AP United States Government & Politics

Course Description

Description

US Government and Politics is the study of the United States national government's policies, institutions, and foundations.

Topics include:

• constitutional theories forming the basis of government
• political beliefs and behaviors
• political parties, interest groups, and the mass media
• the Congress, presidency, bureaucracy, and Federal court system
• public policy
• civil rights and civil liberties

This course provides students with an analytical perspective on American government and politics and prepares students to take the AP US Government and Politics exam. It has been reviewed and approved by the College Board to use the "AP" designation.

Materials Needed

There are no required materials for this course.

Detailed Course Information

Course Details

I. Constitutional Underpinnings

• Britain and the Colonies
• The Articles of Confederation
• The Constitutional Convention
• Checks and Balances
• Federalism
• Federalism through History
• Three Democratic Systems of Government
• The Pros and Cons of Federalism

II. Political Beliefs and Behaviors

• An Introduction to Political Culture
• What is Public Opinion?
• Political Socialization
• What is Public Opinion?
• Translating Opinion into Action
• The Importance of Participation
• Organizing to Participate
• Social Movements

III. Political Parties, Interest Groups and Mass Media

• Political Parties and Their Functions
• Party Structure
• The American Two-Party System
• A History of Political Parties in the U.S.
• Regulating Organized Groups
• Interest Groups and Their Impact on Politics
• PAC Power
• The Art of Lobbying
• Interest Groups and Their Impact on Politics
• Media Influence
• Influencing Elections and Shaping Public Opinion

IV. Institutions of National Government

• Checks and Balances
• A Bicameral Legislative Body
• Being President
• The Federal Bureaucracy
• Court Powers and Restraints
• Controlling Extremes
• Translating Public Opinion into Action!
• Lobbying the President and Congress
• Political Parties and Money
• Media Influence
• The Federal Trump Card: The Commerce Clause

V. Public Policy

• Purpose and Policymaking
• Policy Development
• Managing the Economy
• Promoting the General Welfare
• Policymakers and Implementers
• Federalism Today
• Parties and Money
• Interest Groups and Their Impact on Politics
• Translating Opinion into Action
• Voter Turnout
• The Issues
• The Media and Governance
• Changing Public Policy

VI. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

• The Creation of Rights
• Equal Protection Under the Law
• Rights Revolution: The Expansion of Rights
• Equality of Opportunity versus Equality of Results
• The Individual in the Criminal Justice System
• Slavery the Civil Rights Movement
• Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

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Time Required

Intensive spring and summer sessions require 10-14 hours per week for 12 weeks.

Academic year session requires 4-7  hours per week for 30 weeks, with breaks for holidays.

System Requirements

CTYOnline courses require a properly-maintained computer with Internet access and a recent-version web browser (such as Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer) with the Adobe Flash plugin. Students are expected to be familiar with standard computer operations (e.g. login, cut & paste, email attachments, etc).

Spam blockers, parental controls, and other internet filtering software must allow email from JHU (jhu.edu & jhem.jhu.edu), and from the instructor's email address (provided at start of course).

Important: Frequent changing of a student's screen name or email address is inversely proportional to success.

If this course uses a web-based classroom for assignments and group discussion, your browser will need to allow cookies, javascript, and popup windows from the classroom web site.

Demo

Click on the image below to view the online demo (requires Flash plugin).