A.P. US Government and Comparative Politics
Mr. P. Matthew Henry
Paul.Henry@LCPS.ORG
Course Description
Today’s increasingly interdependent world has made it become necessary for students to
think globally. We need to understand more than how our own country operates and deals
with other countries. To gain understanding of international events we must examine
political structures and perspectives of other nations and how they compare, affect, and
interact with one another. Comparisons assist both in identifying problems and in
analyzing policymaking. Advanced Placement American Government and Politics along
with Advanced Placement Comparative Government provides a yearlong course on
government. Our course prepares students by developing the skills necessary to gain
insight and understanding regarding the structures and functions of a diversity of
governments. We focus on the United States in the first semester and turn to six core
comparative countries (Great Britain, Russia, China, Mexico, Nigeria, and Iran) in the
second semester.
Rigor
We will cover two distinct AP College Board courses, AP US Government and AP
Comparative Government. To ensure adequate AP exam preparation, a corresponding level
of rigor and pacing will be adopted in this course. Students will be expected to complete
assigned readings on time and participate in class. Additionally, students are expected to
follow current events as real world examples greatly enrich the course and improve
student performance. Furthermore, students are advised to avoid more than one
absence from class a month. Please see the Expectations and Procedures sections of the
syllabus for more information.
The Exam
The AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam is 2 hours and 25 minutes long. It includes a
45-minute multiple-choice section consisting of 60 questions and a 100-minute free
response section consisting of 4 questions.
The AP Comparative Politics Exam is 2 hours and 25 minutes long. It includes a 45 minute
multiple choice section consisting of 55 questions and a 100 minute free response section
consisting of 5 short answer concept questions, 1 conceptual analysis question, and 2
country context questions.
Objectives
Students successfully completing this course will:
 be introduced to the basics of American national government
 develop an analytical perspective toward the conduct of politics in the United States
 be encouraged to get involved in the political process and our government
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be able to analyze and interpret basic data relevant to U.S. government and
politics
be able to describe and be able to use for analytical purposes the major
comparative political concepts, themes, and generalizations
be able to describe and analyze the government and politics of China, Great Britain,
Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia
Text Materials and Resources
Primary Text
James Wilson, John Dilulio Jr. American Government: Institutions and Policies. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001.
Mark Kesselman, Joel Krieger. Introduction to Comparative Politics. Boston: Wadsworth.
Cengage Learning, 2010.
Other Resources
Peter Woll’s American Government: Reading and Cases
The Lanahan Readings in the American Polity
Expectations
Students will:
1) Be Respectful – Students will respect the instructor, their peers, and themselves.
We will engage with controversial issues in class. Students will understand that
respect is a vital tool of citizenship and an expectation of this class.
2) Be Prepared for Class – By completing assigned readings on time, students will be
better prepared to support their peers during in class activities and discussions.
Failure to complete readings is a detriment to both individual and group
performance and will not be tolerated.
3) Be Positive – AP US and Comparative Government is a rigorous course. While the
content and skills are accessible, determination and a positive attitude are
necessary ingredients for success.
Procedures
4) Missing Work – If you are absent, a copy of the day’s course handouts will be
posted in Phoenix/other system. Students are expected to review these materials
before the next class and receive any missing notes from a classmate. If a student
misses a test or quiz they must made up in the Student Support Center. Students are
advised to minimize their absences to no more than one per month. ALL MISSING
ASSIGNMENTS ARE TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE START OF THE LAST WEEK
OF THE QUARTER.
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5) Retakes – The student initiates the retake process. No retakes will be permitted
until the student has returned all missing work. Retakes will be limited to one unit
summative assessments per quarter and the final score will be averaged with the
original score on the assessment. Retakes will be conducted in the Student Support
Center. NO RETAKES ARE PERMITTED AFTER THE START OF THE LAST WEEK OF
THE QUARTER.
6) Supplemental Readings – students are strongly encouraged but not required to
complete supplemental readings that will be periodically posted on Phoenix.
Topics
I. Constitutional Underpinnings of the United States Government
A. Considerations that influenced the formulation and adoption of the
B. Constitution
C. Separation of powers
D. Federalism
E. Theories of democratic government.
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
III. Political parties, Interest Groups and Mass Media
A. Political parties and elections
i. Functions
ii. Organization
iii. Development
iv. Effects of the political process
v. Electoral laws and systems
B. Interest groups, including political action committees (PAC’s)
i. The range of interests represented
ii. The activities on interest groups
iii. The effects of interest groups on the political process
iv. The unique characteristics and roles of PAC’s in the political process
C. The mass media
i. The functions and structures of the media
ii. The impacts of media on politics
IV. 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:
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i. Public opinion and voters
ii. Interest groups
iii. Political parties
iv. The media
v. Subnational 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
E. interpretation
F. Linkages between policy processes and the following:
i. Political institutions and federalism
ii. Political parties
iii. Interest groups
iv. Public opinion
v. Elections
vi. 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
D. Rights and liberties
Course Timeline/Assignments
Disclaimer: This schedule is a living document. Quests and reading quiz dates will not
change. However, specific non-textbook readings may be adjusted as we move through the
course. Fair notice will be given if any changes occur.
Snow Day Policy: Due to the pace of the course, we will not push back the schedule
because of snow days. Students will be expected to check Phoenix for an alternative
assignment. Any assessments missed will be made up the following class.
Unit I – Founding and Constitution
Block 1 Introduction
Block 2 Founding/Constitution
 Chapter 2 pgs 17-27 Reading Quiz
Block 3
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Founding/Constitution
Summer Assignment Due
Federalist 10
Chapter 2 pgs 28-44 Reading Quiz
Block 4
 Founding/Constitution Quest (w/Vocab) (first half)
 Federalism (second half)
Unit II - Federalism
Block 5
 Federalism
 Chapter 3 pgs 50-58 Reading Quiz
Block 6
 Federalism
 “The Merits of the Federal System” (Bryce)
 Chapter 3 pgs 59-72 Reading Quiz
Block 7
 Federalism Quest (w/ Vocab) (first half)
 Political Beliefs, Ideologies, and Voter Turnout
 Political Ideology “Quiz” online for homework.
Unit III - Political Beliefs Ideologies Voter Turnout
Block 8
 Political Beliefs Ideologies Voter Turnout
 Chapter 4 Reading Quiz
Block 9
 Political Beliefs Ideologies Voter Turnout
 Chapter 5 Reading Quiz
 Polling Project Due
Block 10
 Political Beliefs Ideologies Voter Turnout Quest (w/ Vocab) (first half)
 Elections Campaigns
Supplemental: Why We Vote (Campbell)
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Unit IV - Elections/Campaigns
Block 11
 Elections and Campaigns
 TBD: Contemporary Campaign Reading
 Chapter 6 Reading Quiz
Block 12
 Elections and Campaigns
 TBD: Contemporary Campaign Finance Reading
 Chapter 8 Reading Quiz
Block 13
 Elections/Campaigns/Campaign Finance Quest (w/ Vocab) (first half)
 Linkage Institutions
 Federalist 10
Unit V - Linkage Institutions
Block 14
 Linkage Institutions
 “Party Government” (E.E. Schattscheider)
 Chapter 7 Reading Quiz
Block 15
 Linkage Institutions
 “Interest Groups and the American Political System” (Rozell/Wilcox)
 Chapter 9 Reading Quiz
Block 16
 Linkage Institutions
 “How the Mass Media Divide Us” (Diana Mutz)
 Chapter 10 Reading Quiz
Block 17
 Linkage Institutions Quest (first half)
 Congress
Supplemental: The Misplaced Obsession with PACs (Sabato)
Supplemental: Democracy in America (Alexis Tocqueville)
Unit VI - Congress
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Block 18
 Congress
 Chapter 11 pgs 274-298
 “Hey There SenJohnMcCain is on Twitter” John McCain
Block 19
 Congress
 TBD: Contemporary Congress Reading
 Chapter 11 pgs 298-324
Block 20
 Congress
 “Congress: The Electoral Connection” (Mayhew)
Block 21
 Congress Quest (Last Grade for Q1) (first half)
 President
Unit VII – President and Bureaucracy
Block 22
 President
 Chapter 12 pgs 332-350 Reading Quiz
 “The Imperial Presidency” (Arthur Schlesinger)
Block 23
 President
 “President and the Modern Presidency” (Richard Neustandt)
 Chapter 12 pgs 350-371 Reading Quiz
Block 24
 Presidency/Bureaucracy
 Chapter 13 pgs 374-397 Reading Quiz
Block 25
 Presidency/Bureaucracy Quest (first half)
 Judiciary
Unit VIII - Judiciary
Block 26
 Supreme Court
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
Chapter 14 pgs 402-414 Reading Quiz
Block 27
 Supreme Court
 “The Democratic Character of Judicial Review” (Eugene Rostow)
 Chapter 14 pgs 414-429 Reading Quiz
Block 28
 Supreme Court
 “The Dynamic Constitution” (Fallon)
Block 29
 Supreme Court Quest (first half)
 Civil Rights/Liberties
Thanksgiving
Unit IX - Civil Rights/Liberties (know the difference)
Block 30
 Civil Liberties
 “You Can’t Say That!” (David Bernstein)
 Chapter 18 Reading Quiz
Block 31
 Civil Rights
 TBD: Contemporary Civil Rights Reading
 Chapter 19 Reading Quiz
Block 32
 Civil Rights/Liberties Court Cases Quest
 Public Policy
Unit X - Public Policy
Block 33
 Public Policy
 “Public Opinion and American Democracy” (Key)
 Chapter 15 Reading Quiz
Block 34
 Public Policy (Economic Policy)
 Chapter 16 Reading Quiz
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“Bad Money” (Kevin Philips)
Block 35
 Public Policy (Foreign Policy)
Choose One
 “Soft Power” (Joseph Nye)
 “Blowback” (Chalmers Johnson)
 “The Post American World” (Fareed Zakaria)
Block 36
 Full AP US Government Exam
Block 37
 A – Day Only
Winter Break
Comparative Government when we return.
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