Sachem CSD Common Core Unit AP Government And Politics US
Grade: 12 – AP Government and Politics - US
Topic: Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government – Unit 1
Chapters 1, 2 and 3 of GOPO Textbook
NYS Learning Standards/CCSS:
Learning Targets:
Standard 1 – United States History
CC RH, 11-12, 1
Standard 4 – Economics
Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary
and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from
specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole.
Standard 5 – Civics, Citizenship & Government
CC RH, 11-12, 7
Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in
diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, as well as in
words) in order to address a question or solve a problem.
CC WHST, 11-12, 9
D
Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis,
reflection, and research.
Essential Questions:
Chapter 1: The Study of American Government
1.
2.
3.
What is Politics?
Describe the relationship between politics and government.
What are the key features of democracy?
Chapter 2: The Constitution
4. Identify impact of the colonial period on US government structure.
5.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the Articles of Confederation.
6. How is power distributed under the Constitution?
7. Explain the Bill of Rights and Amendment process.
Chapter 3: Federalism
8. Define how power is distributed between levels of government.
9. Describe the arguments for and against federalism in the US.
10. Analyze the evolution of federalism through US history.
Vocabulary
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A. Content/Domain/Text-Specific Vocabulary
B. Academic Vocabulary
Democracy
Elite Theory
Initiative
Legitimacy
Pluralism
Popular Sovereignty
Republic
Authority
Equality
Efficacy
Government
Ideology
Liberty
Majority
Property
Checks and Balances
Judicial Review
Natural Rights
Social Contract
Supremacy Doctrine
Confederal System
Cooperative Federalism
Dual Federalism
Elastic Clause
Enumerated Powers
Federal Mandate
New Federalism
Topics/Key Concepts
-
The Study of American Government and core political culture.
The impact of the Enlightenment, Colonial period and failed Articles of Confederation on the Constitution.
Federalism and the distribution of power over time.
Required Anchor Documents/Texts/Resources
American Government and Politics Today Chapter 1
American Government and Politics Today Chapter 2
American Government and Politics Today Chapter 3
The Declaration of Independence
The Articles of Confederation
The Constitution
The Federalist Papers
Common Core Aligned Writing Task
Free Response Personal Essay
Guided questions chapters 1 (Democratic Republic 2 (The Constitution) and 3 (Federalism)
Free Response – The Federalist Papers
Supplemental Documents/Texts/Resources:
-
C. Wright Mills, The Power Elite
Robet Dahl, Who Governs
The World’s Smallest Political Quiz – Political Spectrum Test
Eugene Jarecki Why We Fight (Documentary)
The Mayflower Compact
The Declaration of Independence
The Federalist Papers
The Articles of Confederation
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-
The Constitution
Suggested Activities:
-
Compare and Contrast the effectiveness of different forms of government.
Guided Reading - explain the key ideas in the Declaration of Independence.
-
Guided Reading - Explain the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
-
Compare Madison’s Arguments in the Federalist Papers to the function of the American government today.
-
Describe the Bill of Rights and analyzes the limits it places on government.
Analyze the Constitution as a “living document.”
Compare the different periods of American Federalism.
-
Identify and explain the division of powers between the national and state governments in the American federal system.
Guided reading – explain the significance of the Supreme Court cases, Gibbons v. Ogden and McCulloch v. Maryland.
Formative Assessments:
Students will describe the purpose of politics and government.
Students will describe their political leanings.
Students will explain the purpose of the Declaration of Independence.
Students will analyze why Federalism was chosen as a form of government.
Summative Assessments:
Multiple Choice Exam on the The Democratic Republic (Chapter 1)
Multiple Choice Exam/Free Response on The Constitution
Multiple Choice Exam/Free Response on the Federalism
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