participation and Voting: Activating the Popular Will
Unit 3 – Political Parties, Interest Groups, the Mass Media (2 Weeks)
The American Democracy, Chapters 8, 9, 10
Chapter 8, Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defending the Voters’ Choice
Chapter 9, Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence
Chapter 10, The News Media: Communicating Political Images
Unit 4 – Institutions of National Government: The Congress,
Presidency, Bureaucracy, and the Federal Courts (8 Weeks total-2 weeks per chapter)
The American Democracy, Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14
Chapter 11, Congress, Balancing National Goals and Local Interest
Chapter 12, The Presidency: Leading the Nation
Chapter 13, The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government
Chapter 14, The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law
Unit 5 – Public Policy (1 Week)
The American Democracy, Chapters 15, 16, 17
Chapter 15, Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity
Chapter 16, Welfare and Defense Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need
Chapter 17, Foreign and Defense Policy: Protecting the American Way
Chapter 18, State and Local Politics: Maintaining Our Differences
Unit 6 – Civil Rights and Liberties (1 Week)
The American Democracy, Chapters 4, 5
Chapter 4, Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights
Chapter 5, Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness
Tests and Quizzes
All tests will be in AP exam format. Each test will include Multiple Choice questions with five (5) answer
choices and students will routinely answer free response questions (FRQs). Expect weekly quizzes on a
frequent basis in addition to the major tests.
AP Exam
The 2014 US Government and Politics exam is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, at 8:00 A.M.
The AP exam consists of sixty (60) multiple choice and four (4) free response questions (FRQs). Each
multiple question is worth one (1) point for a total point value of sixty (60) points, and each free
response questions is worth fifteen (15) points each for a total value of sixty (60) points.
In other words, the multiple choice and the free response sections of the exam are weighted equally,
with a possible maximum score of one hundred and twenty (120) when both sections are combined.
The exact number of points needed for a qualifying score of three (3) varies from year to year.
The 2012 scoring range was as follows:
AP Score Conversion Chart
US Government and Politics
Composite
Score Range
90-120
81-89
66-80
47-65
0-46
AP Score
5
4
3
2
1
Tutoring
I am available to help students on a daily basis. I usually arrive at school early and leave late, and will
certainly be available if a student makes prior arrangements.
I am also available during my preparation periods which are third and seventh periods (immediately
after lunch).
Students may also come to me during study hall which is held during third period on Wednesdays.
Finally, I will make myself available to students on Thursday after school form 3:30 to 4:30 P.M.
AP Government Useful Websites
http://www.raleighcharterhs.org/faculty/bnewmark/#GoPo
www.twyman-whitney.com/apgov/
www.salineschools.com/users/pikej/APUSGovernment.html
http://www.guhsd.net/rballarin/
http://www.auburnschools.org/ahs/wbbusbin/ap_home.htm
http://teacherweb.com/IL/Lincoln-WayCentralHighSchool/MrFinnegan/
http://www2.hoover.k12.al.us/schools/hhs/faculty/kself/Pages/default.aspx
http://usgovteducatorsblog.blogspot.com/
http://sites.google.com/site/fhscline/
http://www.fs.teachinginsanity.net/
http://www.humbleisd.net/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectionid=1170
http://www.slideshttp://www.teacheroz.com/http://www.teacheroz.com/hare.net/lntrullin
http://sites.google.com/site/langmaidcfhs/
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/tag/the-2-teachers/ (AP American Government Weblog by 2
teachers at Adlai Stevenson High School)
http://www.teacheroz.com/
http://mysite.auhsd.us/personal/christensen_j/me/2700/default.aspx
Political Cartoons
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/analysis/toons/archive.html (Political Cartoons)
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/herblock/cartoon.html (Political Cartoons)
http://www.cagle.com/politicalcartoons/ (Political Cartoons)
http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/subjects.htm (Political Cartoons focusing on Congress)
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/puck/puck_intro.htm (Historical View of Political
Cartoons)
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/cartoon.html (Guidelines for Cartoon
Analysis)
Budgeting
http://budgethero.publicradio.org/widget/widget.php (Budgeting Game)
http://www.federalbudgetchallenge.org/budget_challenge/sim/budget_master.html (Another
Budgeting Simulation)
http://www.bie.org/tools/pbg_curriculum_units/the_better_budget (And Another)
http://www.centeroncongress.org/modules/budget/budget.htm (And Another)
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/11/13/weekinreview/deficitsgraphic.html?ref=weekinreview (NY Times “Budget Puzzle: You Fix the Budget”)
http://uccpbank.k12hsn.org/courses/AmericanGovernment/course%20files/multimedia/lesso
n23/lessonp.html (Lesson Plan for teaching budgeting)
Campaign Finance
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2010/09/21/us/politics/21moneygraphic.html?ref=politics (NY Times Table of categories of donors, limits, legal uses, and
disclosure requirements)
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/08/us/politics/DONATE.html?ref=politics
(NT Times guide to who’s donating, to whom, and how the beneficiaries are using campaign
contributions, including the latest innovations)
http://www.fec.gov/ans/answers_general.shtml (FEC FAQ page)
Civic Education
www.civiced.org/ (Center for Civic Education; “We The People”)
http://www.justicelearning.org/ (Joint NPR/NY Times civic education site)
http://factchecked.org/ (Site with lesson plans to promote critical thinking)
College Board
www.apcentral.collegeboard.com (AP Central Website)
http://www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy (Guide to AP Credit Policy by
College/University)
Congress
www.congresslink.org/ (Congress a la the Dirksen Center)
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm#2010 (PowerPoints
covering various topics about Congress)
www.visi.com/juan/congress/ (On-line Directory for Congress)
http://clerk.house.gov/ (Office of the Clerk of the House)
http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_congressvocabrev.htm (Lesson plan for using a game to
teach/review vocabulary about Congress)
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary/ (Entire archive of CSPAN programming)
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/111/states/ (Washington Post site listing every
member of Congress [by districts for Representatives] and their Party Support percentages)
http://www.loc.gov (Provides access to the Library of Congress and a host of government
information)
http://thomas.loc.gov (Another avenue into the Library of Congress. An excellent path to find
information about the latest bills)
http://www.house.gov/ (Home page of the U.S. House of Representatives)
http://www.senate.gov/ (Home page of the U.S. Senate)
http://www.rollcall.com/ (Newspaper that has covered Capitol Hill since 1955)
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/index.html (Congressional Committees’ materials on-line)
http://www.gao.gov (The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is known as "the
investigative arm of Congress" and "the congressional watchdog.")
http://www.congressionaltimeline.org/ (Congressional info beginning with the 73rd Congress
[1933-35] through 2010 from the Dirksen Center)
Constitutional Law
http://www.bc.edu/centers/cloughcenter/links.html (document collections, research and
instructional centers, news sites, and blogs whose primary focus is constitutional democracy or
constitutionalism more generally)
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/constitution/browse2002.html#08supp (GPO website that lists a
wide variety of relevant documents—annotations on the all parts of the constitution, proposed
Amendments, Acts of Congress and states’ legislatures overturned, Supreme Court decisions
reversed)
Data
www.census.gov (U.S. Census Bureau’s Website)
www.fedstats.gov (Federal Statistics)
Elections
http://www.auburnschools.org/ahs/wbbusbin/Election/election_culminating.htm (AP
Teacher’s Election Project)
http://americanpast.richmond.edu/voting/ (Voting patterns in the U.S. from 1848-2008
presented in maps)
Electoral College
www.grayraven.com/ec/ (Electoral College calculator)
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/ (Electoral Projection of 2008 Election)
presidentelect.org (Extensive site on electoral college and presidential elections and related
laws)
http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/electoral_college/ (National Archives Electoral
College site)
http://www.270towin.com(interactive Electoral College site)
http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/index.html (great site on Presidential Elections)
Executive Branch/Presidency
http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/executive_orders/disposition_tables.html (list of
Executive Orders)
http://www.westwingepguide.com/ (guide to episodes of popular TV show used by a lot of AP
teachers)
General
http://issues2000.org/default.htm (“Every political leader on every issue”)
Ideology
http://www.politicalcompass.org/ (Two-dimensional Ideology Quiz & Graphic Presentation of
Results)
Judiciary/Legal Research
http://www.supremecourt.gov/ (the new, improved [it really is] Supreme Court website)
www.law.cornell.edu/opinions.html (Fed. & State Judicial Opinions)
www.fjc.gov/ (Federal Judicial Center)
http://www.findlaw.com/ (Legal research)
http://supreme.lp.findlaw.com/supreme_court/briefs/index.html (S.Ct. Case Briefs)
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/ftrials.htm (Law Profs site of famous trials;
not many related to AP GOPO, but perhaps of use in other courses)
http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/teach/freeresources/landmarksupremecourtcases/ (Case
descriptions & Lesson plans on Civil Liberties from the Bill of Rights Institute)
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/finding-laws-that-govern-us.html (Latest Addition to
the Google Repertoire; allows search of cases in a variety of ways)
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/ (Website accompanying the 4-part PBS series on the
Supreme Court, with lesson plans, etc.)
http://www.landmarkcases.org/ (Site with info, including teaching materials, on 17 significant
cases)
http://www.oyez.org/ (Audio of Oral Arguments before the S.Ct. & Other Related Materials)
Laws
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/nvra/activ_nvra.htm (Motor Voter Act)
http://www.slideshare.net/lntrullin/fantasy-congress-the-sweet-sixteen-activity (Teacher
devised game for helping students learn laws considered by Congress)
Lesson Plans
www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/teach/ (PBS Frontline’s Teacher Center)
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?grade=all&keywords=ap+u.s.+government&media=lesso
n&rating=3&search_type=narrow (Website with massive number of lesson plans)
http://www.hippocampus.org/?tab=course (from the Monterey Institute for Technology and
Education)
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/10-ways-to-study-the-u-s-supreme-court-withthe-new-york-times/ (Lesson Plans from the NYT for the S. Ct.)
Media
http://www.pbs.org/ (PBS website)
http://gradethenews.org/ (site for systematically evaluating the news)
Money & Politics
www.pbs.org/democracy/buildyourowncampaign/lesson_plan4.html (campaign finance lesson
plan from PBS)
www.fundrace.org (part of Huffington Post web site allowing mapping of campaign
contributions)
www.opensecrets.org (Guide to $$ in U.S. Elections)
http://www.fec.gov/ (Campaign Contributions)
Organizations
www.dnet.org/ (League of Women Voters election website)
Professional Associations
www.apsanet.org (American Political Science Association)
Public Opinion
www.pollingreport.com (Trends in Public Opinion)
Publishers
http://school.thomsonlearning.com/index1.htm (Publisher)
http://www.phschool.com/advanced/index.html (Publisher)
Religion & Politics
http://religions.pewforum.org/ (U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, including political variables)
Voting
http://www.verifiedvoting.org/ (Promoting verified voting)
www.vote-smart.org (non-partisan center providing basic political information)
http://www.firstgov.gov/ (portal to all national government web sites)
http://www.fairvote.org/ (Electoral Systems)