AP U.S.

Government and Politics

Mr. Rexford
Room 208
drexford@lcisd.org
AP Government Website: apgovrexford.weebly.com
Advanced Placement US Government and politics will give students an analytical
perspective on government and politics in the United States.
The course includes both the studies of general concepts used to interpret US
politics and the analysis of specific contemporary examples. It also requires
students to familiarize themselves with the various institutions, groups, beliefs,
and ideas that constitute our political system.

You are required to read the

textbook. You will be tested on
everything in the textbook even if it
is not covered in class.
We will do our best to cover each unit completely. Remember time is short and we
will keep moving. We will not slow down.
Unit One: Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government 5-15%
Considerations that influenced the formulation and adoption of the
Constitution
Separation of powers
Federalism
Theories of Democratic government
Unit Two: Political Beliefs and Behaviors 10-20%

Beliefs that citizens hold about their government and its leaders.
Processes by which citizens learn about politics.
The nature, sources, and consequences of public opinion.
The ways in which citizens vote and otherwise participate in political life.
Factors that influence citizens to differ from one another in terms of
political beliefs and behaviors.

Unit Three: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media 10-20%
A. Political

Parties
Functions
Organization
Development
Effects on the political processes
Electoral laws and systems

B. Interests

groups, including political action committees (PACs)

The range of interests represented
The activities of interest groups
The effects of interest groups on the political process
The unique characteristics and roles of PACs in the political process

C. The mass media

The functions and structures of the media
The impacts of media on politics
Unit Four: Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, the
Bureaucracy, and the Federal Courts 35-45%
The major formal and informal institutional arrangements of power.
Relationships among these four institutions, and varying balances of
power.
Linkages between institutions and the following:
1. Public opinion and voters
2. Interest groups
3. Political parties.
4. The media
5. Sub-national governments
Unit Five: Public Policy 5-15%
Policy making in a federal system
The formation of policy agendas.
The role of institutions in the enactment of policy implementation and
interpretation.
The role of bureaucracy and the courts in policy implementation and
interpretations.
Linkages between policy processes and the following:
1. Political institutions
2. Political parties
3. Interest groups
4. Elections

55 Policy networks

Unit Six: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 5-15%

The development of civil liberties and civil rights by judicial
interpretation
Knowledge of substantive rights and liberties
The impact of the Fourteenth Amendment on the constitutional
development of rights and liberties
Because this course is the equivalent of a college course, and in order for students
to perform well on the AP national exam, students must meet the high
expectations for the course and share the responsibility for mastery of the course
objectives.

This involves careful reading of the

textbook, class participation,
cooperation, and collaboration, as
well as the knowledge and
application of current examples of
contemporary American politics.
In order to be successful in a course of this type, students need to maximize their
time, though proper organization and time management skills to complete all
assigned reading prior to class discussion.
Tutorials: Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. If you need another time, make
the necessary arrangements with me.

Grading Policy:

Daily grades: 30% At my discretion, there will be quizzes, homework,

chapter study guides, and free-response question practice, etc.

Major grades: 70% Tests, projects, etc. The test will cover the textbook,
class activity and required readings.

Late work: Late work is defined as any assignment that is not turned in
during the students scheduled class period, at the time that I designate.

I will specify, in advance, the time during the period that an assignment is
due. If an assignment is turned in after that time, it is considered late.
Materials: Notebook (no composition notebooks), paper, pens (black or blue) or
pencils. Keep all of your graded material.

Rules:
1. Every assignment turned in must include your full name, period and date.
Failure to include all three, five points will be deducted.
2. No cell phones,
3. No ear buds.
4. No food.
5. Only water may be in the class.
6. Tardy policy is enforced.
7. Late work policy is enforced.
8. No extra credit will be given.
9. If you fail an exam, you will be allowed to retake the exam.

How to do well in my class:

1.
2.
3.

Ask questions!
Use my website: apgovrexford.weebly.com

The textbook website has many ways for you to interact with the textbook.
Explore the website.

4.

Turn in complete neatly done work. Sloppy work will be returned for you to
redo the assignment.

5. STUDY!!!!!!

Studying only the night before the test, usually

results in failure. You must study for at least twenty minutes every day. If you
do not have a specific assignment, you should study your textbook. Vocabulary
terms are very important. We usually at least a chapter a week.

6. Buy this book: Barron's AP U.S.

Government and Politics
.
Online Textbook: Government in America by Edwards and Wattenberg. 16th Edition