Welcome to AP United States Government!
This is going to be a fantastic semester!
You're juniors and seniors now, and although you've taken a lot of classes, few are as important as United States Government! You are among the privileged few who count themselves as citizens of the United States of America. There are lots of perks, but you also have some pretty important responsibilities.
Being an American is not a spectator sport! Our system of government only works when we understand our republic, learn about past and present political issues, and vote!
So brace yourselves, because we are going to cover a vast amount of material over the next semester! By the time we're done, you'll be armed with the knowledge and information needed to be an asset to your country, and a participating member of this awesome experiment known as the American Republic!
This is going to be a fantastic semester!
You're juniors and seniors now, and although you've taken a lot of classes, few are as important as United States Government! You are among the privileged few who count themselves as citizens of the United States of America. There are lots of perks, but you also have some pretty important responsibilities.
Being an American is not a spectator sport! Our system of government only works when we understand our republic, learn about past and present political issues, and vote!
So brace yourselves, because we are going to cover a vast amount of material over the next semester! By the time we're done, you'll be armed with the knowledge and information needed to be an asset to your country, and a participating member of this awesome experiment known as the American Republic!
Remember AP classes are designed to be taught at the college level, which means you will be responsible for keeping track of assignments, readings and due dates. Students will receive a tentative pacing guide the first week of class, which is also posted here; however, all dates are subject to (and most definitely will) change. Please go to the Resource and Document Page of this site to download the syllabus and course schedule.
Be sure to check the board daily for any changes in test dates or due dates. The website is never as current as the classroom whiteboard, which is updated daily. If you are absent, please email me and ask for any changes.
Please note: All tests will be cumulative! Take strong notes & keep building on what you learn!
I will supply all students with the most current edition of the Baron's Guide for AP US Government at the end of the course, so they can better prepare for the AP Exam in May!
Check out these links:
These articles are not required until/unless they are assigned.
Campaigns & Elections:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/08/06/upshot/100000003839408.mobile.html?smid=nytnow-share&smprod=nytnow&abt=0002&abg=1
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-campaign-heats-up-republican-candidates-are-rushing-to-the-right/2015/08/07/d42acacc-3d2c-11e5-b3ac-8a79bc44e5e2_story.html?hpid=z1
http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/08/11/429781692/where-presidential-candidates-stand-on-climate-change?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20150811
US Economic Policy Views:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/making-sense/economic-theory-science-scam/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=pbsofficial&utm_campaign=newshour
Domestic Policy:
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/07/12/the-politics-and-demographics-of-food-stamp-recipients/
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/caused-dramatic-tipping-point-deadly-shootings/
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/08/10/us/politics/hillary-clinton-to-offer-plan-on-paying-college-tuition-without-needing-loans.html?referrer=&_r=1
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/magazine/the-bail-trap.html?referrer=&_r=1
Foreign Policy Views:
Middle Eastern Interventions
http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/08/25/341892606/america-s-middle-east-scorecard-many-interventions-few-successes?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140825
Political Poll Example (Jeff Miller)
https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/EsurveyForm.aspx?__cid=FL01JM&__sid=100011&__crop=13928.5621800.5339103.1021347iz:
Political Leanings Quiz:
http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz/quiz.php
Gerrymandering:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/06/29/one-mind-blowing-chart-shows-why-the-supreme-court-took-on-gerrymandering/
Interest Groups:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/government-elections-politics/gunned-down/how-loaded-is-the-gun-lobby/
The Media:
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/decline-of-tv-ads-not-in-2016-120611.html?hp=rc3_4
Polls:
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/22/14-striking-findings-from-2014/
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/30/u-s-border-apprehensions-of-mexicans-fall-to-historic-lows/
Be sure to check the board daily for any changes in test dates or due dates. The website is never as current as the classroom whiteboard, which is updated daily. If you are absent, please email me and ask for any changes.
Please note: All tests will be cumulative! Take strong notes & keep building on what you learn!
I will supply all students with the most current edition of the Baron's Guide for AP US Government at the end of the course, so they can better prepare for the AP Exam in May!
Check out these links:
- Read the following article about political polarization in the U.S. :
- http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/06/12/7-things-to-know-about-polarization-in-america/ (you will have to copy the link & paste it to your browser!)
- Read: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/political-parties-go-after-million-dollar-donors-in-wake-of-looser-rules/2015/09/19/728b43fe-5ede-11e5-8e9e-dce8a2a2a679_story.html
- On Recount Movie:
- Read: http://www.tampabay.com/features/media/florida-election-debacle-movie-recount-irritates-both-sides/52195
- www.annenburgclassroom.org (videos for Mapp v Ohio & Miranda v Arizona)
These articles are not required until/unless they are assigned.
Campaigns & Elections:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/08/06/upshot/100000003839408.mobile.html?smid=nytnow-share&smprod=nytnow&abt=0002&abg=1
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-campaign-heats-up-republican-candidates-are-rushing-to-the-right/2015/08/07/d42acacc-3d2c-11e5-b3ac-8a79bc44e5e2_story.html?hpid=z1
http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/08/11/429781692/where-presidential-candidates-stand-on-climate-change?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20150811
US Economic Policy Views:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/making-sense/economic-theory-science-scam/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=pbsofficial&utm_campaign=newshour
Domestic Policy:
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/07/12/the-politics-and-demographics-of-food-stamp-recipients/
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/caused-dramatic-tipping-point-deadly-shootings/
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/08/10/us/politics/hillary-clinton-to-offer-plan-on-paying-college-tuition-without-needing-loans.html?referrer=&_r=1
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/magazine/the-bail-trap.html?referrer=&_r=1
Foreign Policy Views:
Middle Eastern Interventions
http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/08/25/341892606/america-s-middle-east-scorecard-many-interventions-few-successes?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140825
Political Poll Example (Jeff Miller)
https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/EsurveyForm.aspx?__cid=FL01JM&__sid=100011&__crop=13928.5621800.5339103.1021347iz:
Political Leanings Quiz:
http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz/quiz.php
Gerrymandering:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/06/29/one-mind-blowing-chart-shows-why-the-supreme-court-took-on-gerrymandering/
Interest Groups:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/government-elections-politics/gunned-down/how-loaded-is-the-gun-lobby/
The Media:
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/decline-of-tv-ads-not-in-2016-120611.html?hp=rc3_4
Polls:
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/22/14-striking-findings-from-2014/
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/30/u-s-border-apprehensions-of-mexicans-fall-to-historic-lows/