Mrs. Eggenberger

Room A-119

eggenber@edzone.net

www.edzone.net/~beggenbe/eggenberger

463-6119

ADVANCED PLACEMENT GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

2005-2006

GENERAL INFORMATION:

v This two semester course is designed for those students who enjoy the study of government and politics, are willing to devote sufficient time to all aspects of the course, and are interested in earning possible college credit for their work in the course.

v Students are expected to pay the costs of their A.P. exam. This payment is due by September 15, 2005. Failure to make full payment by the deadline may result in removal from the class.

TEXTBOOKS:

Primary Texts:

American Government (Ninth Edition); Wilson James Q. and DiIulio, John J.; Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004.

Essentials of Comparative Politics; O’Neil, Patrick; W.W. Norton and Company, 2004. (And online companion case studies.)

Essential Readings in Comparative Politics; O’Neil, Patrick (Ed.) and Rogowski, Ronald (Ed.); W.W. Norton and Company, 2004.

Supplementary Texts:

Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy; Edwards III, George C., Wattenberg, Martin P., Lineberry, Robert L.; Addison Wesley, 2002.

Comparative Politics Today: A World View (Seventh Edition); Almond, Gabriel A.; Powell, G. Bingham Jr., Strom Kaare, and Dalton, Russel J.; Addison Wesley Longman, Inc., 2000.

The Federalist Papers; Hamilton, Alexander; Madison, James; Jay, John; The Penguin Group, 1961.

The Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Debates; Ketchum, Ralph; The Penguin Group, 1986.

American Government: Democracy in Action; Remy, Richard C.; Glencoe, 2005.

Selected articles from The Economist.

Selected articles from Comparative Politics: Annual Editions.

Other essays and articles as assigned.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:

The Advanced Placement (A.P.) Program offers two courses and exams in government and politics. Each is intended for qualified students who wish to complete studies in secondary school equivalent to a one-semester college introductory course in United States government and politics or in comparative government and politics.

United States Government and Politics

(Adapted from A.P. Government and Politics Course Description, The College Board, May 2006-2007)

Through a study of A.P. United States Government and Politics, students will:

· Know important facts, concepts, and theories pertaining to U.S. government and politics.

· Become familiar with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. politics.

· Become acquainted with the various theoretical perspectives and explanations for various behaviors and outcomes.

· 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.

· Analyze and interpret the subject matter through writing.

The following topics will be studied in U.S. Government and Politics:

• Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government (5-15% of A.P. exam)
• Constitutional Convention; Ideological and philosophical traditions of the framers
• Type of government established by the Constitution
• Federalism
• Separation of powers
• Democratic theory
• Pluralism and elitism

• Political Beliefs and Behaviors (10-20% of A.P. exam)
• U.S. political culture
• Political socialization
• The nature, sources and consequences of public opinion
• Political participation
• Political consequences of beliefs and behaviors
• Factors that influence citizens to differ from one another in terms of political beliefs and behaviors.

• Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media (10-20 % of A.P. exam)
• History, functions, and structures of political parties
• Elections and voting behavior
• Interest Groups and lobbying
• PACs
• Mass Media and influence on public opinion, campaigns and elections, and policymaking

• Institutions of National Government (35-45% of A.P. exam)
• Institutional arrangements of the three branches
• Formal and informal powers of Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the federal courts
• Relationships between branches of government and political parties, interest groups, the media, and state and local governments.

• Public Policy (5-15% of A.P. exam)
• Formation of public policy agendas
• Enactment of public policy
• Implementation and interpretation of polices by bureaucracy and courts
• Policy networks and issue networks
• Impact of federalism, interest groups, parties, and elections on policymaking

• Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (5-15% of A.P. exam)
• Significant U.S. Supreme Court decisions
• Judicial interpretation of rights and liberties
• Relationship between court decisions and social change (14^th Amendment)

Comparative Government and Politics

(Adapted from A.P. Government and Politics Course Description, The College Board, May 2006-2007)

Through a study of A.P. Comparative Government and Politics, students will:

• Be introduced to the fundamental concepts used by political scientists to study the processes and outcomes of politics in a variety of country settings.
• Understand major comparative political concepts, themes, and generalizations.
• Understand typical patterns of political processes and behavior and their consequences.
• Use the comparative method to identify problems and analyze policymaking.
• Use comparisons between countries and institutions to discover strengths and weaknesses and to derive generalizations.
• Know important facts pertaining to the governments of the People’s Republic of China, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United Mexican States, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Russian Federation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
• Be able to analyze and interpret basic data relevant to comparative government and politics.

The following topics will be studied in Comparative Government and Politics:

(All percentages are +/- 5%)

• Introduction to Comparative Politics (5% of A.P. exam)
• How and why do political scientists compare?
• The comparative method; Normative and empirical questions
• Globalization
• Concepts of state, nation, regime, and government
• Concepts of legitimacy, authority, and political power
• Purpose of government
• Challenges of environment, social and ethnic diversity, economic performance, and health care

• Sovereignty, Authority, and Power (20% of A.P. exam)
• Concepts of nation and state
• Supranational organizations
• Sources of power
• Forms and purposes of constitutions
• Forms of political systems
• Legitimacy
• Economic systems
• Belief systems, both ideological and religious
• Political culture and socialization
• Government accountability

• Political Institutions (35 % of A.P. exam)
• Formal structure and workings of states and governments; Levels of government
• Branches of government and relationships between branches; Strengths and weaknesses of various institutional arrangements
• Arrangements of executive power
• Different legislative structures
• Different legislative and executive relations
• Judicial review; Judicial independence
• Informal procedures
• Elections and electoral systems
• Parties and party systems
• Leadership and elite recruitment
• Interest groups and interest group systems
• Contrasts between constitutional structure and political realities
• Role of the military
• Role of the bureaucracy

• Citizens, Society, and the State (15% of A.P. exam)
• Interactions between the state and society
• Relevance of cleavages such as ethnicity, religion, class, gender, and region
• Ability to participate in politics; Types of political participation
• Group participation; Social movement
• Relationship between the media and the state and the media and society
• Citizenship and social representation

• Political and Economic Change (15% of A.P. exam)
• Interaction between politics and economics
• The concept of change (reform, coups d’etat, revolution, war)
• Democratization; Reasons for breakdown of authoritarianism; Relationship of economic conditions and democratization
• Success and shortcomings of economic policies
• Globalization; Relationship to sovereignty
• Supranational organizations (WTO, EU, etc.)

• Public Policy (10% of A.P. exam)
• Analysis of policy as domestic policy and global policy
• Economic performance / Economic development
• Social welfare
• Civil rights and liberties; Freedoms
• Environment
• Population and migration
• Influences on policymaking
• Comparisons of policies
• Global pressures on policymakers from supranational organizations and international agreements (WTO, World Bank, EU, NAFTA, IMF)
• Globalization

EVALUATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:

Throughout the course you will participate in a number of activities including textbook readings, supplemental interpretive readings, book length studies, role plays, writing, and discussion. Some activities will be for a grade, others will not. Participation in all activities is required in order to receive full credit in the course. At minimum, you should expect the following evaluative measures:

Ø Four type written papers should be expected per semester. One of the four may be rewritten in accordance with the guidelines explained on the Paper Rewrite Proposal. Papers will range in length from two to four pages. Papers are due at the beginning of class on the date due, regardless of your classroom attendance. Late papers will not be accepted.

Ø Essays on subjects covered in the course should be expected frequently (weekly). These may be timed as though they were part of the A.P. exam. Late essays will not be accepted.

Ø Participation in class discussion is mandatory. Everyone should be able to contribute to class discussion at least once per class session.

Ø Quizzes and tests will be given throughout the course. Most will be announced, some may not. Some quizzes and all tests will be timed as though they were part of the A.P. exam. Because the A.P. exam will expect you to analyze and interpret the entire content of the course (rather than simply memorizing facts), it is expected that you will be familiar with all content areas previously studies at all times.

Ø There is no retesting in A.P.

Ø Extra credit may be offered occasionally for participation in activities outside of class. For example, you may be given the opportunity to participate in a campaign or attend a lecture for extra credit. Extra credit opportunities are rare, and will only be offered on a class-wide basis (i.e. I will not provide you will an individual extra credit assignment that is not offered to the full class). Extra credit must be completed by the date assigned. Extra credit may be used to raise your grade one step on the grading scale.

Ø Each student will be required to complete the current events project. Guidelines for this project will be provided to you during the first week of school. Guidelines will also be available on the website.

Ø Homework is due at the beginning of the hour. Late work is not accepted.

Ø It is your responsibility to get any work that you missed when you were absent. You will be given time to make-up your work (see guidelines in school handbook), however, it will not be accepted after the deadline. Any work that is due on the day you were absent will be due on the day you return to school. Make-up tests must be made up either before or after school. You will not be allowed to make up tests during class time. Make up tests must be completed within the timelines established by the school handbook.

Ø Students who fail one of the two marking periods within a semester must earn a passing grade on the final exam.

Ø Any evidence of cheating or plagiarism on any course assignment will result in failure of the course and disciplinary action.

Ø Students may be eligible to be exempt from the final exam if they meet the guidelines stated in the student handbook.

Ø Your marking period grades for the course will be based on the following:

Homework, take home essays,

Current Events Project,

cooperative learning projects,

and role plays 40%

Tests, quizzes, and timed

free responses (essays) 40%

Formal papers 15%

Participation 5%

Ø Your semester grades for the course will be based on the following:

1^st marking period 40%

2^nd marking period 40%

Final exam 20%

THE ADVANCED PLACEMENT TESTS:

• The College Board determines the A.P. test date. This year, the Government and Politics tests are on Tuesday, May 9, 2006. The U.S. test is in the morning and the comparative test is in the afternoon. ALL students will take the tests at this time. Another teacher will proctor the tests, as I am not allowed to be in the testing site while you are testing.

• The A.P. U.S. Government and Politics Exam is 2 hours and 25 minutes long. It includes a 45-minute multiple-choice section consisting of 60 questions and a 100-minute free-response section consisting of 4 questions. The multiple-choice section and the free-response section have equal weight.

• The A.P. Comparative Government and Politics Exam is 2 hours and 25 minutes long. It includes a 45-minute multiple-choice section consisting of 55 questions and a 100-minute free-response section consisting of 8 questions. The multiple-choice section and the free response section have equal weight.

• Students will receive a separate grade for each test.

• Grades for the tests are usually distributed to you, your chosen institution of higher learning, and your high school sometime in mid-July. Receiving college credit for your performance on the test will be determined by two factors: your individual score and your institution’s policies in terms of awarding A.P. credit. Be sure to find this out as soon as possible.

• The test is graded on a 5 point scale, which is as follows:

5 Extremely well qualified

4 Well qualified

3 Qualified

2 Possibly qualified

1 No recommendation

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

v The A.P. Exam does not substitute for the class exam. You may be exempt from the class exam if you meet the conditions that are outlined in the student handbook.

v This is a college level class. Thus, you are expected to complete assigned readings regardless of whether or not they are “covered” in class. The more outside study you complete over the course of the year, the more likely you will perform successfully on the A.P. exam. Individual reading is also encouraged.

v You are expected to keep abreast of the current state of both U.S. politics and the politics of Great Britain, Russia, China, Iran, Nigeria, and Mexico. You should regularly read national newspapers and periodicals, and view national news broadcasts. Some of my favorites include The Economist, The Washington Post, Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, C-SPAN’s Road to the White House and C-SPAN’s Washington Journal.

SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS

The following are suggestions that may be helpful to you. Previous A.P. Government and Politics students provided many of these suggestions.

· Read the textbook. You are responsible for knowing the information provided in your textbook regardless of whether or not we have discussed it in class.

· Come to class prepared and ready to learn EVERY day.

· Study your notes every night.

· Keep up on current events.

· Don't forget the "basics" -- for example, memorize important Supreme Court cases, Congressional acts, and vocabulary.

· Stay organized. It is recommended that you use a three ring binder for this class. Using a 3 ring binder will allow you to keep your lecture notes, handouts, and assignments in the same place. You may want to use one binder for U.S. and a different binder for Comparative.

· Do the homework, even if it’s not for a grade.

· Outline the chapters.

· Read the chapter summaries and critical thinking sections of the chapters, as well as the captions, charts, and graphs in the textbooks.

· Participate in class discussions.

· After a test or quiz, write out the questions you missed with the correct answers.

· Make flashcards.

· Know the basic structure of the Constitution, as well as the Amendments.

· Be attentive during lecture, and take good notes.

· Form study groups.

· Manage your time wisely.

· Use your AHS planner to keep track of important dates and deadlines. You will frequently get reading and homework assignments a week or more in advance. Use your planner to remember when assignments are due.

· Ask questions.

· Vary the topics of your journals.

· Pay attention. Your focus during this class should be the study of government and politics, not your homework from another class or the magazine that you brought from home (for example). Using your class time wisely increases your chances for success! J

SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING AN EXCELLENT

A.P. ESSAY OR FREE RESPONSE ANSWER

· Write a political science essay, not a creative writing essay.

· Be as specific as possible. As a general rule, use 3 specific examples to prove your thesis. Beware of creating a “laundry list” of examples. (A few excellent (and very specific) examples are better than 15 extremely weak examples.)

· Do not deviate from your thesis. (NOTE: It is O.K. to recognize other viewpoints; just do it in a way that you do not contradict your thesis statement.)

· Write a strong thesis statement that directly responds to the question.

· Be organized. Get in the habit of creating an outline before you begin writing. It also helps to write your thesis statement at the top of the outline.

· Read the free response question carefully and make sure that you answer the entire question.

· Stress quality of information over the quantity of information.

· Link your answer to several content areas.

· Write a strong conclusion that is consistent with your thesis statement.

· Do not simply summarize what you have learned. Rather, evaluate the material and organize your ideas into coherent arguments.

CLASSROOM RULES AND EXPECTATIONS:

In order to maintain an environment where we can learn together, I have established the following classroom rules and expectations.

1) BE RESPECTFUL.

2) COME TO CLASS PREPARED AND ON TIME. Having to go to your locker because you are unprepared will result in a tardy.

3) BE IN YOUR SEAT WHEN THE BELL RINGS AND STAY THERE UNTIL YOU ARE DISMISSED BY ME.

4) CLEAN UP YOUR WORK AREA BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

5) BE ALERT AND LOOK ALERT. (No “lazy positions”, please!)

6) USE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE AND BEHAVIOR.

7) LIMIT YOUR USE OF PASSES. You will ONLY be allowed to leave the classroom with YOUR AHS Agenda/Planner. Frequent hall pass requests will result in a loss of pass privileges. You will NOT be allowed to use the pass to get a snack or a drink. If you think you will be thirsty, bring a water bottle to class.