Intro to AP Government

AP Whaaaat???!!

AP Government is…

From the AP Web Site: AP® United States Government and Politics is an intensive study of the formal and informal structures of government and the processes of the American political system, with an emphasis on policy-making and implementation

What are we doing this semester?

Course syllabus – take a look at it!

AP Government Units

Unit One: Constitutional Underpinnings and Federalism

Unit Two: Political Beliefs and Behaviors

Unit Three: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and the Mass Media

Unit Four: Institutions of National Government

Unit Five: Public Policy

Unit Six: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

AP Government Exam Date

Tues May 14, 2013!

AP Expectations…

This is a college level course…– I expect college-level work– You can expect to take ownership and

responsibility of your own work! In an AP course, the learning is ultimately up to you! And I am here to help you SUCCEED!

Sample Activities

In this class, we will take active approach to learning: Write a bill and follow it through the process of becoming a law Engage in role playing activities to see how politics affects real

peoples’ lives. For example: Follow branches of government, particularly Congress, through

their everyday lives to get an idea of job specifics Create and become and become involved in an interest group

and lobby the government Simulate a town hall meeting Run for office and give a speech you’ve created Manage a campaign Take part in a Political Action Committee Debate pertinent political issues Analyze, rate, and perform in political ads and commercials

I will emphasize…

Writing Quizzing Testing Practicing Thinking Analyzing Mastering

I will emphasize…

Active-Learning Visualization of ideas Understanding of concepts, not

memorization! HAVING FUN! THE AP EXAM! (May 14, 2013…)