The Course
An AP course in U.S. Government and Politics will give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. politics. Students will become acquainted with the variety of theoretical perspectives and explanations for various behaviors and outcomes.
Goals
Students successfully completing this course will:
- know important facts, concepts, and theories pertaining to U.S. government and politics
- understand typical patterns of political processes and behavior and their consequences (including the components of political behavior, the principles used to explain or justify various government structures and procedures, and the political effects of these structures and procedures)
- be able to analyze and interpret basic data relevant to U.S. government and politics
Topics/ Curriculum Outline
- Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government
The study of modern politics in the United States requires students to examine the kind of government established by the Constitution, paying particular attention to federalism and the separation of powers.
- Political Beliefs and Behaviors
Individual citizens hold a variety of beliefs about their government, its leaders, and the U.S. political system in general; taken together, these beliefs form the foundation of U.S. political culture. Students will understand how these beliefs are formed, how they evolve, and the processes by which they are transmitted.
- Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media
Students will understand the mechanisms that allow citizens to organize and communicate their interests and concerns. Among these are political parties, elections, political action committees (PACs), interest groups, and the mass media Students should examine the historical evolution of the U.S. party system, the functions and structures of political parties, and the effects they have on the political process.
- Institutions of National Government
Students will become familiar with the organization and powers, both formal and informal, of the major political institutions in the United States— the Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the federal courts.
- Public Policy
Public policy is the result of interactions and dynamics among actors, interests, institutions, and processes. The formation of policy agendas, the enactment of public policies by Congress and the president, and the implementation and interpretation of policies by the bureaucracy and the courts are all stages in the policy process with which students should be familiar.
- Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
An understanding of United States politics includes the study of the development of individual rights and liberties and their impact on citizens. Basic to this study is an analysis of the workings of the United States Supreme Court and familiarity with its most significant decisions.
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Download the full AP Course Catalog and Criteria (.doc)
* Denotes college credit granted via the St. John's College Extension Program.
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