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AP U.S. Government and Politics
Syllabus
Course Plan
Text
James Q. Wilson, John J. Dilulio, Jr. American Government, 8th ed. Houghton Mifflin Company
2001.
Peter Woll, American Government Readings and Cases, 15th ed. Pearson
Longman 2004
Current events/articles and the Internet will
also be utilized throughout the course.
Description
This course will examine U.S. politics and how it influences our government system. This course will prepare students to take the national AP exam in May.
Students will be able to critically analyze all aspects to fully understand U.S. government and politics. This
course is taught at the college level; excellent note taking a reading skills are essential to success.
Grading
Grades are computed on a cumulative point basis. Each exam, quiz, and various assignments will be given a numeric value. The final grade will be equal by dividing total points by points earned.
Exams
There will be a total of 6 unit exams that will
consist of a multiple choice section and a free response section. Each exam will
be worth a total of 100 points. Unit 4: Institutions of the National Government will be divided up into three mini units with
quizzes over each then one cumulative exam over unit 4.
Chapter Quizzes
There will be a vocabulary quiz over each chapter
covered, and each will vary between 10 and 20 points.
Current Events
Each student is expected to keep up with current
events that pertain to our political system. Students will be selected to present
a current event article throughout the year for discussion and analysis. This
will be worth 25 points.
Free Response Questions
Free response questions will always be a part
of each exam, and count for half the exam grade. In addition to the exam, I will
assign free response questions throughout the course for critical analysis and understanding.
These questions will be worth 20 points.
Charts and Graphs
Charts and graphs will be used throughout the
course to exam and analyze data. These assignments will be worth 10 to 20 points
each.
Outside Readings
In this course I will assign readings with accompanying
questions from the Woll reader. These are assigned to gain further insight and
understanding over important topics. These will also earn points between 10 and
20 points.
Course Calendar
Constitutional Underpinnings
(CR1) 4 Weeks
Articles/Charts/
Reading
Lesson
Tables
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Syllabus and Constitution scavenger hunt |
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3-12 |
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Chapter
1 Study of American Govt.
Political power and legitimacy |
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3-5 |
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Democracy:Direct v.representative/Republic
Elite theories |
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6-12 |
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Debate: “Ban on Ballot Initiatives?” |
Accompanying article |
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John Locke Comparison |
Declaration of Ind./Second Treaties comparison
chart |
Woll:
3-10 |
|
Ch.
1 Vocabulary Quiz |
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|
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Chapter
2: The Constitution |
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17-46 |
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Weaknesses of The Articles |
Chart weaknesses and solutions |
17-24 |
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Constitutional Convention: Va and NJ plans |
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24-27 |
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Mason’s Objections |
Handout questions and discussion |
|
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Principles of the Constitution |
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28-30 |
|
Anti-Federalist v. Federalists and key issues:
Slavery, liberty, Federalist papers. |
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30-37 |
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Federalist # 51 |
Federalist 51: Questions and discussion. |
Woll: 44-46 |
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Motives of the Framers |
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38-40 |
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Formal and informal methods to amending the Constitution
& line item veto |
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41-44 |
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Chapter 2 Vocabulary Quiz
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Free Response Rubric Sample: |
Go over sample |
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Chapter
3 Federalism |
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49-76 |
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Government Structure: Unitary v Federal
Origins, elastic clause. McCulloch v. MD |
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49-56 |
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Federalism comparison: education and welfare benefits,
etc. |
Chart positives and negatives to federalism |
|
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Types of federalism: Dual, etc. & the 10th
Amendment.
Grants in aid system: Different types
State rivalries
Mandates: Unfunded, ADA
Devolution: Welfare (Block Grants) |
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57-76 |
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NCLB analysis |
Handout: Questions and Discussion (unfunded or
underfunded) |
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Chapter 3 Vocabulary Quiz |
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|
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Unit One Exam |
50 multiple Choice and 2 FRQs. |
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Unit 2 Political
Beliefs and Behaviors (CR2) 4 Weeks
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Chapter 4 Textbook |
|
79-100 |
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Political Culture: Common elements: de Toqueville.:
comparing with other nations |
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79-88 |
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Sources of political culture & the culture
war |
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88-92 |
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Mistrust of govt. and political efficacy, tolerance. |
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92-99 |
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Political efficacy chart (internal v external) |
Charts: summarize, analyze, discuss possible causes. |
|
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Charitable Choice |
Article: Charitable Choice
Debate; questions and discussion |
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Chapter 4 Vocabulary quiz
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Chapter
5 Public Opinion |
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103-127 |
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Public Opinion Origins |
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103-106 |
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Origins of Political Attitudes: Family, Religion,
Gender Gap, etc. (socialization) |
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106-112 |
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Cleavages in public opinion: social class, race,
etc. |
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112-118 |
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Polling report Internet assignment |
Use pollingreport.com to analyze polls, develop
political platform: |
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Political ideology: liberal v conservative |
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118-127 |
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Political ideology test |
Politicalcompass.org assignment; take test and
explain your ideology: explain both economic and social scale |
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Ideology Chart |
Create Chart showing differences between conservative
and liberal on key issues: taxes, etc. |
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Chapter 5 Vocabulary Quiz |
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Chapter
6 Political Participation |
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129-146 |
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Voter turnout: registered v voting age population,
motor voter bill |
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129-132 |
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Rise of the American Electorate: state to federal
control, literacy tests, poll tax, etc
Voter turnout, Australian ballot |
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132-136 |
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Forms and causes of participation: barriers to
voting: institutional, political, demographics |
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136-147 |
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Woll Reader |
Democratic Practice and Democratic Theory: Questions
and discussion |
Woll
207-213 |
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Debate |
Debate on mandatory voting: handout.
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Chapter 6 Vocabulary quiz |
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Unit 2 Exam |
Multiple choice and Free Response (100 points) |
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Unit 3 Political
Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media (CR 3) 6 weeks
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Chapter 7 Political Parties |
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149-177 |
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Functions and comparison with other countries |
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149-152 |
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The Rise and Decline of the Political Party |
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152-156 |
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Timeline: Create timeline showing different periods
of dominance |
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Organization: Party Structure today and weakening/decentralization,
political machine, the convention, ideological parties, the two party system: plurality |
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156-168 |
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Minor and Third Parties: Types, effect |
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168-172 |
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Nomination Process: delegates, primaries/caucus
and who participates |
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172-176 |
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Woll Reader |
Woll Article: Party Government: Questions and
discussion |
Woll
169-172 |
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Free Response Question: 3rd Parties |
Free Response Question 3rd Parties
(peer grade) |
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Chapter
8 Elections and Campaigns |
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179-214 |
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President v. Congress Campaigns, running for President,
money, strategy, primary v. general campaigns, campaign issues, kinds of elections, and primaries. |
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179-190 |
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Campaign Money, FECA, PACs, hard and soft money,
reform efforts, BCRA |
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191-199 |
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Research Project |
Opensecrets.org research assignment: examine campaign
finance: find examples of contributions (tracking the payback). Who gets what
and from where, etc. Ind. Exp, and 527s. |
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What decides the Election: Party affiliation,
issues (economy), prospective v retrospective voting, the campaign, election outcomes and critical realigning periods, party
decline, split ticket, v. straight. |
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199-214 |
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Electoral College Map: analysis 2000 election. |
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Vocabulary Quiz Chapter 8 |
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Chapter
9 Interest Groups |
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217-243 |
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Proliferation, Birth of Groups: Reasons for joining
and types of membership/types of groups. Different movements, |
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217-228 |
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Funds for Interest Groups: federal and foundation
grants, bias questions, methods of interest groups: information/ lobby, public support, money and PACs, litigation, etc.
Revolving door |
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229-239 |
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Regulating Interest Groups: registration and reporting |
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240-243 |
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Interest Group Research |
Internet Activity: research assigned different
groups: report out: membership, type, tools used, etc. |
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Chapter 9 Vocabulary Quiz |
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Chapter
10: The Media |
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245-270 |
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Background/history, structure & rules governing
media. |
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245-258 |
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The Effects of Media on Politics, selective attention,
prominence of the President, coverage of Congress, interpreting political news, bias of media?, sensationalism. |
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259-271 |
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Chapter 10 Vocabulary Quiz |
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Unit 3 Exam |
50 Multiple Choice and 2 Free Response Questions |
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Unit 4 Institutions
of National Government (CR4) 7 weeks
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Chapter 11 Congress |
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275-326 |
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Evolution of Congress, Comparison with Parliament,
Powers, Phases of the House, Evolution of the Senate |
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275-284 |
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Membership in Congress, incumbency advantage,
getting elected in Congress, apportionment, gerrymandering, qualifications of Congress |
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284-294 |
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Chart: Incumbency Advantage: summarize, discussion—reasons
why? |
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Influences on ways members vote: representational
view, attitudinal, etc. Organization of Congress: leadership in House and Senate, Party unity, caucuses. |
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295-306 |
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Committees in Congress: types—standing,
select, rules, etc. Organization of Congress: Staff and Special Offices: CBO,
GAO, etc |
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306-311 |
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How a bill becomes a law: process, public and
private bills, multiple referrals, discharge petitions, calendars, floor debate, methods of voting. |
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311-318 |
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Chart: create flow chart of bill process |
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How come we love our congressmen so much? Questions
and discussion. |
Woll
383-390 |
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Mock Congress: Write bill and simulate bill process—include
roles of congressional committees. |
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Reforming Congress: pork barrel, franking privilege,
ethics in Congress |
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318-326 |
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Internet assignment: Pork barrel comparison state
by state. |
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Free Response: House and Senate comparison (peer
review) |
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Debate: term limits |
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Vocabulary Quiz Chapter 11 |
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Chapter
12: The Presidency |
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333-371 |
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President and PM comparison, divided government
(gridlock), Evolution of the Presidency, the first presidents, Electoral College, re-emergence of Congress, Formal and Informal
powers of Congress, qualifications, EOP and White House Office. |
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333-348 |
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Cabinet and Agencies, appointment process, character,
popularity and influence, veto power, line item veto, executive privilege, and agreements, Impoundment Act, War Powers Act,
Succession, Role of VP, Impeachment. |
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349-371 |
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Presidential Power |
Woll
280 |
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Free Response: Informal and Formal Powers (peer
review) |
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Vocabulary Quiz Chapter 12 |
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Chapter 13 : The Bureaucracy |
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375-400 |
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Distinctive Character of U.S. Bureaucracy, Growth of Bureaucracy, Appointment of Officials: Spoils System,
Merit System (Pendleton Act), OPM, Service v. Regulatory, Discretionary Authority,
Buddy System, firing a bureaucrat, Hatch Act.
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375-389 |
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Constraints: Freedom Information Act, Iron Triangles,
Issue Networks, Congressional Oversight Methods. Reforming the Bureaucracy |
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389-400 |
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Internet Assignment: Look up agencies: Describe
role, type of agency, etc. |
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Ch.
13 Vocabulary Quiz
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Ch 14 The Judiciary |
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403-413 |
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Federalist 78 |
Woll 409 |
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Development of the Federal Courts
Strict Construction, Marbury v. Madison: Judicial Review, Economic stance, liberty. |
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403-410 |
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Structure of the Federal Courts, Constitutional
Courts: 3 levels, Legislative Courts, Selection of Judges: Senatorial Courtesy, litmus test, Jurisdiction, Types of law, Hearing
Appeals, Getting to Court: Standing, Writ of Certiorari, Class Action. |
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411-420 |
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How S.C. works, process, amicus curiae, types
of opinions, policymaking power, stare decisis, political questions, Judicial Activism & Restraint, Checks on judicial
power, public opinion and the Court. |
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420-431 |
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How S.C. arrives at decisions |
Woll
428-435 |
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Chapter
14 Vocabulary Quiz |
Ch.
14 Vocab Quiz |
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Unit 4
Exam |
50 Multiple Choice, 2 Free Response Questions |
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Unit 5 Public Policy
(CR 5) 4 weeks
Lesson/Topic
Articles/Charts
Reading
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Chapter 15: The Politics of Public
Policy (process) Setting the agenda, Cost/benefit, Majoritarian, Client, Interest group, Entrepreneurial, etc. |
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435-446 |
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Case of Business Regulation, perceptions, beliefs,
etc., Deregulation, subsidies |
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446-456 |
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Chapter
15 Vocabulary Quiz |
Ch 15 Vocab quiz |
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Chapter
16: Economic Policy: Politics of economic policy, politics of taxing and spending, Monetary policy, Keynesianism, Planning,
Supply-Side Tax cuts (Reaqanomics), Fiscal policy, deficit, debt. |
Government Spending Graph: Summarize and explain
trends
Federal Surpluses and Deficits Graph: Summarize
and explain. |
459-466 |
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The Federal Reserve Board: Tools used, OMO, Interest
Rate, Reserve Ratio, Organization, role of Congress |
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466-469 |
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The Budget, budget resolution, entitlements, 1974
Congressional Budget Act, Gramm-Rudman Act, Levying Taxes, Income tax, Progressive/regressive, rise of income tax. |
Progressive tax debate
Sources of Federal Revenue Pie Chart: analyze |
469-477 |
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FRQ: Budget Barriers: Pie Graph |
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Chapter
16 Vocabulary Quiz |
Ch 16 Vocab quiz |
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Chapter
17 Social Welfare: Client oriented/ Client based (AFDC)
Social Security, Medicare, Food stamps
Major Social Welfare Programs: Majoritarian Welfare
programs: insurance program/assistance program, means test FDR (Social Security Act), Reforming welfare programs |
Social Security Chart: Compare funds in vs. used
and projected problems. |
470-487 |
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AFDC, Earned Income Tax Credit, |
Public Views on Reforming Social Security:
Examine and discussion |
487-493 |
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Ch 17
Vocabulary Quiz |
Ch 17 Vocab Quiz |
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Chapter
20 Foreign Policy: Foreign and Military Policy: Kinds of foreign policy (affecting factors), Constitutional context (Commander
in Chief v. Congress declaration of War) War Powers Act, Evaluating the Power of the President, Checks on presidential power. |
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553-560 |
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Machinery of Foreign Policy, Cabinet, CIA, Foreign
Service, NSC, etc, Foreign policy and public opinion, War on Terror, Iron Curtain/cold war (affect on presidential power),
World views (containment, isolationism), domino theory, diplomacy, embargo, military force, etc. |
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560-572 |
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Defense budget: total spending, weapon systems,
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572-578 |
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Chapter
20 Vocabulary Quiz |
Ch 20 Vocab Quiz |
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Chapter
21 Environmental Policy: EPA, Major Federal Environmental Laws—various clean air/water acts, etc, Global warming,
Pollution from automobiles, EIS, NEPA, Agricultural pesticides, Costs and benefits, affect on business |
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578-598 |
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Vocabulary Quiz Ch 21 |
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Unit 5
Exam |
50 MC and 2 FRQ (Cumulative) |
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Unit 6 Civil Liberties/Civil
Rights (CR 6) 4 weeks
Lesson/Topic
Articles/Charts Reading
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Chapter 18 Civil Liberties: Rights
in conflict, Policy entrepreneurs: Affect of wartime, Sedition Acts, Smith Act, McCarthyism, Cultural Conflicts, and Immigration.
Bill of Rights, All areas of Civil liberties (BOR, Const, Courts, etc.) |
Annual Immigration Chart: Examine/interpret.
Changing composition: Pie Chart |
495-500 |
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Interpreting & apply 1st Amendment:
freedom of expression, Speech and national security, prior restraint, Schenck
case and Clear and Present Danger,
14th
Amendment: Due Process Clause, Equal Protection, (Gitlow), Libel, Obscenity, etc. Testing Restrictions on Expression,
Symbolic Speech: |
Extremes in speech cases: Present (small group) |
500-508 |
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Texas
v. Johnson Case: Read/discussion questions/
Debate |
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Church
and State: Free exercise and establishment clause, Wall of Separation, Engle v. Vitale/ Everson cases, Lemon test, three
part test. |
Freedom of religion cases: read and present both
sides of case (small group).
Establishment cases: Read/discussion questions
Woll: Engel v. Vitale |
508-511
136-142 |
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Criminal rights and due process: substantive v.
procedural, Unreasonable search and seizure, Mapp case, exclusionary rule, search warrant, probable cause, self incrimination
(Miranda), relaxing the exclusionary rule, good faith exception, right to counsel (Gideon), use of 14th Amendment
to incorporate. Terrorism and Civil liberties. |
Woll: Gideon v. Wainwright |
511-517
108-113 |
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Ch 18
Vocabulary Quiz |
Ch 18 vocabulary and BOR quiz |
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Chapter
19: Civil Rights: Suspect classifications, reasonableness standard, African American predicament, Jim Crow laws, 14th
Amendment (use of courts), equal protection clause, separate but equal: Plessy case, Role of NAACP, Brown v Board, de jure
v. de facto segregation |
Chart: Chronology of Major events in Civil Rights
Movement:
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521-532 |
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Campaign in Congress, MLK, non-violent civil disobedience,
Voting Acts, literacy tests, housing, discrimination, etc. |
Key provisions of major Civil Rights Laws: Make
table. |
532-537 |
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Women and Equal Rights, ERA, reasonableness standard,
strict scrutiny, illegal discrimination, allowable differences, sexual harassment, Constitutional position of abortion |
Woll: Roe
v. Wade read and answer questions. |
537-540
146-154 |
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Affirmative Action, equality of results, equality
of opportunity, reverse discrimination, Bakke case |
Woll: Adarand: questions |
541-542
156-160 |
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Becoming a citizen: Rights of Aliens, Disabled-ADA,
Age discrimination, Gay rights, Don’t ask, don’t tell, original intent, |
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542-549 |
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Ch 19 Vocabulary Quiz |
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FRQ: Civil liberties FRQ |
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Unit 6
Exam |
50 Multiple Choice, 2 FRQ (cumulative) |
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Review for National
Exam (CR9) 3 weeks
- In
class review: Go over key concepts, cases, legislation from each unit. There
will be a quiz over each unit review.
- Practice
free response questions (two each week—in class)
- Practice
AP Multiple Choice Exams (one practice and one final exam).
Final Exam:
200 points
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