AP Government Syllabus
AP Government & Politics Syllabus
Welcome to A.P. Government!
Course Outline
Course Description and Goals:
The intent of this course is to increase students understanding of the American political system and its development over the past two centuries. We will examine the framework of
Texts and Supplementary
Textbook:
Reader:
Woll, Peter, ed.: American Government;
Periodicals:
Articles from a variety of journals and newspapers will be distributed on a topical basis.
Guidelines for the Course:
Participation – AP Government and Politics is a college level survey course. Students must understand at the outset that there is extensive reading. The class format will be predominantly lecture/seminar. Students are expected to complete readings as assigned in order to be informed participants in class discussion. The student is expected to display daily preparation by volunteering information, by knowledgeable questioning, and by responding to questions from the teacher and /or other students.
Supplies – Each student must maintain an AP Government notebook. Organization of the notebook is at the student’s discretion but must include lecture notes, student handouts, supplementary readings and notes from class activities.
Absences – The student is responsible for missed assignments caused by any absence. Make-up exams will be available for legal absences only. Credit will not be given for work not completed when assigned.
Grading Procedures:
Tests 30%
Quizzes 25%
Writing 30%
Participation 15%
Academic Honesty:
Students are expected to know how to cite sources and credit the phrases and ideas of others. All students are to abide by ethical standards in preparing and presenting material which demonstrates their level of knowledge. These standards are founded on the basic concepts of honesty and integrity.
Course Outline:
I. Electoral Politics (Linking people with government)
- Political Socialization
o Janda:
o Handout: Paradox and Dream by John Steinbeck
- Public Opinion & Polling
o Janda:
o V.O. Key: Public Opinion and American Democracy
- Interest Groups
o Janda:
o V.O. Key, Truman: Hyperpluralism?
- Political Parties
o Janda:
o Federalist #10: Factions
o Eldersveld: Party Decline: Fact or Fiction?
- Media
o Janda:
o Hess: The Fourth Estate
- Elections & Voting
o Janda:
o V.O. Key: Theory of Critical Elections
II. Government (Foundations & Institutions)
- Constitution
o Janda:
o Roche, Beard: Elitist or Democratic Process?
- Legislative Branch
o Janda:
o Federalist #’s 53,56,57,58,62,63: Roles of House vs. Senate
o Redman, Sundquist: Character of Congress
- Executive Branch
o Janda: 12
o Cronin: Swelling of the Presidency
- Judicial Branch
o Janda:
o Federalist # 78: Independent Judiciary
o Kaufman: What Did the Founding Fathers Intend?
- Federalism
o Janda:
o Federalist #1: Inter-Government Relations
- Bureaucracy
o Janda:
o Woll: Constitutional Democracy and Bureaucratic Power
III. Public Policy (Government action)
- The Policy Making Process
o Iron Triangles/Issue Networks
o Federal Budget Creation & Analysis
- Economic Policy
o Janda:
- Domestic Policy
o Janda:
- Foreign Policy
o Janda:
- Civil Rights/Civil Liberties
o Janda:
o West: Race Matters