AP Government and Politics

Please review the following expectations, and syllabus.
Here is the link to sign off that you have read the Expectations and Syllabus.
This is worth 5 points.

Welcome to Government

Contact Info:
AP US Government and Politics
Instructor: Luke Smith
luke.smith@bend.k12.or.us

Dear Student,

Welcome to AP Government.  Please read over these expectations and the syllabus, and follow the link to 'sign-off' that you and your parent guardian have read them.  If you don't have easy access to internet, no problem.  I've got a few hard copies.

The goal of the class is to give you an equivalence of a College Freshman Class in government and Politics.

The course of Study is listed in the Syllabus.

Following is a list of class policies and expectations for all students. Your first assignment is to review the ‘syllabus’ and ‘policies and expectations’ with your parents.

When you are done, sign the googleform indicating that you have read them(or turn in your hard copy).

I’m looking forward to the school year. If either you (the student) or your parents have any questions, please do not hesitate to email.

EXPECTATIONS:

Attendance. Attendance is required. Students with unexcused absences will not be allowed to make up work.

Tardiness. A student is tardy if they are not in their seat, ready to work, when the bell rings.

Behavior: The classroom is a professional environment. Students are expected to be prompt, to participate, and to be polite and respectful towards each other and towards the teacher.

Class Materials: Just be prepared to read, write, talk.


Late Policy: Late work is not acceptable. Missed tests will be made up as quickly as possible during tutorial period or lunch.

Cheating and Plagiarism: The penalty for cheating or plagiarism is that the work will be marked as a zero. I will also contact the parent or guardian and request a conference.

Electronics Policy: With new iPad's coming in, obviously we will be using some technology.  The policy is as follows -- we will use appropriate technology for school activities.  General social / distracting use of phones/ iPads / computers etc.  will be dealt with appropriately.  Phones and mp3 players will be collected on the spot.  Keeping until lunch, the next day, or a parent conference are the likely outcomes.

Thank you,


Luke Smith___________________________________________

AP US Government
Syllabus

Texts:
The course uses the following texts.

Textbook:
Government in America (Edwards/ Wattenberg/Lineberry)

Primary Source collections:
Readings in American Government (Woll)

Current Events:
NY Times Online
Bend Bulletin
Etc.

Daily instruction:
Note taking techniques/ study techniques/ group discussion.
Lecture Discussion on Material (narrated power points available online)
Discussion of Current events
Instruction in analysis of graphs, charts and political cartoons from our textbook.
Assessment (objective multiple choice, subjective FRQ questions)
Review of assessments for better understanding of test taking techniques

Assessment:
Each UNIT has approximately 20 questions per chapter. So, for example Unit ONE is chapters 1,2 and 3, and has a 60 question quiz.  Test corrections for score improvement will be an option.
Each Unit will have one formal writing assignment (this could be small, the value and scope of these will grow over the course of the year)
Each Unit will have smaller interim/formative assessments to teach and assess skills related to the Oregon Government Curriculum Standards, and Common Core Standards for Reading and Writing.
We will take several FULL practice AP Tests over the course of the year.  They will be graded.

Other Assessment includes practice in analyzing and interpreting data and other information relevant to U.S. government and politics, providing questions similar to those found on the AP US government and politics exam. These include assessment of students ability to read graphs, and charts, and political cartoons. Also, students will demonstrate an ability to relate primary source documents to contemporary political questions.


Grading
Tests are the bulk of the grade, and represent about 50% of the grade.  Thorough preparation and credit for test corrections should take any fear out of this.

Writing:  Instruction in delivering logical reasonable written responses will be developed.  But just as much or more of our work will be in preparing you to deliver the material for the AP Test for best results.  Approximately 1/4 of the grade.

Other : Projects, presentations, activities.
Approximately 1/4 of the grade.

Chapters and pacing
I Constitutional Underpinnings (5-15%)
4 Weeks

Lineberry 1. Introducing Government in America.
Woll CH 1
• John Locke, Second Treatise, Of Civil Government.
• John P. Roche, The Founding Fathers: A Reform Caucus in Action.


Lineberry 2. The Constitution.
Woll CH 2
• Charles A. Beard, Framing the Constitution.
• James Madison, Federalist 47, 48, 51.
• Laurence H. Tribe and Michael C. Dorf, How Not to Read the Constitution.
• Levine Chapter 1


Lineberry 3. Federalism.
Woll – 2
• Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 16, 17.
• James Madison, Federalist 44.
• James Madison, Federalist 39.
• James Bryce, The Merits of the Federal System.
• McCulloch v. Maryland, 4 Wheaton 316 (1819).
• United States v. Morrison (2000).
• Morton Grodzins, The Federal System.
• David Broder, A Republic Subverted.


II Political Beliefs/Political Behaviors (10-20%)
4 Weeks

Lineberry 6. Public Opinion and Political Action.


Lineberry 9. Nominations and Campaigns.

Lineberry 10. Elections and Voting Behavior.

Woll – 4
• David R. Mayhew, Divided We Govern.
• V.O. Key, Jr., A Theory of Critical Elections.
• Benjamin Ginsberg and Martin Shefter, Politics by Other Means.
• Bernard R. Berelson, Paul F. Lazarsfeld, and William N. McPhee, Democratic Practice and Democratic Theory.
• V.O. Key, Jr., The Responsible Electorate.
• Buckley V. Vaelo 263 424 U.S. (1976).
• Federal Election Commission v. Colorado Republican Federal Campagin Committee (Colorado II).
• Senator Mitch McConnell, et al. v. Federal Election Commission.
• Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein, Myths and Realities about the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.

III Political Parties, Interest Groups, Media (10-20%)
5 Weeks

Lineberry 8. Political Parties.
Woll – 4
• James Madison, Federalist 10.
• E. E. Schattschneider, Party Government.
• California Democratic Party et al. V. Jones, Secretary of State of California, et al. Supreme Court of the United States (2000).
• Report of the Committee of Political Parties, American Political Science Association, Toward a More Responsible Two Party System.
• Martin P. Wattenberg, Perspectives on American Political Parties.



Lineberry 11. Interest Groups.

Woll – 5
• Jeffrey M. Berry, Madison's Dilemma.
• David B. Truman, The Governmental Process.
• Theodore J. Lowi, The End of Liberalism: The Indictment.
• Mark J. Rozell and Clyde Wilcox, Interest Groups and the American Political System.
• Larry J. Sabato, The Misplaced Obsession with PACs.

Lineberry 7. The Mass Media and the Political Agenda.


IV Institutions: Congress, the presidency, bureaucracy, federal Courts (35-45%)
8 Weeks

Lineberry 12. Congress.

Woll – 8
• James Madison, Federalist 53, 56, 57, 58, 62, 63.
• Morris P. Fiorina, The Rise of the Washington Establishment.
• Lawrence C. Dodd, Congress and the Quest for Power.
• Timothy E. Cook, Media Power and Congressional Power.
• Edmund Burke, Speech to the Electors of Bristol.
• Richard F. Fenno, Jr., If, As Ralph Nader Says, Congress Is “The Broken Branch,” How Come We Love Our Congressmen So Much?.
• Nelson W. Polsby, Congress-Bashing for Beginners.
• David R. Mayhew, Congress: The Electoral Connection.
• Richard F. Fenno, Jr., Home Style and Washington Career.


Lineberry 13. The Presidency.
Woll – 6
• Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 70.
• Clinton Rossiter, The Presidency-Focus of Leadership.
• Richard E. Neustadt, Presidential Power.
• Thomas E. Cronin and Michael A. Genovese, Presidential Paradoxes.
• James David Barber, The Presidential Character.
• Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sawyer 343 U.S. 579 (1952).
• United States v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corporation 343 U.S. 304 (1936).
• Aaron Wildavsky, The Two Presidencies.
• Sidney M. Milkis, The Presidency and Political Parties.
• Nelson W. Polsby, American Presidential Elections: The Last One and the Next One.

Lineberry 14. The Congress, the President, and the Budget: Politics of Taxing and Spending.

Lineberry 15. The Federal Bureaucracy.

Woll - 7
• Peter Woll, Constitutional Democracy and Bureaucratic Power.
• James Q. Wilson, The Rise of the Bureaucratic State.
• 
Lineberry 16. The Federal Courts.
Woll – 9
• Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 78.
• Marbury v. Madison 1 Cranch 137 (1803).
• John P. Roche, Judicial Self-Restraint.
• Bush v. Gore United States Supreme Court (2000).
• William J. Brennan, Jr., How the Supreme Court Arrives at Decisions.
• Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Constitutional Liberty and the Right to Abortion.
• Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, Liberty, Privacy, and the Right to Abortion.
• Justice Antonin Scalia, Liberty and Abortion: A Strict Constructionist's View.


V Public Policy, 3 Weeks (5-15%)

Lineberry 17. Economic Policy Making.
Lineberry 18. Social Welfare Policymaking.
Lineberry 19. Policymaking for Healthcare and the Environment.
Lineberry 20. National Security Policy Making.

VI Civil Liberties/Civil Rights 3 Weeks (5-15%)

Lineberry 4. Civil Liberties and Public Policy.
Woll -3
• Antifederalist Paper No. 84 On the Lack of a Bill of Rights.
• James Madison, Before the House of Representatives in 1789 Proposing Amendments to Add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution.
• Gideon v. Wainwright 372 U.S. 335 (1963).
• Oliver Wendall Holmes, The Need to Maintain a Free Marketplace of Ideas.
• New York Times v. Sullivan 376 U.S 254 (1964).

Lineberry 5. Civil Rights and Public Policy.

Woll -3
• Plessy v. Ferguson 163 U.S. 537 (1896).
• Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka 347 U.S. 483 (1954).
• Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka 349 U.S. 294 (1955) .
• Engel v. Vitale 370 U.S. 421 (1962).
• Zelman v. Simmon-Harris Supreme Court of the United States (2002).
• Roe v. Wade 410 U.S. 113 (1973).
• Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena 515 U.S. 200 ( 1995).

(c) Morrison Luke Smith