Mr. Tredinnick's Class Site
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Welcome to Mr. Tredinnick's AP Comparative Government Class

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AP Comparative Government Syllabus (2016-2017)
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The AP Comparative Government and Politics course is designed to introduce students to a variety of political institutions through examining issues such as citizen participation, governmental organization, the idea of sovereignty and the root of power, public policy, and the ways in which political and economic institutions change. The primary goal of the course is to increase understanding of the different political institutions, values, and structures of different governmental systems. Students will become more familiar with these institutions through examining case studies of Great Britain, Nigeria, Mexico, Iran, China, and Russia. This semester long course is designed to have the workload and rigor of a freshman or sophomore level college course. Upon completion of the course students will be able to take the Advanced Placement test for potential college credit. The course will emphasize critical thinking and application of knowledge with the goal that students will have a better critical perspective of the inner workings of different systems of government. 

Unit V - Test Review

Week 18: Test Preparation
     (May 8-12)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Study Day
     - Practice Multiple Choice Exam
     - Independent study time
     
     - Time to work on Corrections 

Wednesday:  No Classes Senior Ceremony
Thursday: Test Day
     - AP Examination Day: Thursday May 11th, 2017

     - Invictus
Friday: No Class "A" Day
Week 19: Post-Test Activities
     (May 15-19)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Post-Test 
     - Invictus
          + Discuss tools used by government in movie

Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: End of Year Interest Project
     - Interest Project (Assignment)

Friday: No Class - Work Day
Interest Project
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Week 20: End of Year Wrap-Up
     (May 15-19)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Finish Interest Project
​     - Interest Project (Assignment)
     - Finding AP CoGov in the News (Assignment)
     - End of Course Survey
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: No Class - End of Year Check-Out
Friday: No School - Summer Vacation

Unit IV - Closed Authoritarian States: Iran and China

Week 13: Examining Iran
     (Apr 3-7)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Introducing Iran
     - Forum: Benefits of a Religious Society (4.1)
     - Iran's Formation (Notes)
     HW: Collegeboard Briefing: Iran (Pgs. 1-19)
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Iran's Governmental Structure
     - Forum: Influence of Religion(4.2) 
     - Iranian Governmental Grid (Assignment)
Friday: No Class - Zoo Orientation
Week 16: Modern Chinese Issues
     (Apr 24-28)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Issues Related to China's Government
     - Forum: Security or Liberty (4.7)
     - Observations of China (Notes)
​     - TED: A Tale of Two Political Systems
​     HW: Defending Communism (Assignment)
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Party Control of China
     - Forum: Control of Religion (4.8)
​     - State Order No. 5 (Assignment)
          + Last Week Tonight: Dalai Lama
          + How Does China's Government Work? 
     - The Umbrella Protest (Assignment)
          + The Guardian - Umbrella Revolution
​
     HW: End of Unit Test next Thursday
Friday: No Class - Zoo Orientation
Week 14: Modern Iranian Issues
     (Apr 10-14)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Issues Related to Iran's Government
     - Forum: Problems of an Oil-Based Economy(4.3)
     - Issues facing the Iranian State (Notes)
     HW: BBC - US-Iran Relations
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Iran's Relations with the West
     - Forum: Importance of Global Connections (4.4)
     - Discuss Homework Reading Assignment
​     - Iranian Foreign Relations (Notes)
​     - 
In-Class Reading (Iran Briefing 48-51) 
Friday: No School - Staff Development
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Week 15: Examining China
     (Apr 17-21)
Monday: No School - Staff Development
Tuesday: Introduction to China
​     - Forum: Problems of transitioning Economies                            (4.5)
     - Making Modern China (Notes)
     HW: Comparing Chinese Revolutions                                   (Assignment)
          + Crash Course: Chinese Revolutions
Wednesday: No Classes - ACT 
Thursday: China's Governmental Structure
     - Forum: Influence of the Party (4.6)
     - Go over Comparing Chinese Revolutions
​     - Structures of Governance: China (Notes)
​          + Explained: China's Communist Party
Friday: Field Trip - Morrill Hall
Week 17: Finish Unit IV
     (May 1- 5)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: HW: Review all notes and Assignments for Unit IV Test - Closed Authoritarian States
          + Iran Review
          + China Review
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Unit IV Test
     - Unit IV Test - Closed Authoritarian States
          + Thursday May 4th, 2017
Friday: Final Critique for ZO

Unit IV Notes

Iranian Foreign Relations
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Iran’s Formation
File Size: 777 kb
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Issues Facing the Iranian State
File Size: 1013 kb
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Making Modern China
File Size: 1031 kb
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Observations of China
File Size: 2012 kb
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Structures of Governance: China
File Size: 852 kb
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Unit IV Assignments

Comparing Chinese Revolutions
File Size: 363 kb
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Defending Communism
File Size: 356 kb
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Iranian Governmental Grid
File Size: 254 kb
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State Order No. 5
File Size: 411 kb
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The Umbrella Protest
File Size: 360 kb
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Unit IV Resources

BBC: US-Iran Relations

Crash Course - Chinese Revolutions

Collegeboard Briefing: Iran

Last Week Tonight: Dalai Lama


Unit III - Procedural and Electoral Authoritarian States: Nigeria and Russia

Week 8: Examining Nigeria
     (Feb 20-24)
Monday: No School - President's Day
Tuesday: Nigeria's Origins
     - Forum: Issues of Colonialism (3.1)
     - Nigeria's Formation (Assignment) 
          + College Board Briefing - Nigeria
    HW: Finish Creating Presentation
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Modern Issues Related to Nigeria
     - Forum: Multi-Ethnic States (3.2)
​     - Nigerian Issues (Assignment)
          + Al Jazeera: States of Independence - Nigeria
          + BBC: Nigeria's Hidden Conflict
     HW: Have Nigerian Issues and Presentation                         completed for next class
Friday: ​No Class "A" Day
Week 11: Russia's Troubles
     (Mar 20-24)
Monday: No School - Spring Break
Tuesday: Modern Issues Related to Russia
     - Forum - Importance of Press Freedom (3.7)
     - Issues facing the Russian State
          + BBC: Vodka in Russia
          + Putin's Chechnya 
          + Russia's Silent HIV Epidemic
​          + Russia's Difficult Transition to Democracy
          + The Guardian: Press Freedom in Russia
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: The Putin Issue
     - Forum: (3.8)
     - Electoral Issues of Russia (Notes) 
     - Illiberal Democracies Cornell Notes (Notes)
          + Illiberal Democracy and Putin's Russia
     HW: End of Unit Test Next Thursday
Friday: ​No Class Zoo Project Day
Week 9: Nigerian Governmental Structure
     (Feb 27- Mar 3)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Nigerian Governmental Structure
     - Forum: Strongest Branch (3.3)
     - Structures of Governance: Nigeria (Notes)
     HW: College Board Briefing (Page 19-33)
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Nigeria's Electoral Issues
     - Forum: Needs for a "fair election" (3.4)
​     - Fairness of Nigeria's Elections (Assignment)
          + How Nigeria's Presidential Elections Work
          + Factsheet: Nigeria's Elections
​          + Voting Extended as Nigerian Elections                         marred by Violence 
Friday: No Class Zoo Project Day

- Spring Break (Mar 11-19) -

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Week 10: Foundations of Russia
     (Mar 6-10)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Democratization of Russia
     - Forum: Appeal of a Strongman (3.5)
     - Foundations of Russia's Government (Notes)
     HW: 
Khrushchev's Secret Speech (Assignment)
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Russia's Government
     - Forum: Advantages of a Split Executive?
     - Structures of Governance: Russia (Notes)

Friday: No Class Zoo Project Day
Week 12: Finish Unit III
     (Mar 27-31)
Monday: No Class 'A" Day
Tuesday: ACT Prep
     - Test 3: Reading
     HW: Review all notes and Assignments for Unit III Test - Procedural and Electoral Authoritarian States
          + Nigeria Review
          + Russian Federation Review
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Unit III Test
     - Unit III Test - Procedural and Electoral Authoritarian States
          + Thursday Mar 30th, 2017
Friday: No Class "A" Day
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​Unit III Notes 

Electoral Issues of Russia
File Size: 600 kb
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Foundations of Russia’s Government
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Illiberal Democracies
File Size: 210 kb
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Structures of Governance: Nigeria
File Size: 690 kb
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Structures of Governance: Russia
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Unit III Assignments

Fairness of Nigeria's Elections
File Size: 213 kb
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Issues Facing the Russian State
File Size: 210 kb
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Khrushchev's Secret Speech
File Size: 313 kb
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Nigeria's Formation
File Size: 254 kb
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Nigerian Issues
File Size: 211 kb
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Unit III Resources

College Board Briefing - Nigeria


Unit II - Substantive Democracies: Great Britain, the European Union, and Mexico

Week 3: The Ideals of Democracy
     (Jan 16-20)
Monday: No School - Martin Luther King Day
Tuesday: Democratic Ideals
     - Forum: Requirements for Democracy (2.1)
      - Principles of Democracy (Notes)
     HW: State of the State - Mexico (Assignment)
          + CFR: Mexico - Development and Democracy               at a Crossroads
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          + FP: Mexico is Not a Functioning Democracy
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Democratization of Mexico
     - Forum: Is Mexico a Democracy? (2.2)
     - Discuss State of the State - Mexico HW
     - Foundations of Mexico's Government (Notes)
​     HW: Collegeboard Briefing - Mexico (pgs 1-13)
Friday: No Class "A" Day
Week 6: The British Democracy
     (Feb 6-10)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Institutions of the United Kingdom
     - Forum: Permanent MPs? (2.7)
     - Structure of Governance: The UK (Notes)
​     HW: Media's Role in British Politics (Assignment)
​          + BBC: Media's Role in 2015 Election
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Modern British Issues
​     - Forum: Pros and Cons of the Union (2.8)
     - Issues in Modern Britain
     HW: Begin Reviewing for Unit II Test
Friday: ​No Class Zoo Project Day
Week 4: Mexican Democracy
     (Jan 23-27)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Mexico Government Structure and Issues
​     - Forum: Mexico's Biggest Issue (2.3)
     - Structure of Governance: Mexico (Notes)
     HW: Mexican Drug War (Assignment)
     HW: Collegeboard Briefing - Mexico (pgs 13-30)
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: The Establishment of the EU
     - Forum: Complications of Opinions (2.4)
     - Foundations of the EU (Notes)
     HW: Institutions of the EU (Assignment)
Friday: No Class Zoo Project Day
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Week 5: The European Union
     (Jan 30-Feb 3)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: The Modern European Union
     - Forum: Advantages and Disadvantages (2.5)
     - The Financial Crisis (Assignment)
          + European Debt Crisis Visualized
    - Refugee Crisis in Europe (Assignment)
​          + Global Conflict Tracker
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Democracy in the UK
     - Forum: President or Prime Minister? (2.6)
     - Foundations of the United Kingdom's                            Government (Notes)
     HW: History and Policy - Democratisation:                           Historical Lessons from the British Case
Friday: No Class Zoo Project Day
Week 7: Finish Unit II
     (Feb 13-17)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Review
     - Review all notes and assignments for Unit II -             Substantive Democracies
          + Britain Review
​          + Mexico Review
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Finish Unit
     - Unit II Test - Substantive Democracies
          + Thursday Feb 16th, 2017
Friday: No Class Zoo Project Day

Unit II Notes

Foundations of Mexico’s Government
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Foundations of the European Union
File Size: 795 kb
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Foundations of the United Kingdom's Government
File Size: 990 kb
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Issues in Modern Britain
File Size: 756 kb
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Principles of Democracy
File Size: 915 kb
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Structure of Governance: Mexico
File Size: 1395 kb
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Structure of Governance - The United Kingdom
File Size: 1372 kb
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Unit II Review

Unit II Assignments

Institutions of the EU
File Size: 215 kb
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Medias Role in British Politics
File Size: 211 kb
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Mexican Drug War
File Size: 227 kb
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Refugee Crisis in Europe
File Size: 294 kb
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State of the State - Mexico
File Size: 297 kb
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The Financial Crisis
File Size: 213 kb
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Unit II Resources

BBC: Brexit - All You Need to Know

Collegeboard Briefing - Mexico

CFR: Mexico - Development and Democracy at a Crossroads

European Union Website

FP: Mexico is not a Functioning Democracy

Global Conflict Tracker - Refugee Crisis in Europe


Unit I - Introduction to Comparative Politics

Unit I Course Schedule

Week 1: Course Introduction
     (Jan 2-6)
Monday: No School - Winter Break
Tuesday: No School - Winter Break
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: ​Course Overview
     - Forum: Can all states be democracies? (1.1)
     - Course Expectations (Syllabus)
​     - Global Politics Vocabulary (Assignment)
     HW: College Board Briefing - Democratization (Notes)
Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day
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Week 2: Global Governance Concepts
     (Jan 9-13)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Political Theory
     - Forum: What is the Purpose of Government (1.2)
     - Early Political Theory (Assignment) 
     - International Political Systems (Notes)
     - Comparing Liberalism and Conservatism                    (Notes)
     - Analyzing Governence Systems (Assignment)
     HW: Finish Governance Systems

          + Be prepared to argue findings on Thursday
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Concepts of Government
     - Forum: A country's biggest problems (1.3)
     - Levels of Government (Notes)
     - Common Policy Issues (Assignment)
     HW: Country Profile (Assignment)
          - Using Analyzing Governance Systems HW

Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day
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Unit I Notes

College Board Briefing - Democratization
File Size: 435 kb
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Common Policy Issues
File Size: 592 kb
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Comparing Liberalism and Conservatism
File Size: 1235 kb
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International Political Systems
File Size: 788 kb
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Levels of Government
File Size: 1104 kb
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Unit I Assignments

Analyzing Governance Systems
File Size: 256 kb
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Country Profile
File Size: 221 kb
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Early Political Theory
File Size: 290 kb
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Global Politics Vocabulary
File Size: 212 kb
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Unit I Resources

CIA World Factbook


AP Comparitive Government Course Resources

Course Materials

Class Forum

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Helpful Websites

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