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02/26/11

Welcome to AP Government

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bureaucracy Open Book Quiz

  • You May Use The Following Sources While Taking This Quiz
    • The chapter in the Sabato Textbook entitled The Executive Branch and the Bureaucracy
    • Any other chapter in the Sabato Textbook
    • The two articles in the chapter on the Bureaucracy in the Woll Book
      • The multiple choice questions with only four choices will be based on these articles
    • Any other articles in the Woll Book
    • The PowerPoints and Outline
    • Any notes you have taken in class or elsewhere related to this class
    • Any handouts distributed in class
  • You May Not Not Use Each Other
    • You must do this on your own
  • Use Of Sources Other Than Those Listed Above Will Not Be Tolerated And Will Be Punishable By Death Or Worse!
  • The Quiz

Government Websites

Click on the title of the textbooks below to access its website.  Click on the pictures to access the websites of the three branches.  Click on the links to the left to access different areas of this website.  Click on the links below to access other websites related to U.S. Government.

Official U.S. Government Website - portal for all U.S. government sites.  Firstgov.gov

Election 2008 - A collection of sites about the race for president

 

Textbooks

Click on the title of each chapter listed below.  Read the Chapter Overview and answer the questions in the Chapter Objectives.  Answer some or all of the questions in the Review section.  Do this for each chapter.

AP Exam Review

Assignments!

Summer Assignment

In The News

Table of Contents

Constitutional Underpinnings

Constitutional Democracy in the United States

September 1

  • Review Website
  • Check Summer Assignment
  • Discuss Constitutional Convention Simulation
  • Current Events

 

The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
You're Welcome - Constitutional Crisis
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorTea Party

 

September 2

  • Constitutional Convention Simulation
  • Current Events

September 3

September 7-8

September 9

  • Chapter One Quiz
  • Current Events
  • Constitutional Convention Simulation

The Constitution

September 10

September 13

  • Current Events
  • Constitutional Convention Simulation

September 14

  • Read Chapter Two The Constitution
  • Class discussion
  • Constitutional Convention Simulation

September 15

September 16

  • Chapter Two The Constitution
  • Class Discussion
  • Current Events

September 17

September 20

  • Constitutional Convention Simulation

September 21

Federalism

September 22

  • Read Chapter Three Federalism to Federalism and the Marshall Court

September 23

  • Read All the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers in Woll
    • Federalist 16
    • Federalist 17
    • Anti-Federalist 17
    • Federalist 44
    • Federalist 45
    • Federalist 39
  • Class Discussion

September 24

September 27

September 28

  • Read United States v. Morrison (2000)
    • Complete Supreme Court Case Summary
  • Read Gonzales v. Raich (2005)
    • Complete Supreme Court Case Summary
  • Practice Quiz on Federalism
  • Class Discussion
  • Constitutional Convention Simulation

September 29

  • Read A Republic Subverted by David Broder
  • Read The Merits of the Federal System by James Bryce in Woll
  • Current Events

September 30

October 1

  • Current Events
  • Constitutional Convention Simulation

October 4

October 5

October 6

  • Constitutional Underpinnings Test

October 7

  • Constitutional Convention Simulation
  • Bill of Rights Exercise

October 8

  • Constitutional Convention Simulation
  • Bill of Rights Exercise
  • Current Events

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

First Amendment Rights and Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property

October 12

October 13

October 14

October 15

October 18-22

October 25 - November 2

  • 2010 Midterm Elections

November 3 - November 9

  • Preparation for Bill of Rights Project
  • Read Chapter Four or Five on Civil Liberties
  • Practice M-C Quiz on Civil Liberties

November 10 - November 15

  • Bill of Rights Project Presentations
  • New Current Events Game on November 12

November 16

  • Bill of Rights Summary

November 17

  • Bill of Rights Summary

November 18

  • Civil Liberties Quiz

November 19

  • Current Events
  • Civil Rights Assignment due November 30

Equal Rights Under the Law

November 22

  • Watch Eyes on the Prize.

November 23

November 24

  • Watch Eyes on the Prize.
  • Read Chapter Five or Six on Civil Rights

November 29

November 30

  • Civil Rights Assignment Due
  • Practice Quz

December 1

  • Civil Right and Liberties Test Review
  • Current Events

December 2

  • Civil Right and Liberties Quz
  • Current Events

December 3

  • Civil Right and Liberties Test

December 6 - 10

  • Second Quarter Journals Due December 6
  • Congress Movie Assignment
  • Exam Review

December

  • First Semester Exam

Institutions of Government

Congress

January 5-10

January 11

  • National E-Congress
    • Go to youthleadership.net
    • Click on the Student Portal in the bottom right corner of the page
    • In the Student Portal, Find the E-Congress Log-in Box
    • Click on Register for E-Congress in the E-Congress Log-in Box
    • Enter the following Teacher Code
      • VA1646-001
    • Click Save Changes
    • Select your Classroom
      • If you are in 2nd Period, Select Alley 1
      • If you are in 4th Period, Select Alley 2
      • If you are in 5th Period, Select Alley 3
    • Click Save Changes
    • You should now be on the Create New Student page
    • Enter your first and last names
    • Create a log-in name and a password that you will use to access the site
    • Once you are done, Click Save
    • You should now be on the Welcome Screen
    • Read the screen and Click Continue
    • Work your way through the different screens until you finish the Introduction Phase
    • During the Introduction Phase you will do the following
      • Complete Phase I Study Guide
      • Complete the Ideological Survey
      • Complete the Introduction Quiz
      • Must be completed by January 14
    • Once you have finished the Introduction Phase, you should begin the Research Stage
    • During the Research Phase you will do the following

January 12

  • Constitutional Structure
    • Read The Constitution and the Legislative Branch of Government in Sabato
    • Read Article I of the Constitution.
    • Read Federalist 53, 56, 57, 58, 62, and 63.
      • Answer Questions in Journal
        • How do the authors of The Federalist explain the different terms of office for the House and the Senate?
          •

        • According to the theory of The Federalist, how does the Constitution bring about a system of checks and balances between the House and the Senate?

        • Why does The Federalist proclaim that it is necessary to have an internal check within the legislature itself?

        • Do you agree with the theory of Federalist 58 that: .In all legislative assemblies, the greater the number composing them may be, the fewer will be the men who will in fact direct their proceedings. In the first place, the more numerous any assembly may be, of whatever characters composed, the greater is known to be the ascendancy of passion over reason. In the next place, the larger the number, the greater will be the proportion of members of limited information and of weak capacities.. What factors lend support to or detract from the validity of this statement?

        • What are the primary functions of the legislature to be according to The Federalist?
  • Political Ideology
  • Class Discussion

January 13

  • Organization and Procedure and Reelection
    • Read How Congress is Organized in Sabato
    • Read The Rise of the Washington Establishment by Morris P. Fiorina.
      • Answer Questions in Journal

        • What major assumptions does Fiorina make about the Washington political establishment and those within it?

          •
        • What conclusions about the Washington establishment does Fiorina draw from his assumptions?
    • Read Congress: The Electoral Connection by David Mathew.
      • Answer Questions in Journal
        • Define and give an example of advertising.
          •
        • Define and give examples of credit claiming.
          •
        • Define and give examples of position-taking.
  • Class Discussion

January 14

  • Complete Phase I of E-Congress
  • Class Discussion
  • Current Events

January 18

  • Members of Congress and What They Do
    • Read The Members of Congress and How Members Make Decisions in Sabato
    • Read Congress and the Quest for Power by Lawrence Dodd.
      • Answer Questions in Journal
        • What is the personal power incentive on Capitol Hill, and how does it affect Congress as an institution?
          •
        • Contrast the reelection and personal power incentives. Which is dominant and why on Capitol Hill?
          •
        • What are the normal stages of a congressional career?
    • Read Home Style and Washington Career by Richard F. Fenno, Jr.
      • Answer Questions in Journal

        • Explain Fenno’s thesis that individual congressmen may be loved while the institution of Congress lacks respect.

          •

        • How does the behavior of members of Congress tend to fortify their popularity at the expense of the institution of Congress?

    • Read Speech to the Electors of Bristol by Edmund Burke.
      • Answer Questions in Journal

        • Do you agree that the public will, or opinions of constituents, should be subordinate to the judgment of the elected representative. If 80% of a congressional district’s voters desire one policy outcome, and the representative desires another, is the representative justified in voting his conscience and not the will of his constituents? Should officials be subject to mandates and instructions from the populace?

        • What is the national interest? Can it be defined? Burke argues that a deliberative body serves one national interest, and not the diverse and hostile interests of different localities and districts. Critics of Congress often argue that it fails to serve the nation, fragmenting instead into warring factions serving narrow, local interests. Is Burke’s reasoning still valid if there is no national interest?

        • Have recent developments in American politics taken us away from the Burkean theory of representation? Recall elections, candidate-centered elections, pandering to public opinion through photo opportunities, and constant polling--do these mechanisms of modern politics threaten the freedom of elected officials to decide based on their own judgment, their trust from Providence?

  • Class Discussion

January 19

  • The Law Making Function of Congress
  • Complete Phase II of E-Congress

January 20

  • Congress and the Other Branches
    • Read Congress and the President and Congress and the Judiciary in Sabato
  • Class Discussion

January 21

  • Congress Quiz

The Presidency

February 14

  • Roots of and Rules Governing the Office of President
    • Read the beginning of the chapter on the Presidency in the Sabato Textbook until you reach the Powers of the President
  • PowerPoint
  • Outline
  • Practice Quiz
  • Congressional and Presidential Powers Assignment
  • Class Discussion

February 15

  • Congressional and Presidential Powers Assignment

February 16

  • Development and Expansion of Presidential Power
    • Read this section in the Sabato Textbook
  • Class Discussion

February 17

  • The Presidential Establishment and The President as Policy Maker
    • Read these sections in the Sabato Textbook
  • Class discussion

February 18

  • The President and Public Opinion
    • Read this section in the Sabato Textbook
  • Class Discussion
  • Current Events Game

February 22

  • The Presidency Quiz

The Bureaucracy

February 23

  • The Origins and Growth of the Federal Bureaucracy and The Modern Bureaucracy
    • Read these sections in the Sabato Textbook
    • Read The Rise of the Bureaucratic State by James Q. Wilson.
  • PowerPoint
  • Outline
  • Practice Quiz
  • Class discussion

February 24

  • How the Bureaucracy Works and Making Agencies Accountable
    • Read these sections in the Sabato Textbook
    • Read Constitutional Democracy and Bureaucratic Power by Peter Woll.
  • The Federal Register
  • Class Discussion

February 25

  • Bureaucracy Open Book Quiz
    • You May Use The Following Sources While Taking This Quiz
      • The chapter in the Sabato Textbook entitled The Executive Branch and the Bureaucracy
      • Any other chapter in the Sabato Textbook
      • The two articles in the chapter on the Bureaucracy in the Woll Book
        • The multiple choice questions with only four choices will be based on these articles
      • Any other articles in the Woll Book
      • The PowerPoints and Outline
      • Any notes you have taken in class or elsewhere related to this class
      • Any handouts distributed in class
    • You May Not Not Use Each Other
      • You must do this on your own
    • Use Of Sources Other Than Those Listed Above Will Not Be Tolerated And Will Be Punishable By Death Or Worse!
    • The Quiz

February 28 - March 4

  • Committee Phase of eCongress
  • Congressional and Presidential Powers Assignment
    • Due March 4
  • Journals Due March 4

The Judiciary

February 18

  • Movie about Judiciary
    • Roe v Wade
    • Flynt v Falwell

February 22

  • Multiple Choice Questions Due
  • Multiple Choice Game and Discussion of Chapter

February 23

February 24

  • Read Judicial Self-Restraint by John P. Roche.
  • Read How the Supreme Court Arrives at Decisions by William J. Brennan, Jr.
  • Answer Questions
  • Discussion of readings and chapter

February 25

  • Read Bush v Gore (2000)
  • Answer Questions
  • Discussion of readings and chapter

February 28

  • Read Roe v. Wade (1973).
  • Read Constitutional Liberty and the Right to Abortion by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
  • Read Liberty, Privacy, and the Right to Abortion by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.
  • Read Liberty and Abortion: A Strict Constructionist's View by Justice Antonin Scalia.
  • Answer Questions
  • Discussion of readings and chapter
  • Listen to oral arguments in Roe v. Wade (1973).

 

March 29

  • Independent Study
    • Mock Supreme Court

March 30

  • Briefs Due
  • Independent Study
    • Mock Supreme Court

March 31

  • Test on The Judiciary and Civil Rights and Liberties

April 1

  • Mock Supreme Court
    • Case 
      • TBA
    • Roles
      • Nine justices
      • Six lawyers
      • One reporter
    • Assignments
      • Each justice will research all aspects of the case, read briefs, listen to arguments from each side, ask questions of the lawyers during oral arguments, briefly discuss the case, and write a formal opinion.
      • Each lawyer will research various aspects of the case, write a brief supporting his or her position, and argue that position before the court.
      • The reporter will research all aspects of the case, observe the oral arguments, and write an article about the case after the opinions have been written.
    • Activities and Dates
      • March 29 - Research
      • March 30 - Briefs Due and Prep
        • Make copies for everyone
      • April 1 - Oral Arguments
        • Fifteen minutes per side
      • April 4 - Opinions Due
        • Make copies for everyone
      • April 6 - Article Due
        • Make copies for everyone

April 4

  • Opinions Due
  • Watch video of Mock Court

April 6

  • Article Due

 

Political Beliefs and Behaviors

Political Culture and Ideology

September 28

  • Read Chapter Four in Burns.
  • Review the Learning Objectives, web sites, and Chapter Outline in the Exam Review section of this site.
  • Take Home Quiz on Chapter Four.
  • Class discussion

September 29

  • Ideology Quizzes

October 2

October 3

  • Chapter Four Quiz
  • Current Events Game

The American Political Landscape

October 4

  • Read Chapter Five in Burns.
  • Review the Learning Objectives, web sites, and Chapter Outline in the Exam Review section of this site.
  • Take Home Quiz on Chapter Five.
  • Class Discussion

October 5

October 6

  • Chapter Five Quiz

Public Opinion, Participation, and Voting

October 9

  • No School

October 10

  • Read Chapter Eight in Burns.
  • Review the Learning Objectives, web sites, and Chapter Outline in the Exam Review section of this site.
  • Take Home Quiz on Chapter Eight.

October 11

  • Read Democratic Practice and Democratic Theory by Berelson, Lazarsfeld, and McPhee
  • Class Discussion
  • The Candidate

October 12

  • The Candidate

October 13

  • The Candidate

October 16

October 17

  • Chapter Eight Quiz

Campaigns and Elections

October 18

  • No School

October 19

  • Read Chapter Nine in Burns.
  • Review the Learning Objectives, web sites, and Chapter Outline in the Exam Review section of this site.
  • Take Home Quiz on Chapter Nine.
  • Class Discussion

October 20

  • Journals Due!
  • Class discussion

October 23

October 24

  • Read The Responsible Electorate by V.O. Key, Jr.
  • Read Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
  • Read Campaign Finance Reform by Sabato and Simpson
  • Class Discussion

October 25

  • Read Political Parties and Campaign Finance by Frank J. Sorauf
  • Read Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee v. Federal Election Commission (1996)
  • Test Review

October 26

  • Test on Political Beliefs and Behaviors

October 27

  • Current Events Game

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media

Interest Groups

October 30

October 31

  • Read Chapter Six in Burns.
  • Review the Learning Objectives, web sites, and Chapter Outline in the Exam Review section of this site.
  • Take Home Quiz on Chapter Six.
  • Read Madison's Dilemma by Jeffrey M. Berry
  • Class discussion

November 1

  • Read The Governmental Process by David B. Truman
  • Read The End of Liberalism: The Indictment by Theodore J. Lowi
  • Class discussion

November 2

  • Read Interest Groups and the American Political System by Rozell and Wilcox
  • Read The Misplaced Obsession with PACs by Larry J. Sabato
  • Class discussion

November 3

  • No School

Political Parties

November 6

November 7

  • Read Chapter Seven in Burns.
  • Review the Learning Objectives, web sites, and Chapter Outline in the Exam Review section of this site.
  • Take Home Quiz on Chapter Seven.
  • Class discussion

November 8

  • Read Federalist 10 by James Madison
  • Read Party Government by E.E. Schattschneider
  • Class discussion

November 9

  • Read California Democratic Party et. al. v. Jones, Secretary of State of California, et. al. (2000)
  • Read Toward A More Responsible Two-Party System by the American Political Science Association
  • Read Perspectives on American Political Parties by Martin P. Wattenberg
  • Class discussion

November 10

  • Read Divided We Govern by David B. Mayhew
  • Read A Theory of Critical Elections by V.O. Key

November 13

November 14

  • Read Politics by Other Means by Ginsberg and Shefter
  • Class Discussion

November 15

  • Chapters Six and Seven Quiz
    ---------------------------------------------------------

The Media

November 16

  • Read Chapter Ten in Burns.
  • Review the Learning Objectives, web sites, and Chapter Outline in the Exam Review section of this site.
  • Take Home Quiz on Chapter Ten.

November 17

  • Read Feeding the Beast by Kenneth T. Walsh
  • All the President's Men

November 20

  • Read Media Power and Congressional Power by Timothy E. Cook
  • All the President's Men

November 21

  • All the President's Men

November 22

  • All the President's Men

November 23 and 24

  • No School

November 27

  • Current Events
  • Test Review
    • Chapters 6,7,10 in Burns
    • Other Readings and Assignments
      • Political Parties, Interest Groups and the Media Outline
      • Madison's Dilemma by Jeffrey M. Berry
      • The Governmental Process by David B. Truman
      • The End of Liberalism: The Indictment by Theodore J. Lowi
      • Interest Groups and the American Political System by Rozell and Wilcox
      • The Misplaced Obsession with PACs by Larry J. Sabato
      • Federalist 10
      • Party Government by E.E. Schattschneider
      • California Democratic Party et. al. v. Jones, Secretary of State of California, et. al. (2000)
      • Toward A More Responsible Two-Party System by the American Political Science Association
      • Perspectives on American Political Parties by Martin P. Wattenberg
      • Divided We Govern by David B. Mayhew
      • A Theory of Critical Elections by V.O. Key
      • Politics by Other Means by Ginsberg and Shefter
      • Feeding the Beast by Kenneth T. Walsh
      • Media Power and Congressional Power by Timothy E. Cook
      • All the President's Men
    • AP Questions 1988-2006

November 28

  • Test on Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media

November 29

  • Current Events Game

November 30 - December 13

  • Exam Review

Public Policy

Making Economic and Regulatory Policy

April 20

  • Read Chapter Nineteen in Burns.
  • Review the Learning Objectives, web sites, and Chapter Outline in the Exam Review section of this site.
  • Take Home Quiz on Chapter Nineteen.

Making Social Policy

April 22

  • Read Chapter Twenty in Burns.
  • Review the Learning Objectives, web sites, and Chapter Outline in the Exam Review section of this site.
  • Take Home Quiz on Chapter Twenty.

April 26

Making Foreign and Defense Policy

April 27

  • Read Chapter Twenty One in Burns.
  • Review the Learning Objectives, web sites, and Chapter Outline in the Exam Review section of this site.
  • Take Home Quiz on Chapter Twenty One.

April 30

  • Test on Public Policy

Exam Review

May 1 - 13

  • Review

May 14

  • Exam Date

 

 

 

Government Links

I will periodically post relevant class links here.  For a more extensive list, click on the link above.

Government by the People

First Gov

Political Resources on the Web

This Nation

Polisci.com

American Political Science Association

Chapter One in The Power Game

Interest Group Links 

             

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