AP United States Government and Politics
Mrs. Hecht
Summer Assignment
Click here for the Assignment.
Click here for the We the People Textbook. (You must be signed into your Henrico County Google Account)
State Hearing Questions 2015-2016
Course Overview
The purpose of this one-year course is to prepare students to take the AP Exam for U.S. Government and Politics, as well as inspire students to become well informed active citizens. This requires a substantial amount of reading and preparation for every class as it is taught as a college course. the objectives of this course go beyond a basic analysis of how our government "works." Students will develop a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the American political system, as well as their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
Course Outline
The AP Government and Politics curriculum as defined by the College Board is comprised of the following units:
Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings of the U.S. Government (5-15%)
Unit 2: Political Beliefs and Behaviors (10-20%)
Unit 3: Political Parties, Interest Groups and the Mass Media (10-20%)
Unit 4: Institutions of National Government - Congress, Presidency, Bureaucracy, and Federal Courts (35-45%)
Unit 5: Public Policy (5-15%)
Unit 6: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (5-15%)
Course Goals
Students successfully completing this course will:
The purpose of this one-year course is to prepare students to take the AP Exam for U.S. Government and Politics, as well as inspire students to become well informed active citizens. This requires a substantial amount of reading and preparation for every class as it is taught as a college course. the objectives of this course go beyond a basic analysis of how our government "works." Students will develop a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the American political system, as well as their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
Course Outline
The AP Government and Politics curriculum as defined by the College Board is comprised of the following units:
Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings of the U.S. Government (5-15%)
Unit 2: Political Beliefs and Behaviors (10-20%)
Unit 3: Political Parties, Interest Groups and the Mass Media (10-20%)
Unit 4: Institutions of National Government - Congress, Presidency, Bureaucracy, and Federal Courts (35-45%)
Unit 5: Public Policy (5-15%)
Unit 6: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (5-15%)
Course 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.
- Be able to explain the ways different individuals and institutions compete and work together in order to formulate government policy.
- Make sound predictions for future outcomes based on data.