AP® U.S. Government & Politics
Overview
Course Description
This course is designed to introduce students to government and politics in the United States. By the end of this course, you should be able to answer the following questions: What are generally regarded to be the theoretical origins of our American government? Can the United States accurately be considered a government “by the people”? What rights and liberties do we have that transcend the will of the majority? How does government engage in public policy, and what are the important areas of policy that claim the time and attention of the national government? What are the basic institutions of government? The course seeks to answer these questions primarily through readings, lectures, as we have opportunity, through on-line class discussions. This is a college preparatory course. At its conclusion, you will take an examination that will determine whether you will receive college credit in United States Government and Politics. Hence, we will treat this class fully as a college-level course. The textbook is fairly challenging, and I am hoping that you will find the lectures and examinations to be as well. They are intended to prepare you for the examination administered in May.
This course is a tribute to Dr. Frank Guliuzza (1957-2019), who designed the AP US Government and Politics course and served as its first Master Teacher for 9 years. He was renowned for his integration of faith and politics, receiving his doctorate degree in Constitutional Law from University of Notre Dame while serving as a licensed minister. Dr. Guliuzza taught government and Constitutional law at Patrick Henry College and coached its Mock Trial and Moot Court teams. He unexpectedly passed away in February 2019.
Prerequisites
This is a rigorous, college-level course. Lectures and assigned readings assume that students already possess high school-level familiarity with the major events of American history. Students should also have strong reading and writing skills. Please visit the College Board’s website for more information about the material and skills students will study in the course and will need to master for the AP exam.
Students Will Learn
- How to analyze the evidence and interpretation presented in historical scholarship
- How to analyze and interpret primary sources such as documentary material, maps, statistical tables, and pictorial and graphic materials.
- How to write analytical, interpretative, and thematic essays that are appropriate for the academic discipline of history
- How to respond to document-based questions
- How to consider how a Christian worldview affects the study of American history
Live Class Sections
AP U.S. Government & Politics is a yearlong course. Registration opens in late February.
What to Expect Weekly
We estimate that the course workload will take 10+ hours per week. During a typical week, students complete the following coursework:
- 90 minutes of live class instruction
- About 30 minutes pre-recorded video lecture
- 1 chapter textbook reading
- Primary source reading
- Worksheet(s)
- Either a few chapters of reading from assigned political books or working on applied civics project
Throughout the year, students complete six unit exams and a final exam, nine foundational document reports, an applied civics project, and Supreme Court Case organizational charts.
Course Materials
American Government: Institutions & Policies | 18th Edition
More Details
Renting the eText or a physical copy—for convenience and better pricing—is available through the publisher, Cengage.
Description
Following the Declaration of Independence’s claim that governments derive “their just power from the consent of the governed,” American Government: Institutions & Policies approaches American politics through competing theories on how the government answers to the people. The text explains American government through four units on the founding, institutions, public policy, and political participation, paying attention to the differences between the national government of 1787 and present practice.
Reason For Teaching
American Government follows the format of the AP Exam, with its four parts corresponding to the five units that students will encounter on the AP Exam. Its rigorous examination of American government and politics will prepare students to know and analyze complex political questions when taking the AP exam or furthering their understanding of American government.
Disclaimer
The textbook is not written from a Christian perspective, but it is generally respectful in its discussion of Christian participation in politics. Within the framework of this course, students will approach this secular text with sound, biblically based explanation, analysis, and teaching from the Course Developer and Classroom Teachers. This setup is an excellent way for students to interact with the type of content they will potentially see on the AP test and in college in general, teaching them to respond as Christian scholars and thinkers.
Born Again—With New Introduction and Epilogue
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Description
Chuck Colson’s autobiography focuses on his participation in the Nixon administration and Watergate, cumulating with Colson’s personal testimony to the power of the gospel to change lives. Colson explores a Christian’s proper approach to politics and how faith transcends political division.
Reason For Teaching
Born Again discusses the crucial intersection of faith and politics. It challenges students to think about the assumptions and worldview that shape how individuals act in the political world.
Presidential Greatness (2000) [optional]
More Details
Description
Presidential Greatness examines the administration of five great presidents and offers general principles of what defines a great president. Great presidents, according to Landy and Milkis, have the strength of character to respond to moments of crisis, redefining the office of the presidency, while still acting within their institutional bounds.
Reason For Teaching
Presidential Greatness is the best in-depth analysis of great presidents and the factors that made them great. It engages students in understanding the historical growth of presidential power and evaluates the intersection of presidential power with other governing institutions, parties, and people.
Master Teacher
Miriam McElvain is currently working on a doctoral degree in politics at the University of Dallas. She graduated from Patrick Henry College in 2010 with a degree in government focusing on political theory. After graduation, she interned for Family Research Cou... View full bio »