APGovernmentandPolitics,UnitedStates

CourseSyllabus
CourseDescription:
ThiscourseisdesignedtofamiliarizetheAPstudentwiththestructureandfunctionofthe
UnitedStatesgovernmentalandpoliticalsystem.Thecoursewillbetaughtinatraditional
periodschedule(41minutes)andwillspantheschoolyear.
Thecourseexaminesthefollowingsixtopics:ConstitutionalunderpinningsofUSgovernment;
Politicalbeliefsandbehaviors;politicalparties,interestgroups,andthemassmedia;institutions
ofnationalgovernment,publicpolicy,andcivilrightsandliberties.

Texts:
Edwards,GeorgeC.III,MartinP.Wattenberg,andRobertL.Lineberry.
GovernmentinAmerica:People,Politics,andPolicy,13thed.NewYork:
Longman,2008.

SupplementalText:
SerowandLadd.TheLanahanReadingsintheAmericanPolity,4thed.Baltimore:
Lanahan,2007.

OtherMaterial:
Inaddition,assignedreadingsandassignmentswillcomefromarticlesfromcurrentnewspapers,
suchastheNewYorkTimesortheWashingtonPost;anewsmagazineexcerptsfromTime,
Newsweek,ortheEconomist;webbasedarticles,multimedianewssourcessuchasCSPAN,and
webbasedhistoricdocumentsnotfoundintexts.

WritingRequirements

FreeResponseQuestions(FRQs)TheFRQisthewrittenevaluationoftheAPexamin
thiscourse.Wewillpracticethesequestionsthroughoutthecourseandeachexamwill
include14FRQsforexamevaluation.

Othercoursewriting
Amyriadofassignmentswillrequirethestudenttowritetoshow
detailedanalysissandevaluationofcoursematerials.ExampleswillincludePosition
papers,Opeds,andlettersaboutpolicytovariousofficialsandgovernmentalagencies.

COURSEPLAN
UnitI:FoundationsofAmericanGovernment:ConstitutionalUnderpinnings
PrereadEdwards,etal.,pp.227
ContentGoals
StudentsshouldunderstandandanalyzethehistoricsituationswhichleadtotheUnitedStates
Constitution.SelectedreadingsfromJohnLockesSecondTreatiseonGovernment,The
DeclarationofIndependence,andMadisonsnotesfromtheconstitutionalconventionwillbe
readanddiscussed.Studentsmustbegintoevaluatetheconstitutionalfoundationsof
Federalism,separationofpowers,andchecksandbalances.
Materials:
CourseText(s)
Introductionhandouts:CommonPoliticalVocabulary,FRQtipsandhints,course
syllabus,otherteachercreatedmaterials.
Copiesof:LockesTreatiseonGovernment,DeclarationofIndependence,Articlesof
Confederation,MadisonsConventionNotes,Federalist10and51
Day Topic
Articles,Charts,Documents, TextPages
Assignments
1
Introductiontocourse
Vocabsheets,syllabus,
227scan
documents
23
OriginsofAmericanRepublic
2ndTreatise(Locke),
3237
DeclarationofIndependence,
ChartLockeandJefferson:
Parallels
4
GovernmentthatFailed/Why
ArticlesofConfederation
3740
change?
56
ConstitutionalConvention,Plans, ChartonGovPlans,sections 4151
Compromises,Philosophy,
ofMadisonsnotes
Economic,political,statesrights
issues
ConventionEssaydueday9.
7
RatificationandConstitutional
Federalist#51
5155
Underpinnings:
Sepofpowerschart(p50)

10

11

12

13

14
15
16
17

(SeparationofPowers,Checks
andBalances)
ConstitutionalPrinciples,Limited
Government/JudicialReview
(MarburyvMadison)
Federalist51vocabdue,discuss,
ConstitutionalPrinciples
(formal/informalchangesto
constitution)
QuizConstitutional
Underpinnings/Introduce
Federalism
StructureofAmerican
Federalism,DivisionofPower,
NationalSupremacy
ContinueNatSupremacy
(McCullochvMaryland)
Commercepower(Gibbonsv
Ogden)andstatesobligations
Dualandcooperativefederalism,
IntroFiscalfederalism,(FRQ
writingtipsandhints)
FiscalFederalism:Grantsystem
andMandates

Lanahan:42TheDemocratic Lanahan
CharacterofJudicialReview (287290)
(readanddiscuss)
Youarethepolicymaker
Edwardsexcerptp.58

6873

Lanahan:19American
FederalismDanielElazar

Lanahan
121125
Edwards
7477
7881

8184

Chart:Figure3.1and3.2

Ed.(8590)
Lanahan
617

ReviewforUnitexam,review
FRQwriting
UnitExamMultipleChoiceand
oneFRQ

UnitII:CivilLibertiesandCivilRights

ContentGoals:
Studentsshouldbeabletodescribeandevaluatetherightsandlibertiesaffordedtothembythe
USConstitution.Studentswilldifferentiatebetweencivilrightsandcivillibertiesoutlinedin
Americanhistory,andthroughgovernmentalaction.DiscussionofrightsintheConstitutionand
itsamendments,keysupremecourtcases,andlegislativeactionwillberequired.Studentswill
alsoexaminetheroleoffederalisminregardstotheCivilRightsmovementsthroughouthistory.

Materials:
SupremeCourtdecisionsoncivilrightsandcivilliberties(Plessyv.
Ferguson;Brownv.BoardofEducationIⅈRoev.Wade;Adarand
Constructors,Inc.v.Pena;Englev.Vitale;Zelmanv.SimmonsHarris,WallacevJaffree)
Legislativeaction:CivilRightsActof1964and1991.
Day
1
24

56

89
10

11
12

Topic

Articles,Charts,Documents, TextPages
Assignments
Intro/CourtProjectAssignedCase Createaoralandwrittenbrief 99102
research
oftwosupremecourtcases.
st
BillofRightsandcivilliberties1 MappvOhiodiscussion
103122
AmendmentEstablishment
YouaretheJudgeEssay
ClauseandFreeExercise,Free
(Edwards,121)
Expression,CommercialSpeech, Lanahan#54RightsTalk
Assembly,Obscenity
DefendantsRightsSearchand
ConstitutionandBillofRights 122130
th
th
Seizures,5 and6 amendment
ChartConstitutionand
rights
StagesoftheCriminalJustice
systemAnalyzeanddiscuss.
PoliticalCartoonanalysis
Lanahan#s4748Mirandav
Arizona,Gideonstrumpet.
ThehiddenrightPrivacyandthe ChartTheAbortionDebate 131137
courts
ControversialIssuesDiscussion
Lanahan#49Systemunder
StressUSAPatriotactand
CivilLiberties
CourtBriefResearch
CivilRightsandPublicPolicy:
140147
CivilRightsanditsOrigins
Slavery14thAmendment
QuizCivilRights/Constitution
CenterFieldTripBrief
FieldTripPhiladelphia,PA
ReadLanahan#50Simple
NationalConstitutionCenter,
Justice
LibertyMuseum,and
IndependenceHall

13

14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

FieldTripDebriefEraofCivil
RightsFromPlessytoBrown
DiscussArticleSimpleJustice
CivilRightsActof1964
AffirmativeAction
Women,theConstitution,and
PublicPolicySuffrage
NewgroupsintheCivilRights
ArenaAge,ADA,Gayrights
ReviewforUnitexam,
UnitExamMultipleChoice
TimedFRQ,FinalCaseBrief
Prep
CaseBriefPresentations

PoliticalCartoonAnalysis
Desegregation

147157

TimelineGenderEquality
158164
PublicPolicyMilestones
Lanahan#52Fromidentityto 164173
Politics

UnitIII:PoliticalPartiesandthePublic
ContentGoals
Studentsshouldunderstandthemechanismsoftransmittingintereststogovernmentaction,
includinginterestgroups,politicalactioncommittees,andmassmedia;theroleofmedia
coverageandthepressonelectionsandgovernmentactions.Thestudentswilldiscussthe
originsofandthepolicygoalsandsignificanceofmodernpoliticalparties.
Day

Topic

PublicopinionandPolitical
ActionAmericanDemographics
PoliticalSocializationStudent
Lanahan55ThePhantom
socializationchart,themvother
Public
students
PollingHowpollsareconducted,
roleofPollsinAmerican
Democracy,andpolitical
informationtransference
Declineintrustingovernment
ChartDeclineinTrustin
Government19582004

Articles,Charts,Documents, TextPages
Assignments
176185
185188

189193

193195

8
910

11

12

13
14

PoliticalIdeologiesLiberalV
ConservativesInternetIdeology
quiz
NYTimesvSullivan
AmericanPoliticalParticipation
Conventional,Protest,Equality
andParticipation
EssayQuizPublicOpinionand
PoliticalAction
IntroMassMedia
Developmentofmodernmedia
PrintMediavBroadcastMedia
Differences,CableNewsandthe
internet
DiscussionIstheMediastill
Privatelyowned?Thedebate
overMassMediaConglomerates
PoliticalInformationandthe
MediaTheincredibleshrinking
soundbyte
BiasintheNews

19

AgendaSettingPoliticsandthe
Media
QuizMassMediaandPublic
Opinion
PoliticalPartiesMeaningsand
Tasks
TheDownsModelofParties,
Voters,andPolicy
FromGrassRootstoWashington
thePartyattheLocal,State,and
NationalLevel
ThePartiesandPolicy

20

PartyErasinAmericanHistory

15
16
17
18

ChartHowtotellaLiberal
fromaconservative
ChartYoungervOlder
Americansbyissue
ChartPoliticalParticipation
byFamilyIncome
Lanahan#57Direct
Democracy

195200

200207

210212

PoliticalCartoonAnalysis
Media

213216
216225

Analysis:ChartsandPolitical
Cartoon(Edwardsp229)

225231

Lanahan#80Feeding
Frenzy

231234
234237

240244
ChartTheDownsModel

244245

PoliticalCartoonPatronage
BossTweed

245251

ChartPartyPlatformsin
2004
Lanahan#74RedoverBlue

251253

256259

21
22
23

ThirdPartiesandAmerican
Politics/ReviewUnit
UnitExam25Multiplechoice,
twotimedFRQs

260263

UnitIV:CampaigningandElections
ContentGoals:
Studentswilldiscussandanalyzetheentirenationalelectoralprocess.Theroleofpartiesand
primarysystemofelections;campaigningandmedia,roleofinterestgroups;electionsystemand
theelectoralcollege;votersandvoterbehavior.
Maps,charts,andgraphsofelectoraloutcomesandpoliticalparticipation;chartsshowingthe
roleofmoneyinpolitics;contemporarynewsandInternetcoverageandanalysisofelectionsand
campaigns;discussionofexitpolldata.
SpecialAssignment:Studentswillcreateacampaignadvertisingpackageforacandidate.
Studentswilldivideintogroupsandwillcreateasign,brochure,printad,andcommercialfor
theircandidate.Studentswilldivideintogroups,electacandidatefortheirgroupandcreatethe
messagefortheirtopic.
Day

Topic

NominationDecidingtorun.
(PoliticalElites)Thecaucusand
theprimary.
TheConvention

2
3
45
6
7
8

Articles,Charts,Documents, TextPages
Assignments
Lanahan66Stormy
270276
Weather
Lanahan12ThePowerElite
Videoof2004Conventions
276279

TheCampaignOrganization,
Lanahan67Noplacefor
Media,andthestaff
Amateurs
CampaignAdWorkDay
Money:CampaignFinance.Soft
Moneyand527Groups
PACSandtheirroleinelections
CampaignStrategies:Casestudies PoliticalAddiscussionand

279283

284287
288291

10
11
12
13

14

15
16

17
18
19

Howelectionswork.The
electoralcollege.Minidebate:
Keeporthrowout?
Ataleofthreeelections1800,
1896,2004
VotingandVoterturnout
HowAmericansVote:Party
IdentificationandPolicyVoting
QuizElectionsand
Voting/CampaignProject
commercialviewing
InterestGroups:RoleofInterest
groups,PluralismandGroup
Theory,PoliticalElitesandthe
denialofPluralism
WhatmakesanInterestGroup
Successful?
HowInterestGroupsshape
policy?Lobbying,Electioneering,
Litigation,andgoingPublic/
TypesofInterestGroups
ReviewforUnitTest
ExamElections,Voting,and
Interestgroups

viewing
ChartElectoralCollege2000 296303
and2004

Lanahan#72Why
AmericansStillDontVote

303309
310315

324329

AlexisDeTocqueville
Lanahan#59.
Lanahan#62TheLobbyists

329333
335340

341349
MultiplechoiceandFRQs

UnitV:InstitutionsofNationalGovernment:
TheCongress
ContentGoals:
Studentsshouldunderstandtheworkingsofthelegislativeprocess.Studentsshouldunderstand
theinteractionsoflobbyists,thehouseandsenate,partyallegiances,andcongresswiththeother
branchesofgovernment.Studentswilldiscusstheroleofhouseandsenateleadershipinpolicy
makingandinpartypolitics.
Day

Topic

Articles,Charts,Documents, TextPages

Assignments
1
2

3
4
56

7
8

9
910

Congress:Thejobandits
members,Article1Powers
RoundTablediscussion:
DiversityinCongress

CongressionalElections:Pork,
Incumbency,andConstituents
CongressionalOrganization:
BicameralismandLeadership
CommitteeSystemCommitteesat
workLegislationandoversight,
Gettingoncommittees
CaucusesandCongressionalStaff
CongressionalProcess:Bill
Becomingalaw,roleofexecutive
inlegislation,partyvotingand
constituency,thefilibuster
Lobbyists,Interestgroups,and
Congress
ReviewandExamonCongress

352357
Lanahan#s26&27
ChartDemographicsof
Congress
Lanahan#29InPraiseof
Pork
Lanahan#30The
CongressionalExperience
ChartStandingCommittees
intheHouseandSenate

357364
365369
369374

Lanahan#23HomeStyle

374376
377382

Lanahan#24Stalemate

382386

1timedFRQ

UnitVI:InstitutionsofNationalGovernment:
Presidency,Bureaucracy,andFederalBudget
ContentGoals:
StudentswilldemonstratethoroughunderstandingofthePowersandfunctionsofthe
Presidency.InteractionsofthePresidentwithcongressedwillbeparticularlystressed.Detailof
theexpansionofpresidentialpower,especiallyinthemodernerawillbegiven.TheFederal
bureaucracyandtheirroleinpolicymakingandenforcingwillbediscussed.Theirontriangle,
ortheinteractionofcongress,interestgroups,andthebureaucracyisavitalconceptforstudents
toanalyze.TheFederalbudgetingprocesswillbedissectedtoascertaintherolesofthe
Presidentandcongress.

Day

Topic

IntrotoPresidency:Article2
Whotheyare,Howtheygot
there,successionand
impeachment,constitutional
Powers
Expansionofpresidentialpower

2
34

57

8
9
10
11

12
13
14
15
16
17
18

19

Executiveorganization:Vice
President,Cabinet,FirstLady,
andtheStaff
Presidentialroles:Presidentand
Legislation,headofparty,public
supportandapproval,Foreign
Policy,Warpowers,Crisis
manager,publicmobilizer
Presidencyandthepress
QuizonthePresidency
NationalBudgetIntro:Sourcesof
FederalIncome
TaxesandPolicy:Taxloopholes,
expenditures,reductions,and
reform
FederalExpenditures:Big
Government,BigBudget
EntitlementPrograms:Social
Security,Medicare,andWelfare
Thepresident,thecongress,and
thebudge
QuizTheBudgetEssay:The
balancedbudgetamendment
OriginationoftheFederal
Bureaucracy
Organization:TheCabinet,IRCs,
GovernmentCorporations,
IndependentExecutiveAgencies
ImplementersandRegulators

Articles,Charts,Documents, TextPages
Assignments
Federalist#70
392398

Lanahan#31

398400

Lanahan#36TheWhite
HouseStaff

400407

Lanahan#35WiththeStroke 408427
ofAPen
ChartBushapprovalrating
427431
Lanahan#85FreetoChoose 434440
440444

ChartFederalExpenditures
19672007
Lanahan#84Theother
America
WestWingShutdown

444447

Lanahan#37AGovernment
ofStrangers
Lanahan#39Lockedinthe
Cabinet

466475

447454
454463

475480

480493

20
21
23

President,Congress,and
Bureaucracies.TheIronTriangle
ReviewandUnitExam,

Chart:TheIronTriangle

493499

MultipleChoice,Twotimed
FRQs

UnitVII:InstitutionsofNationalGovernment:
TheJudiciary
ContentGoals:
Studentsshouldunderstandthejudicialprocess,thestructureandfunctionofthefederalcourt
systeminrelationtothestatecourtsystem.FocuswillbegiventotheworkingsoftheJudicial
branchwiththeotherbranchesofgovernmentandthehistoricchangesinJudicialpower.
Day

Topic

1
2

ArticleIII,Participantsinthe
Courtssystem,Courtstructure
Politicsofjudicialselection:

3
45

BackgroundofJustices
CourtasPolicyMakers

HistoricCourts:PolicyAgendas

7
8

CourtsandDemocracy
QuizonJudicialBranch

Articles,Charts,Documents, TextPages
Assignments
Chartofflowofappellate
503511
jurisdictioninfederalsystem
Lanahan#45Pursuitof
511515
Justices
515520
Lanahan#42Democratic
520527
CharacterofJudicialReview
Lanahan#44Brennanv
527532
Rehnquist
532537

UnitVIII:PublicPolicy
ContentGoals:
Thisunitconsistsofgrouppresentationsonseveralareasofpublicpolicy,
including:
ForeignandDefensePolicy
HealthCare
EconomicPolicy
EnvironmentalPolicy

SocialWelfarePolicy
SpecialAssignment
Groupsprepareawrittenandoralpresentationoftheassignedpolicyarea.
Presentationsmustinclude:
Backgroundinformation
Majorplayersinthispolicyarena
Majorpolicyinitiatives
Currentissuesinthepolicyarea
Day Topic
Articles,Charts,Documents,
Assignments
13
EconomicPolicy:
Unemployment,Inflation,the
Fed,LaborandBusiness
46
SocialWelfarePolicySocial
ChartonSocialSecurityand
Security,Medicare,Welfare
Medicareexpendituresby
programs
decade
Lanahan#86Flatbrokewith
Children
78
EnvironmentalandHealthCare
Policy:HeathCarereform,
environmentalprotectionpolicy,
environmentandtheeconomy,
energypolicy
912 NationalSecurityPolicy:Defense Lanahan#88Theclashof
spending,homelandsecurity,
Civilizations
terrorism,USAPatriotAct,
ForeignPolicy,Internationaltrade
13
Researchdaysforpolicy
14
15
TwoTimedFRQexam:Public
Policy
16
PresentationsofPolicyGroup
17

ReviewforAPexam

TextPages
540561

564585

590612

614653