AP United States Government & Politics
@nrhsapgov15
North Ridgeville High School
2014-2015
Teacher: Mr. Blackman
Website: http://www.nrcs.k12.oh.us/FrederickBlackman.aspx
Room: 216
Contact Information:
Email: frederickblackman@nrcs.k12.oh.us
Twitter: @coachblackman
Introduction
Welcome to Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics – a structured, collegelevel course. The following is a brief outline of the academic and behavioral expectations for this
course. This syllabus is the first step in bridging the gap between content knowledge and student
understanding. This country was founded on the principals of free thinking and positive
discussion. These ideas are going to be the backbone of this course.
Course Description
AP United States Government and Politics introduces students to key political ideas, institutions,
policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the political culture of the United
States. The course examines politically significant concepts and themes, through which students
learn to apply disciplinary reasoning assess causes and consequences of political events, and
interpret data to develop evidence-based arguments.
The aim of the AP Government course is to provide the student with a learning
experience equivalent to that obtained in most college introductory government and
politics courses. Students will have the opportunity to take the Advanced Placement
Examination in U.S. Government and Politics in hopes of receiving college credit. The AP Exam
is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 8:00 am at NRHS.
Course Objectives
Students successfully completing this course will:
•
Describe and compare important facts, concepts, and theories pertaining to U.S.
government and politics.
•
Explain 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).
•
Interpret basic data relevant to U.S. government and politics (including data presented in
charts, tables, and other formats).
•
Critically analyze relevant theories and concepts, apply them appropriately, and develop
their connections across the curriculum.
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Grading Policing
Students' grades will be based upon unit exams comprised of 40 multiple-choice, AP-style
questions and two FRQs (free-response questions); quizzes (announced and unannounced); and
participation and course work (projects, reports, debates and oral presentations). These
assessments will often feature map, chart, and graph reading skills. Grades will be based upon a
point system. The following scale (Board of Education Policy) will be used to determine final
grades for each quarter:
Percentage Scale
A
= 93 – 100
A= 90 – 92
B+
= 87 – 89
B
= 83 – 86
B= 80 – 82
C+
= 77 – 79
C
= 73 – 76
C= 70 – 72
D+
= 67 – 69
D
= 63 – 66
D= 60 – 62
F
= Below 60
Quality Points
A
= 5.00
A= 4.67
B+
= 4.33
B
= 4.00
B= 3.67
C+
= 3.33
C
= 3.00
C= 2.67
D+
= 1.33
D
= 1.00
D= .67
F
= .00
If a student scores above the top limit for a percentage by any fraction of .5 or more, the next highest
letter grade will be considered achieved (e.g., 89.5% = A-).
A standards based grade is a system of reporting student proficiency in a number of specific
learning goals (or standards). Rather than give students one grade on a test that assessed multiple
skills, this system gives students a number of scores that represent their proficiency in each of the
skills assessed. The idea is that at the end of the class a student has mastered the essential content
necessary for the next level. You are focused on knowledge, not on points. On occasion standards
based grades might be used. Here’s how it will be reflected on the typical scale above.
Standards Based Scale
4-Advanced
3-Proficient
2-Partially Proficient
1-Inadequate Proficiency
0-Not Proficient
Letter Grade Equivalent
A: 3.75-4.00
A-: 3.50-3.74
B+: 3.25-3.49
B: 3.00-3.24
B-: 2.75-2.99
C+: 2.5-2.74
C: 2.00-2.49
C-: 1.75-1.99
D+: 1.50-1.74
D: 1.25-1.49
D-: 1.00-1.24
F: 0.00-0.99
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Student Expectations
1.
Respect: I treat students as attentive, responsive, and mature young adults with the
ability to function in a social setting. You are expected to listen both to the
teacher and to other students at all times. Do not talk while others are
talking. Treat all school property with respect. If it is not yours, do not touch it.
2.
Effort: Give your best effort on each and every assignment and activity. Conduct
yourself in a manner which promotes learning. Follow directions the first time.
3.
Participate: Attempt activities and be involved in class discussions to the best of your
ability. Do nothing that interferes with class: no sleeping, no grooming, etc. Putting
your head down, not paying attention, or doing work for another class is
unacceptable behavior.
4. Preparation: Be prepared each day. This means you are to sit down, ready to work
when the bell rings. It also means that you are to bring all materials (pen/pencil,
textbook, notebook, etc) to class. Not having the necessary materials will result
in a detention.
5.
Tardiness: Be on time for class everyday – this means that you are in the room before
the door shuts. If you are late, you must have a pass from a teacher or accept a
detention for tardies two and three. On the fourth tardy and all subsequent
tardies, you will be referred to the principal’s office.
6. Late Work: Late work will always be accepted after the original due date, but with a
points deductions.
7.
Absences: It is up to the student to recover any work missed while absent. The
student will have the number of days missed to turn in assignment with no penalty.
8. Sustained Silent Reading (SSR): Every Tuesday for the first 15 minutes of class will be SSR.
You must bring a school appropriate book, newspaper, magazine with you to class on
Tuesdays. You will NOT be permitted to put your head down/sleep, have a pen/pencil
in your hand, or sit and stare. EVERYONE is expected to be reading each Tuesday
Consequences for Inappropriate Actions
1. Verbal Warning
2. Discussion with teacher after class
3. Detention (possible call home)
4. Office Referral
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Summary of Topics
I.
Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government
 Percentage goal for AP Objective Exam: 5-15%
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
II.
Political Beliefs and Behaviors of Individuals/Elections
 Percentage goal for AP Objective Exam: 10-20%
A. Beliefs that citizens hold about their government and its leaders
B. Processes by which citizens learn about politics (political socialization)
C. The nature, sources, and consequences of public opinion
D. The ways in which citizens vote and otherwise participate in political life
E. Factors influencing citizens to differ from one another in terms of political beliefs &
behaviors
III.
Political parties, Interest Groups, and the Mass Media: Mechanisms that facilitate
the communication of interests and preferences of like-minded citizens
 Percentage goal for AP Objective Exam: 10-20%
A. Political parties and elections
1. Functions/Goals
2. Organization
3. Historical Development
4. Effects on the political process
5. Electoral laws and systems
B. Interest groups, including political action committees (PACs)
1. The range of interests that are or are not represented
2. The activities of interest groups and PACs
3. The effects of interest groups on the political process
4. The unique characteristics and roles of PACs in the political process
C. 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
IV.
Institutions of the National Government: Legislative Branch (Congress), Executive
Branch (The President), Judicial Branch (The Federal Courts) and the Bureaucracy
 Percentage goal for AP Objective Exam: 35-45%
A. The major formal and informal institutional arrangements of power
B. Relationships among these four institutional arrangements of power
C. Linkages between institutions and the following:
1. Public opinion and voters
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Interest Groups
Political Parties
The media
State and local governments
V.
Public Policy
 Percentage goal for AP Objective Exam: 5-10%
A. Policy making in a federal system
B. The formation of policy agendas
C. The role of institutions in the enactment, implementation, and interpretation of
policy, especially the bureaucracy
D. Linkages between policy processes and the following:
1. Political institutions and the concept of federalism
2. Political parties
3. Interest groups
4. Public opinion
5. Elections
6. Policy Networks
VI.
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
 Percentage goal for AP Objective Exam: 5-15%
A. The development of civil liberties and civil rights by judicial interpretation
B. Knowledge of substantive rights and liberties
C. The impact of the 14th Amendment on the constitutional development of rights and
liberties
Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings of the United States Government
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4
Estimated Time: 8/25-9/19
 Percentage goal for AP Exam 5-15%: What is the purpose of government? What was the
founders’ view of the purpose of government and the role of the citizen in the American
Republic? Are these views still relevant? The concept of checks and balances was a novel idea
in the 18th Century – why? How does Madison’s concept of checks and balances challenge
popular understanding of Montesquieu’s theory of separation of powers? Define and explain
the following: democratic theory, republicanism, pluralist theory, majoritarianism, and the
elitist theory.
Unit 2: Political Beliefs and Behaviors/Elections
Chapters 1, 2, 9, 12
Estimated Time: 9/22-10/24
 Percentage goal for Exam 10-20%: How are we imprinted with our political beliefs? What are
the sources of public opinion? What is political culture and what is the “American political
culture”? What is the political spectrum? How do political beliefs define who we are as
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citizens? What does it mean to be a citizen? What is the role of a citizen in a modern civil
society? Who votes and why? Who cannot vote and why? What is the relationship between
individual rights and the needs of the larger community? Is American Democracy viable in
today’s world?
Unit 3: Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, the Bureaucracy,
the Federal Courts, and Supreme Court Cases
Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14
Estimated Time: 10/27-1/15
 Percentage goal for Exam 35-45%: How is Congress organized? What are the qualifications to
become a member? How does Congress reflect the interests of the nation? Compare and
contrast the operations of the House and Senate. How is the executive branch organized?
What are the qualifications to become President? What are the formal and informal powers
of the president? How does the president use these powers to influence policy? Is the
president too powerful or not powerful enough vis-à-vis the legislative and judicial branches?
What role do the courts play in implementing policy? Doe the courts legislate from the bench
via their interpretation of the Constitution? What is the constitutional role of the courts
regarding public policy? How has this evolved through our history? What is the evolving
relationship between the courts and civil rights? What are the specific issues the bureaucracy
addresses in public policy making? Define and evaluate “Iron Triangles”. How do they
influence public policy implementation? Who controls the bureaucracy? Are there
advantages to having a larger, more permanent bureaucracy?
Unit 4: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media
Chapters 9, 12
Estimated Time: 1/20-3/13
 Percentage goal for Exam 10-20 %: What is the difference between Republicans and
Democrats? What about third parties? Are they viable? Are they effective? What are the
roles of political parties and interest groups? Do they hurt or help our political system and
why? What influences do these groups have on our government? How are candidates
selected to run for office? What are the roles of party organizations and PACs in the electoral
process? What is hard and soft monies? What rules are in place to protect the campaign
system? What new rules need to be instituted? Does the system need to be reformed? What
roles do the media play in elections and shaping public opinion?
Unit 5: Public Policy
Chapters: 5, 6, 7, 9, 15
Estimated Time: 3/16-4/17
 Percentage goal for Exam 5-15%: Who sets policy and agendas? How does federalism affect
public policy? How is the Federal Reserved organized and how does it function within our
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economy? What decisions does this group make that affects economic policy? How is the
federal budget made? Compare and contrast monetary and fiscal policy. What is a global
economy? How does it affect the U.S. economy? What are subsidies and entitlements? What
is the proper role of the government in issues such as education, health care, welfare, crime,
and retirement? What should the U.S. role in the world be? What is our relationship with the
United Nations?
Unit 6: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Chapters: 8, 10, 11, 13
Estimated Time: 4/20-5/29
 Percentage goal for Exam 5-15%: What constitutes freedom of speech? How does the national
Bill of Rights apply to the states? What forms of speech are protected and which are not?
How is the 1st Amendment affected in times of crisis? What are the limits of free exercise?
What is the establishment clause? What is equal protection under the law? What is due
process (procedural and substantive)? How have laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the
Voting Rights Act of 1965 impacted our society?
These date ranges take into account scheduled days of class only, and do not factor in for
calamity days. In the event of adjustments an amended schedule will be provided.
Participation
The participation grade in the course will be made up of two ongoing assignments. The first
assignment is a current event portfolio. The portfolio will be made up of eight (8) news articles
dealing with this course, as well as presenting one of your articles three times a quarter on
Current Events Friday. At the end of each quarter I will collect the portfolios.
The other half of the participation grade will come from Twitter Tuesday. On Twitter Tuesday we
will use twitter as a discussion board for the class. Each student is required to participate.
AP Exam
The AP United States Government and Politics Exam has two sections. In the first section,
students have 45 minutes to answer 60 multiple-choice questions. In the second section, students
have 100 minutes to complete four free-response questions. Each section counts for half of the
overall score. Throughout the year we will be working on the skills necessary to successfully take
the exam.
Technology
As a class we will use a wide range of technology to better enhance or learning experience. To
better our use of technology, my classroom is a BYOD environment. BYOD stands for bring your
own device. Devices such as Smartphone’s and tablets will be used regularly. If you are bringing a
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Smartphone to class please remember to turn ringer off. Regular school policies are to be followed
upon exiting room 216.
In the event that the class receives a class set of tablets, BYOD will be no longer in effect.
Disclaimer: This course syllabus is not meant to be all encompassing. As the course
progresses, there may be need for modifications to the course content, assignments,
expectations, or procedures. Students will be informed of any changes.
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