AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Mr. Allaire - Room 236 - rallaire@cvs.k12.mi.us
Welcome to Mr. Allaire's AP United States Government and Politics for the 2022-2023 school year.
This course will be an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. It includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. government and politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs and ideas that constitute U.S. government and politics.
Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy
In this unit, we will study the origins of the United States' system of government with a special emphasis on the core principles of the structure of our government. We will discuss fundamental elements of the Constitution, such as Federalism, the Separation of Powers, and Checks & Balances.
KEY TOPICS TO UNDERSTAND (Unit 1): What is the purpose of government? What are the considerations that influenced the formation and adoption of the Constitution? Separation of Powers, Checks & Balances; Federalism; democratic theory, Republicanism (representative democracy), Pluralist theory; Majoritarianism; Elitist Theory; the Declaration of Independence; Social Contract Theory; Articles of Confederation; the Federalist Papers; Virginia Plan; New Jersey Plan; Great Compromise; the Bill of Rights; Madison's concerns about factions; Enumerated Powers; Implied powers; Necessary and Proper Clause; Supremacy Clause.
Unit 2: Interaction Among Branches of Government
In this unit, we will study the three branches of American Government: Legislative, Executive and Judicial. In addition, we will cover the bureaucracy working behind the scenes of these branches.
KEY TOPICS TO UNDERSTAND (Unit 2): Congress (Legislative Branch), The Presidency (Executive Branch), The Courts (Judicial Branch), House and Senate + Rules, Dual Court System, Supreme Court, Federal Bureaucracy, Republicanism (Representative Democracy), Presidential Powers, Cabinet, Veto, Filibuster, Congressional Committees, Policymaking, Precedents,
Unit 3 - Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
In this unit, we will will study how the Constitution (and especially the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment) are used to assert the rights of citizens and protect groups from discrimination. Our court system is charged with balancing the desire for social order with the protection of individual rights and freedoms.
KEY TOPICS TO UNDERSTAND (Unit 3): US Constitution, Bill of Rights, Supreme Court, Judicial Policymaking,
Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs
In this unit, we will study how American citizen's beliefs about government, politics and the individual's role in the the political system influence the creation of public policies. Core beliefs about government center around different interpretations and applications of political values such as individualism, the rule of law, limited government and equality of opportunity.
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KEY TOPICS TO UNDERSTAND (Unit 4): Political Ideologies, Political Spectrum, The role of government, Political Socialization
Unit 5: Political Participation
In this unit, we will study how governing is achieved directly through citizen participation and indirectly through institutions including political parties, interest groups and the media. These institutions inform, organize and mobilize support to influence government and politics.
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KEY TOPICS TO UNDERSTAND (Unit 5): American Political parties, Interest Groups, Media and it's evolution, Partisanship