"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be"

-Thomas Jefferson

Course Description

Advanced Placement United States Government is a college level course designed to prepare high school students to take the Advanced Placement examination in May.

This course is concerned with the nature of the American political system, its development over the past two hundred years, and how it works today. We will examine in some detail the principle processes and institutions through which the political system functions, as well as some of the policies that these institutions establish and how they are implemented. We will look primarily at the national government and national policies.

This course is designed to increase understanding of the American political system-its traditions, values, and framework-as well as to understand how its components work together smoothly for the most part, but at times with substantial friction.

This course aims to provide objective instruction and an intellectual classroom environment characterized by students who are pushed to exercise higher order thinking skills in their efforts to understand the full range of each issue and, therefore, become independent social critics capable of fulfilling their responsibilities as active and informed members of a democracy. The fate of civil, intellectual discourse ( and therefore more sound public policy) lies in the investigative willingness instilled within future members of the body politic.

Textbooks

• Burns, James MacGregor, J.W. Peltason, Thomas E. Cronin, David B. Magleby. Government by the People-19th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2002.
• Woll, Peter. American Government: Readings and Cases-14 Edition.

Requirements

It must be understood at the outset that there is extensive reading; it must be completed in advance of the material covered in class. By reading each day’s assignment before coming to class, the presentation and discussion for that day will mean more to you, and you will find it easier to take notes. Students are expected to have a comprehensive understanding of all topics treated in the text and the classroom. Examinations will test for understanding of both the readings and classroom discussions. Class discussions are intended to embellish the readings, not repeat the material. Readings, activities, and discussions are all means of carrying on an inquiry into the topic at hand and are meant to supplement rather than duplicate each other ( although some repetition and reinforcement is intended and desirable).

Class participation is mandatory!

Evaluation

Your grade will be based on the following:

Tests will be given periodically, see the assignment page of my AP Government Web Site for specific dates. The tests will consist of multiple choice and short essay questions. Each time a test is given, you will also have to answer several essay questions out of class. These essays will usually be due one day before or after the test. You will also be given a take home multiple choice quiz for each chapter covered in the Burns book. A semester exam consisting of multiple choice and essay questions will be given on December 20.

Assignments

Reading assignments in the Burns and/or the Woll book will be made almost every night. See the assignment page of my AP Government Web Site for specific dates. In addition to the readings, you will have the following assignments.

• JOURNAL

You will be responsible for keeping a journal in which you will make one entry for each reading in the Woll book. You should briefly summarize and react to each of the readings. You should also make one entry a week summarizing and analyzing one of the following shows:

• Meet the Press
• Face the Nation
• This Week
• Fox News Sunday
• CNN Late Edition

All of these shows air on Sunday. Journal checks will occur each quarter.

• THE INTERNET

• RESEARCH PAPER

Due December 9, 2002. See the AP Research page of my AP Government Web Site for more details.

• OTHER ASSIGNMENTS

Separation of Church and State Essay, Mock Supreme Court, Media Journal, Campaign Finance Reform Assignment, The Power Game, and possible others.

LATE WORK POLICY

Three days are allowed for the submission of late work, but there will be a deduction of one letter grade per day.

This class is based on an atmosphere of relaxed alertness and intellectual freedom. You must come prepared to learn, personal accountability is key. This means that you must bring all necessary materials and that you do the prerequisite reading. No materials may be on your desk other than those related to this class. This is your classroom, help create an atmosphere of ownership and positive interdependence. Mutual respect, for property and opinion, is paramount.