A.P.
U.S. GOVERNMENT COURSE SYLLABUS
I.
Introducing Government in America Lineberry,
Ch. 1
· What is government, politics, & public policy
· What is a political system
· Theories of American democracy
II.
Constitutional Foundations Lineberry, Ch. 2 & 3
· Origins of the Constitution - goals of the Framers
· Principles of the Constitution
· Amending the Constitution – Formal & Informal Processes
· Federalists v. Anti-Federalists
· Federalism
· Intergovernmental relations
III.
Public Opinion, Parties, & Interest Groups Lineberry, Ch. 6,
8, 11
·
Political socialization & public opinion
·
Political ideology in America
·
American political parties - nature, organization, & function
·
Interest groups & PACS - nature & functions
IV.
Campaigns, Elections, & the Media Lineberry, Ch. 7,
9, & 10
· Nominations & elections
· Campaign finance
· Voter behavior
· The electoral college
· The role of the media
V. The Congress Lineberry,Ch. 12
· Structure & Organization
· The role of the party in Congress
· The legislative process
· Congressional policy making
VI.
The Presidency & the Bureaucracy Lineberry, Ch. 13 & 15
· Power & the presidency
· Policy making: the President v. the Congress
· The federal bureaucracy - structure & organization, policy making
VII. Judiciary Lineberry Ch. 16
· A dual system of courts - structure & organization
· Supreme Court operations
· Interpreting the Constitution
· Implementing court decisions
VIII. Civil
Liberties & Civil Rights, Judiciary Lineberry
Ch. 4,5
· The
Bill of Rights
· The
14th Amendment & Incorporation
· Due
process & religion
· Due
process & expression - speech, press, assembly
· Search
& seizure
· Due
process in criminal investigations, trial, & punishment
· The
right to privacy
· Civil
rights & law - equal protection
IX.
Making Government Policy Lineberry, Ch. 14, 17, 18, 19, & 20
· The Federal budget – Taxing & Spending
· Economic Policies
· Social Welfare
· Health, Environment, Energy
· Foreign Policy & Defense
