AP Government & Politics

Kennedy High School

COURSE SYLLABUS

ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 1

(5 credits- 1 semester)

SGF410

This semester course is a study of the basic beliefs and ideals which underlie American democracy; its historical
roots; and how its legal, governmental, and economic institutions affect public policy at the local, state, national,
and international levels. Special emphasis is given to preparing the student for the College Boards Advanced
Placement Test in American Government.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Term and Year: Fall 2015
Name of Instructor: Richard Pauly
Room Number: C-317
Telephone Number: (916) 433-5200 x 1317
E-mail Address: Richard-Pauly@scusd.edu
http://mrpaulyapgopo.weebly.com

TEXTBOOKS AND/OR REQUIRED READING

Wilson, James Q. & Dilulio, John J. Jr. American Government Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.
We The People-The Citizen & The Constitution, Level 3 , Center For Civic Education C. 2009
Levin, Yuval. The Great Debate: Edmund Burke, Thomas Paine, and the Birth of Right and Left. New York: Basic,
2013.
RECOMMENDED READING
Krieger, Larry. AP U.S. Government and Politics Crash Course. Piscataway, NJ: Research & Education Association,
2010. Print.

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AP Government & Politics

Kennedy High School

COURSE SYLLABUS

GENERAL COURSE OVERVIEW

Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics is a one-semester course designed to analyze the
American political system through both the framework of the Constitution, as developed by the
"Founding Fathers", and through the politically charged system that we find operating our government
today. A focus of this course, through current events, video clips, and supplemental readings, is on the
institutions and processes through which the political system operates and the public policy that is
adopted and implemented. AP Government students attempt to answer three main questions:
1.
2.
3.

Upon what historical precedents is public policy based?

How do people today influence policymaking?
What effect does public policy have on the people and the world?

COLLEGE CREDIT
This course is the equivalent of a college course and students are encouraged to prepare to take the AP Exam in
the Spring Semester (Tuesday, May 10, 2016, 8am). There are several advantages to taking the AP US Government
exam: foremost is the potential to earn college credit while still in high school. The exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes
in length. Half of the exam is a 45-minute, 60 question multiple-choice section. The other half of the exam is a 120minute essay section with four free-response questions. The A.P. U.S. Government exam is graded on a five-point
scale. Generally, most public universities award credit to students who earn a 3 or higher while many private
colleges require a score of 4 or higher. For example, a score of 3 or better will fulfill the American Institutions
requirement at UC Berkeley. However, since each school is free to set its own policy, students are advised to check
the policies of institutions they are interested in attending.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS & RIGOR

Mastery of content in this class requires participation in group and class discussions and activities, as well as
individual study and preparation. After being introduced to a particular topic, students will be expected to prepare
at home for in-class content application. This class is void of busy work; every assignment is given with the intent
of expanding understanding, developing cognitive skill sets, and preparing students for civic engagement. Extra
Credit opportunities will be rare in this class, so students should commit to consistently completing assignments
and preparing for assessments. Mastery of the course is assessed in the following ways

Assessments (MCQs/Final Exam)

20%

Projects (including class debates and debate prep)

20%

Writing (including FRQs)

20%

Classwork (including warm-ups)

20%

Homework (including Socratic Seminars & Video comments)

20%

FLIPPED CLASSROOM
Mr. Pauly uses the concept of flipping, wherein students access content at home, then use class time to discuss,
analyze, evaluate, and apply the content using debate, Socratic discussions, projects, and other methods. Students
in this class will access content from home primarily by two ways: the textbook and online video lectures (see:
http://mrpaulyapgopo.weebly.com).

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AP Government & Politics

Kennedy High School

COURSE SYLLABUS

To receive points for the Video Comments category (above), students must watch the weekly chapter videos and
submit 2+ relevant comments or questions BEFORE the day of the class discussion on the content of that video.
In addition, each weekend an online assignment will be open for the chapter we will discuss the
following week. Students will be required to submit responses using their turnitin.com. The window
will be open Friday by 4pm, and will close at midnight on Sunday.
QUIZ REDEMPTION
While chapter reading outlines are encouraged, they are not generally collected. If, however, a student scores
below 80% on a quiz, he/she may submit an outline for the chapter(s) that quiz covers to receive up to a 70% quiz
score. The outline must be stamped by Mr. Pauly to show that it was completed BEFORE the quiz was taken.
GRADING SCALE

A=90%+

D=60%+

B=80%+

F=59% or
below

C=70%+
All make-ups (including quizzes) must be completed within five days of an excused absence. Late assignments are
worth, at best, 50% of the original grade.
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
Students are expected to be respectful, courteous, and civil. The following are a few of the more notable
expectations students will follow:
1. Be in your seat and ready to begin work when the bell rings.
2. Treat others with respect at all times
3. Be on task, and offer help to others if you finish early (when appropriate)
4. Keep your electronic devices hidden and silent unless the instructor approves use.
5. Adhere to the JFK expectations of academic integrity.*
*Plagiarism: Any student found willfully plagiarizing will lose all credit for the assignment, and they will not
have the ability to make up those lost points. Plagiarizing twice will result in a failing grade for the semester.

COURSE EMPHASIS
Content Area

% of Course Emphasis

Time Spent on Period

1. Constitutional Underpinnings of United States

Government

5-15%

3 weeks

2. Political Beliefs and Behaviors

10-20%

1 week *

3. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media

10-20%

3 weeks

4. Institutions of Government: The Congress, the

Presidency, the Bureaucracy, and the Courts

35-45%

5 weeks

5. Public Policy

5-15%

3 weeks

6. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

5-15%

2 weeks

* This content area is also heavily emphasized throughout the course

UNIT INFORMATION/COURSE OBJECTIVES

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AP Government & Politics

Kennedy High School

COURSE SYLLABUS

Week

Topic

1
2 Sept

Introduction to U.S.
Government

2
8 Sept

Wilson 2
Formulation and adoption - U.S. Constitution
of the Constitution &
Theories of Democratic
Government

3
15 Sept

The Constitution and

Separation of Powers

4
22 Sept

Federalism

Reading
- Wilson 1
- Krieger Ch. 5

Activities
o
o
o
o
o

Course Intro
AP Exam MC and FRQ Dissection
Class Discussion: Government: Who Cares?
FRQ Rubric Creation
Read Roche, Beard, or Hofstadter for next wk

o Chapter Outline Modeling

o Discuss video lecture Philadelphia Phreedom
& Wilson Ch.2
o Socratic Seminar: Roche, Beard, and
Hofstadter articles
o Debate: We should elect the common man,
not elitists to office.
o Quiz Foundations

- Krieger Ch.3
- U.S. Constitution
Federalist 78
- Anti-Federalist 78-79

o
o
o
o

- Wilson 3
- Krieger Ch. 4
- Federalist Papers 47

o Watch film, Federalism

o Dissect FRQ on Constitution
o Socratic Seminar: Another Stab at the
Constitution (Room for Debate NYTimes)
o DB8 issues of federalism
o The federal government should leave
regulation of marijuana to the states.
o Jeopardy Part I
o Quiz Constitution /Federalism

& 51

- Wilson
4&5
Krieger 5,9

Dissect Quiz 1A
Constitution Project
Marbury V. Madison Case Analysis
FRQ The Constitution

5
29 Sept

Public Opinion & the

Media

6
6 Oct

Political Parties

- Wilson 7
- Krieger 7

o
o
o
o

7
13 Oct

Elections

- Wilson 8
- Krieger 6

o Dissect Quiz
o Discuss video lecture: Elections
o Project: Most Consequential Elections in
History
o FRQ Parties or Elections

8
20 Oct

Interest Groups

- Wilson 9
- Krieger 8

o
o
o
o
o

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o
o
o
o
o

Dissect Quiz
Discuss Video Lecture: Public Opinion & Media
Political Spectrum Activity
News Source Analysis Activity (Lab)
VIP Quiz (refer to VIP Government Officials
Study Guides)
o FRQ Federalism or Public Opinion/Media

Dissect FRQ
Discuss Video Lecture: Political Parties
Party Analysis
Socratic Seminar: How Big is the GOP Tent?
(NY Times Room for Debate)
o Quiz Public Opinion/Media/Parties

Dissect FRQ
Discuss video Lecture: Interest Groups
Socratic Seminar: Interest Groups
Jeopardy
Quiz- Elections & Interest Groups

AP Government & Politics

Kennedy High School
9
27 Oct

Congress

COURSE SYLLABUS
- Wilson 11
- Krieger 10

o
o
o
o

10
3 Nov

Dissect Quiz
Discuss Video Lecture: Congress
Research bills in computer lab/ ipads
Discuss bills in committee

o Floor debate on bills

o Floor vote on bills
o FRQ Interest Groups/Congress

11
10 Nov

The Presidency

- Wilson 12
- Krieger 11

o Dissect FRQ
o Discuss Ch. 12 & Video Lecture: The
Presidency
o Socratic Seminar: The Imperial Presidency
o Quiz Congress & Presidency

12
17 Nov

The Bureaucracy

- Wilson 13
- Kreiger 12

o
o
o
o

Discuss Video Lecture: The Bureaucracy

Better Know A Department Activity
Assign Mock Trial Roles
FRQ Presidency or Bureaucracy

Thanksgiving Holiday
13
1 Dec

The Judiciary

- Wilson 14
- Krieger 13

o
o
o
o

14
8 Dec

Public Policy: Economic

Policy

- Wilson 16
- Krieger 14

o
o
o
o

15
15 Dec

Public Policy: Social Policy - Wilson 17

Dissect FRQ
Discuss Video Lecture: The Bureaucracy
Mock Trial
Quiz Bureaucracy & Judiciary

Dissect Quiz
Discuss Video Lecture: Economic Policy
Doc Analysis: Keynes and Hayek
Debate: Keynsian v. Chicago Schools of
Economic Theory
o Debate: THB the Great Society yielded a net a
net benefit for America
o FRQ Judiciary or Economic Policy
o
o
o
o

Dissect FRQ
Discuss video lecture: Social & Energy policy
Socratic Seminar: Social Policy
Debates:
o THB the majority of American citizens
are better off because of Obamacare
o THB the primary focus of energy
policy should be to reduce
dependence upon foreign oil
o Quiz Economic & Social Policy

Winter Break
16
5 Jan

Public Policy: Foreign

Policy

- Wilson 20

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o Dissect Quiz
o Debates:
o THB the US should engage in nationbuilding
o THB the US should significantly cut its
Defense budget
o FRQ Social or Foreign Policy

AP Government & Politics

Kennedy High School
17
12 Jan

18
20 Jan

Civil Rights and Civil

Liberties: Speech, Press,
Assembly, and Religion

COURSE SYLLABUS
- Wilson 19
- Krieger 15 & 16

o
o
o
o

Dissect FRQ
Discuss Video lecture: Civil rights/liberties
Begin Supreme Court Case Analysis
Quiz Foreign Policy & 1st Amendment

o Review for AP Practice Exam

o Take AP Practice Exam (Day of the final)

FINALS WEEK

New Semester
19
26 Jan

Civil Rights and Civil

Liberties: Due Process &
Equal Protection

- Wilson 18
- Krieger 15 & 16

o Continue Supreme Court Case Analysis

o Case Decisions (delivered by the Justices
themselves)
o Quiz Due Process & Equal Protection (Points
will apply to Econ grade)

The following is a schedule of topics, assignments, and activities for the semester. Please refer to the calendar on
the class website for any updates/modifications.
Note: Several weeks throughout the second semester Economics class will be devoted to the continued study of
Government, including a week of California Government, a week of preparation and essay writing with the
Operation Protect and Defend organization, and review for the AP Government Exam.
A.P. U.S. Executive Summary
Please sign on the next page to confirm you understand. Students and parents understand that...

A.P. U.S. Government is as hard, or harder, than a college survey government class.
A.P. U.S. Government uses an actual college textbook.
Most students do not earn an A in an A.P. course.
Only students who are motivated, persistent, and take the initiative for their learning do well in A.P. classes.
Students will learn much more in an A.P. class than any regular class.
Students who take A.P. classes usually do much better in college.
The A.P. U.S. Government Exam will be given on May 10, 2016 and will cost approx. $87.
Students will have to complete an 8-page term paper.
Extensive outside research is necessary for the class.

Please sign and return the following page of the syllabus to Mr. Pauly
Student Information Record
Student Name: ___________________________________________________________________________
Student Email: ___________________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian(s) Names

Phone #

Email

In the space below, please provide any information about your child that might be pertinent to his/her educational
experience this year (i.e., physical or cognitive limitations, exceptional experiences or capabilities).

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AP Government & Politics

Kennedy High School

COURSE SYLLABUS

I have read, understood, and will abide by all of the provisions of the entire A.P. U.S. Government and Politics
syllabus, including the AP Executive Summary on the previous page.
_______________________________________________________________
Student Signature

_________________________________________
Date

_______________________________________________________________
Parent Signature

_________________________________________
Date

Communication Log (Teacher Use Only)

Date

Person Contacted

Notes

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