Welcome to AP Government

AP Exam Review

• Click on Exam Review to prepare for the AP Exam and access the information necessary for this course.
• AP Free Response Questions 1988-2006

Assignments!

Summer Assignment

In The News

• Click Here For Current Events Assignments

Table of Contents

• Constitutional Underpinnings
  • Constitutional Democracy in the U.S.
  • The Constitution
  • Federalism
• Political Beliefs and Behaviors
  • Political Culture and Ideology
  • American Political Landscape
  • Public Opinion, Participation and Voting
  • Campaigns and Elections
• Political Parties, Interest Groups and Mass Media
  • Interest Groups
  • Political Parties
  • The Media
• Institutions of Government
  • Congress
  • The Presidency
  • Congress and the President
  • The Bureaucracy
  • The Judiciary
• Civil Rights and Liberties
  • First Amendment Rights
  • Rights to Life, Liberty and Property
  • Equal Rights Under the Law
• Public Policy
  • Making Economic and Regulatory Policy
  • Making Social Policy
  • Making Foreign and Defense Policy

Constitutional Underpinnings

Constitutional Democracy in the United States

Political Culture and Ideology

The American Political Landscape

September 6-20

• Review Website
• Check Summer Assignment
• Current Events

• Review Journal Sunday show format
  • Meet The Press
  • This Week
  • Face The Nation
  • Fox News Sunday
• Review Chapter One The Political Landscape
  • Outline
  • PowerPoint
• Read Second Treatise, Of Civil Government(Full Text-You only need to read the Abbreviated Version) by John Locke, and answer Quiz Questions in Journal.
• Read the Declaration of Independence.
• Chapter One Quiz

The Constitution

September 23 - 26

• Read the Preamble to the Constitution.
• Read Federalist 51
• Read Chapter Two The Constitution
  • Outline
  • PowerPoint
• Read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights

September 27

• Chapter Two Quiz
• Current Events

Federalism

September 28 - October 7

• Read Chapter Three Federalism
  • Outline
  • PowerPoint
• Read All the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers in Woll
  • Federalist 16
  • Federalist 17
  • Anti-Federalist 17
  • Federalist 44
  • Federalist 45
  • Federalist 39
• Read United States v. Morrison (2000)
  • Complete Supreme Court Case Summary
• Read Gonzales v. Raich (2005)
  • Complete Supreme Court Case Summary
• Read Wickard v. Filburn (1942)
  • Complete Supreme Court Case Summary
• Current Events

October 7

• Chapter Three Quiz
• Test Review

October 7, 11-17

• Test Review
  • Chapters 1-3 in Sabato
  • Other Readings
    • Constitutional Underpinnings Outline
      • Constitutional Underpinnings PowerPoint
    • Second Treatise, Of Civil Government (Full Text-You only need to read the Abbreviated Version)
    • Declaration of Independence
    • The Federalist 51
    • Federalist 16
    • Federalist 17
    • Anti-Federalist 17
    • Federalist 44
    • Federalist 45
    • Federalist 39
    • The Constitution and Its Amendments
    • The Supremacy of National Law
      • Includes McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) and United States v. Morrison (2000)
      • Gonzales v. Raich (2005)
      • Wickard v. Filburn (1942)
  • AP Questions 1988-2006

October 18

• Constitutional Underpinnings Test

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

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

October 19

• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)  and Handout Questions (Answer Discussion Question 2)
• Read Chapter Four or Five on Civil Liberties
• Open Book Quiz

October 20

• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
• History of Bill of Rights, 14th Amendment, and Incorporation Doctrine

October 21

• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)  and Handout Questions

October 24-31

• First and Fourth Amendment Rights

November 1

• Read pages 103-109 in the Woll(Little) book.

• Summarize Federalist 84 using bullet points in your journal

• Read pages 115-121 in the Woll book.

• Summarize The Need to Maintain a Free Marketplace of Ideas using bullet points in your journal

• Read Engel v. Vitale beginning on page 142 in the Woll book

• Summarize Engel v. Vitale using the Supreme Court Case Summary form in your journal

November 2-9

• Read Chapter Five Civil Liberties
  • Outline
  • PowerPoint

November 10

• Quiz on Civil Liberties

Equal Rights Under the Law

November 11

November 15

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

November 16

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

November 17-21

• Watch Eyes on the Prize.
• Read Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1955).
• Read Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena (1995).
• Answer Questions
• Discussion of readings

November 22

• Civil Rights Quiz
• Current Events

Institutions of Government

The Judiciary

November 28

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

November 29

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

November 30

• Read Article III of the Constitution.
• Read Federalist 78.
• Read Marbury v. Madison (1803).
• Answer Questions
• Discussion of readings and chapter

December 1

• 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

December 2

• Read Bush v Gore (2000)
• Answer Questions
• Discussion of readings and chapter
• Independent Study
  • Mock Supreme Court

December 5

• 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).

December 6

• Briefs Due
• Independent Study
  • Mock Supreme Court

December 7

• 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

December 8

• Test on The Judiciary and Civil Rights and Liberties

December 9

• Opinions Due
• Watch video of Mock Court
• Articles Due
• Exam Review

Congress

January 3

• Current Events
  • Sunday Talk Shows
    • Journal
  • Read Newsweek articles listed above.
  • Class discussion

January 4

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

January 5

• Read Article I of the Constitution.
• Read Federalist 53, 56, 57, 58, 62, and 63.
• Class Discussion

January 8

• Current Events
  • Sunday Talk Shows
    • Journal
  • Read Newsweek articles listed above.
  • Class discussion

January 9

• Read The Rise of the Washington Establishment by Morris P. Fiorina.
• Read Congress: The Electoral Connection by David Mathew.
• Class Discussion

January 10

• Read Congress and the Quest for Power by Lawrence Dodd.
• Answer Questions
• Class Discussion

January 11

• Read If, As Ralph Nader Says, Congress Is “The Broken Branch,” How Come We Love Our Congressmen So Much? by Richard F. Fenno, Jr.
• Read Congress-Bashing for Beginners by Nelson W. Polsby.
• Class Discussion

January 12

• Read Home Style and Washington Career by Richard F. Fenno, Jr.
• Read Speech to the Electors of Bristol by Edmund Burke.
• Class Discussion

January 15

• No School

January 16

• Chapter 11 Quiz

The Presidency

January 17

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

January 18

• Read Article II of the Constitution.
• Read Federalist 70.
• Class Discussion

January 19

• Read The Presidency-Focus of Leadership by Clinton Rossiter.
• Read Presidential Power by Richard Neustadt.
• Class Discussion

January 22

• Current Events
  • Sunday Talk Shows
    • Journal
  • Read Newsweek articles listed above.
  • Class discussion

January 23

• Read  Presidential Paradoxes by Thomas E. Cronin and Michael A. Genovese.
• Read The Presidential Character by James David Barber.
• Class Discussion

January 24

• Read American Presidential Elections: The Last One and the Next One by Nelson W. Polsby.
• Class Discussion

January 25

• Read The Two Presidencies by Aaron Wildavsky.
• Read The Presidency and Political Parties by Sidney M. Milkis.
• Class Discussion

January 26

• Chapter Twelvw Quiz
• Current Events Game

The Bureaucracy

January 29

• Current Events
  • Sunday Talk Shows
    • Journal
  • Read Newsweek articles listed above.
  • Class discussion

January 30

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

January 31

• Read Constitutional Democracy and Bureaucratic Power by Peter Woll.
• Class discussion

February 1

• Read The Rise of the Bureaucratic State by James Q. Wilson.
• Class discussion

February 2

• Chapter Thirteen Quiz
• Current Events Game

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

• Current Events
  • Sunday Talk Shows
    • Journal
  • Read Newsweek articles listed above.
  • Class discussion

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

• Analyze Handout
  • Demographics of Virginia's Congressional Districts
• Class Discussion

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

• Current Events
  • Sunday Talk Shows
    • Journal
  • Read Newsweek articles listed above.
  • Class discussion

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

• Current Events
  • Sunday Talk Shows
    • Journal
  • Read Newsweek articles listed above.
  • Class discussion

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
  • Chapters 4,5,8,9 in Burns
  • Other Readings and Assignments
    • Political Beliefs and Behaviors Outline
    • Demographics of Virginia's Congressional Districts
    • Democratic Practice and Democratic Theory by Berelson, Lazarsfeld, and McPhee
    • The Candidate
    • The Responsible Electorate by V.O. Key, Jr.
    • Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
    • Campaign Finance Reform by Sabato and Simpson
    • Political Parties and Campaign Finance by Frank J. Sorauf
    • Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee v. Federal Election Commission (1996)
  • AP Questions 1988-2006

October 26

• Test on Political Beliefs and Behaviors

October 27

• Current Events Game

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media

Interest Groups

October 30

• Current Events
  • Sunday Talk Shows
    • Journal
  • Read Newsweek articles listed above.
  • Class discussion

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

• Current Events
  • Sunday Talk Shows
    • Journal
  • Read Newsweek articles listed above.
  • Class discussion

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

• Current Events
  • Sunday Talk Shows
    • Journal
  • Read Newsweek articles listed above.
  • Class discussion

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
  • Sunday Talk Shows
    • Journal
  • Read Newsweek articles listed above.
  • Class discussion
• 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

• Current Events and Newsweek Quiz

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

		Select Grade Level Elementary School Middle School High School & Beyond

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

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