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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