Welcome to Mr. Tredinnick's AP United States Government and Politics Class
"Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country."
- Franklin Roosevelt |
This semester long course will guide students through an introductory examination of the political structures that form the foundations of the government of the United States. Through an analysis of the different ideas, beliefs, groups, and institutions students will become more familiar with the structure and function of the country's government. By examining different theoretical approaches, and examples of prior political procedures students will gain a better understanding of the methods and reasoning for the operation of the United States Government. Throughout the course of the semesters students will be examining the United States Government by examining its constitutional underpinnings, the different political beliefs and behaviors, how it is influenced by special interest groups, the institutions of the national government, the formation and implementation of public policy, and the civil rights and liberty issues that form the foundations of our government. Upon completion of the course students will be given the opportunity to take the Advanced Placement test for the possibility of earning college credit.
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Unit VII - Test Preparation and Review
Unit VII Course Schedule
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Week 18 - Test Preparation
(Dec 11-15) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: Final Exam - Units V-VI Test: Public Policy, Civil RIghts and Civil Liberties HW: Test Corrections due next class Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: Unpacking the MC - Practice FRQ + Make list of concepts you need to study based on exam Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day |
Week 19 - Test Preparation
(Dec 18-22) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: Unpacking the FRQ - Practicing FRQs (Assignment) Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: Semester Finals - Class Wrap-Up - End of Course Survey - All Homework and Assignments need to be submitted - Citizenship Challenge (Assignment) Friday: No School - Winter Recess |
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Unit VII Assignments
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Unit VI - Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Unit VI Course Schedule
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Week 16 - Being an American
(Nov 27-Dec 1) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: Rights and Responsibilites of Citizenship - Forum: American Citizenship (6.1) - The Duties of Citizenship (Notes) - Requirements for Citizenship (Notes) HW: US Citizenship Quiz + Civics Question for Naturalization Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: Constitutional Protections - Forum: Importance of the Amendments (6.2) - The Amendments (Notes) - Unpacking the Amendments (Assignment) HW: Skim Schmidt pgs. 94-128 HW: Know Your Rights (Assignment) + Crash Course: Civil Rights and Liberties Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day |
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Week 17 - Upholding Your Rights
(Dec 4-8) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: The Upholding of the Law - Forum: Fundamental Rights (6.3) - Review Amendments and Discuss Homework - Analyzing the 14th Amendment (Assignment) HW: Finish Analyzing the 14th Amendment Assignment HW: Skim Schmidt pgs. 134-173 Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: Social and Racial Equality - Forum: Explain the 14th's Importance (6.4) - Pursuing Rights for All (Assignment) + The Women's Rights Movement + The American Indian Movement + The Civil Rights Movement Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day |
Unit VI Notes
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Unit VI Assignments
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Unit VI Additional Resources
Unit V - Public Policy
Unit V Course Schedule
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Week 13 - Policy and Elections
(Nov 6-10) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: Elections and Policy - Forum: The Will of the Nation (5.1) - Examining the 2016 Election (Discussion) + 2016 Election Geo-inquiry + ESRI - Community Analyst + NARA: The Electoral College + 270 to Win + YouGov + Real Clear Politics: Electoral Map - Gerrymandering Complexities (Assignment) + Re-Districting Game HW: Schmidt, pgs. 293-298 Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: Domestic Policy - Forum: Top Issue Today? (5.2) - Addressing Public Policy: Domestic Policy (Notes) HW: What is Being Done (Assignment) + GovTrack: Bills and Resolutions + Domestic Policy Council HW: Schmidt pgs. 476-502 (Skim) Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day |
Week 14 - Policy and the Machine
(Nov 13-17) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: Foreign Policy - Forum: Biggest Foreign Issue (5.3) - Setting Foreign and Military Policy (Notes) HW: SALT Treaties (Assignment) HW: Schmidt pgs. 539-564 (Skim) Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: Building of Policy - Forum: Influence of Agencies (5.4) - The Processes of Policy (Notes) HW: Finding Policy Issues - 2015 (Assignment) HW: Paradox of American Power (Chpt 3) Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day 
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Week 15 - Contributors to Policy-making
(Nov 20-24) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: Carrying Out Policy - Forum: Is Isolationism Possible? (5.5) - Discuss State of the Union - Examining Policy Issues (Assignment) + Kentucky County Clerk + Save Darfur + Affordable Care Act HW: Neglecting Rwanda (Assignment) + The Guardian: The US Chose to Ignore Rwanda Wednesday: No School - Teacher Work Day Thursday: No School - Thanksgiving Break Friday: No School - Thanksgiving Break 
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Unit V Notes
Unit V Review
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Unit V Assignments
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Unit V Additional Resources
Unit IV - Institutions of National Government
Unit IV Course Schedule
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Week 8 - The Congress
(Oct 2-6) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: Introduction to Congress Forum: Limits on Congress (3.1) - The Legislative Branch (Notes) HW: Congressional Effectiveness (Assignment) HW: (Skim) Schmidt pgs. 341-348, 354-363 Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: The Executive Branch Forum: Executive Powers (3.2) - Presidential Roles and Qualifications (Notes) HW: The First Lady (Assignment) HW: (Skim) Schmidt pgs. 381-394 Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day 1st Years - Ashfall Field Trip Week 11 - The Powers of Government
(Oct 23-27) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: Bill into Law Simulation Forum: Anticipated Opposition (3.7) - Government RSP (Assignment) + Part 3 - Checking the Constitutionality HW: Final Product of Government RSP Due November 1st Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: Keeping the Government Under Check Forum: Your Bill's Constitutionality (3.8) - Limitations on the Federal Government (Notes) - The Limitations on Government (Assignment) + PBS: Federalism + About Education: Checks and Balances HW: Review for Unit III Test next Thursday Friday: No School - Teachers Off |
Week 9 - The Presidency
(Oct 9-13) Monday: No School - Parent Teacher Conferences Tuesday: The Executive Branch Forum: Presidential Approval (3.3) - Executive Departments (Notes) HW: Research an Executive Department (Assignment) Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: The Judicial Branch Forum: The Current Supreme Court (3.4) - The Federal Court System (Notes) - Landmark Cases (Assignment) HW: Crash Course Courts (Assignment) + Crash Course: Structure of the Courts HW: Schmidt pgs. 446-449, 463-467 Friday: No Class "A" Day 
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Week 10 - Creating a Bill
(Oct 16-20) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: Bill into Law Simulation Forum: Passing a Bill (3.5) - Government RSP (Assignment) + Part 1 - Brainstorming Your Bill HW: Complete Part 1 Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: Bill into Law Simulation Forum: Summarize Your Bill (3.6) - Government RSP (Assignment) + Part 2 - Drafting Your Bill HW: Complete Part 2 Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day Week 12 - The Political Process and Elections
(Oct 30-Nov 3) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: The Election Process Forum: Necessity of Electoral College (3.9) - Electing the President (Notes) + Schoolhouse Rock: Electoral College HW: Midterm Test Next Class + Unit IV Study Guide - Institutions of National Government (Review) Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: Finish Unit IV - Unit IV Test - Institutions of National Government HW: Test Corrections Due Next Class Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day |
Unit IV Notes
Unit IV Review
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Unit IV Assignments
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Unit IV Additional Resources
Unit II & III - Influencing the Political Process
Unit II Course Schedule
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Week 4 - The Formation of Political Identity
(Sept 4-8) Monday: No School - Labor Day Tuesday: Civic Education and Participation - Forum 2.1 - Purpose of Government - Forms of Government (Notes) - The Role of Citizens (Assignment) + TIME: The Case for National Service + The Atlantic: The Case Against Universal National Service - In-Class Discussion: What makes Democracy Work? (Assignment) HW: Examining Voter Turnout (Assignment) + Bipartisan Policy - 2012 Election Statistics HW: ISideWith Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: Formation of Political Identity - Forum 2.2 - Group Thinking Politics - Discussing Political Affiliation (Assignment) - Major Party Platforms (Assignment) HW: Understanding Public Opinion (Assignment) + Iraq versus Vietnam: A Comparison of Public Opinion + Schmidt: Pgs. 181-188 HW: Crisis of Confidence (Assignment) Friday: No Class "A" Day |
Week 5 - Political Parties
(Sept 11-15) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: Introducing Political Parties - Forum: Political Parties (3.1) - The Evolution of Political Parties (Notes) - How the Parties Differ (Assignment) + Thought Question + Diffen: Difference Between the Parties HW: State Political Profile (Assignment) Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: Political Parties - Forum: Debating Political Parties (3.2) - The Roles of Political Parties (Notes) - Caucuses and Primaries (Assignment) + The 2016 GOP Selection Process HW: Party Technicalities (Assignment) Friday: No School - Staff Development 
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Week 6 - Interest Groups
(Sept 18-24) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: Interest Groups - Forum: Ice Cream Politics (3.3) - Interest Groups and Lobbyists (Notes) + How it Happens: Lobbyists + The "L" Word HW: Philip Morris vs. the World (Assignment) + Philip Morris International + Thank You For Smoking HW: Schmidt pgs. 217-225 Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: PACs and Super PACs - Forum: Political Finance (3.4) - Political Action Committees (Notes) + Colbert's Super PAC Lessons + Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow + Colbert's Super PAC HW: Schmidt pgs. 318 - 321 HW: Test Corrections Friday: No School - Vehicle Day |
Week 7 - The Media
(Sept 25-29) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: News Stations - Forum: Which do you prefer? (3.5) - The Role of News Media (Notes) HW: Bias in the News (Assignment) + TED Talk - Alisa Miller Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: The Wider Media - Forum: Media and Politics (3.6) - Analyzing Political Cartoons (Assignment) - Media Portrayals (Notes) + Conan O'Brien at the Corespondents Dinner + Fakin It - The Daily Show and Colbert Report + The Colbert Bump HW: Unit II Review: Influencing the Poltiical Process HW: Unit II Test - Influencing the Political Process Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day |
Unit II Notes
Unit II & III Review
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Unit II Assignments
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Unit II Additional Resources
Unit I - Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government
Unit I Course Schedule
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Week 1 - Course Introduction
(Aug 14-18) Monday: No School - Summer Vacation Tuesday: No School - Summer Vacation Wednesday: No School - Summer Vacation Thursday: No Class - Orientation Friday: No Class - Orientation 
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Week 2 - Formation of the U.S. Government
(Aug 21-25) Monday: No Class - Eclipse Events Tuesday: Class Introductions - Teacher and Student Introductions - What is America? (Assignment) - Citizenship Challenge (Assignment) - Course Expectations and Overview (Syllabus) HW: Review Syllabus Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: Origins and Principles of Democratic Government - Foundations of Democratic Government (Notes) - Principles of the Enlightenment (Assignment) HW: Arguments for Independence (Assignment) HW: Schmidt pgs. 10-15 Friday: No Class "A" Day |
Week 3 - Democratic Citizenship
(Aug 28-Sept 1) Monday: No Class "A" Day Tuesday: Creation of the United States Government - The Declaration of Independence (Notes) - The Constitutional Convention (Notes) + The Articles of Confederation (Notes) HW: Federalists and Anti-Federalists (Assignment) HW: Schmidt pgs. 47-53 Wednesday: No Class "A" Day Thursday: Major Ideas of the Constitution - The Six Big Ideas of the Constitution (Notes) - Finding the Six Big Ideas (Assignment) HW: Unit I Test (Schoology) + Unit I Review: Constitutional Underpinnings Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day |
Unit I Notes
Unit I Review
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Unit I Assignments
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Unit I Additional Resources
AP U.S. Government Course Resources
Course Materials
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Class Forum
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Helpful Websites
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Domestic News Services
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Foreign News Services
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