LECTURE #1: Introduction to U.S. Government & Politics Derrick J. Johnson, MPA, JD Advanced Placement United States Government & Politics, School for Advanced Studies

Why Should You Know about U.S. Government and Politics? The study of government and politics in the United States is an important and intriguing sojourn. After all, democracy will not work if a citizenry does not understand political issues and process. The study of government and politics in the United States is an important and intriguing sojourn. After all, democracy will not work if a citizenry does not understand political issues and process.

Why Should You Know about U.S. Government and Politics? The main objective of this course is to provide the student with the instruction, tools, and learning environment needed to develop the knowledge and skills to earn college credit upon taking the Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics Examination. The main objective of this course is to provide the student with the instruction, tools, and learning environment needed to develop the knowledge and skills to earn college credit upon taking the Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics Examination. All students registered for the course are required to take the test. AP United States Government & Politics is a highly demanding college-level course. This is not a course in which the student can afford to wait until the last minute to catch up on readings and assignments. All students registered for the course are required to take the test. AP United States Government & Politics is a highly demanding college-level course. This is not a course in which the student can afford to wait until the last minute to catch up on readings and assignments.

What Skills and Abilities Should You Acquire? First, you need to know your facts, concepts, and theories. Content knowledge is very important. First, you need to know your facts, concepts, and theories. Content knowledge is very important. Next, you need to understand patterns, principles, and consequences of political processes and organizations. Next, you need to understand patterns, principles, and consequences of political processes and organizations. For example, what consequences do voter patterns have on those who get elected to office? For example, what consequences do voter patterns have on those who get elected to office? The fact that people with higher levels of education are likely to vote does make a difference on who gets to make policy in this country. The fact that people with higher levels of education are likely to vote does make a difference on who gets to make policy in this country.

What Skills and Abilities Should You Acquire? Why is it important that each state is represented equally in the Senate and in proportion to population in the House of Representatives? Why is it important that each state is represented equally in the Senate and in proportion to population in the House of Representatives? You can memorize those facts, but you also need to be able to consider what effect that organization has on policy decisions. You can memorize those facts, but you also need to be able to consider what effect that organization has on policy decisions. You must be able to analyze and interpret data on charts, graphs, and tables, and to occasionally interpret political cartoon. You must be able to analyze and interpret data on charts, graphs, and tables, and to occasionally interpret political cartoon.

What Skills and Abilities Should You Acquire? Pay close attention to structure and wording of the free response questions and allow the structure and wording to guide your answers. Never begin to answer a question until you are absolutely sure that you know what the question is asking. For example, don’t read through a question and say to yourself, “This question is about campaign finance reform,” and just begin writing. Be sure that you are absolutely sure that you answer precisely and completely what the question is asking. Answer the whole question and nothing but the question. Pay close attention to structure and wording of the free response questions and allow the structure and wording to guide your answers. Never begin to answer a question until you are absolutely sure that you know what the question is asking. For example, don’t read through a question and say to yourself, “This question is about campaign finance reform,” and just begin writing. Be sure that you are absolutely sure that you answer precisely and completely what the question is asking. Answer the whole question and nothing but the question.

What is the Format of the A.P. U.S. Government and Politics Exam? The A.P. U.S. Government & Politics Exam will test how well students are able to grasp American political issues and processes. The A.P. U.S. Government & Politics Exam will test how well students are able to grasp American political issues and processes. There are two sections on the A.P. U.S. Government and Politics Examination. There are two sections on the A.P. U.S. Government and Politics Examination. Multiple choice section Multiple choice section Free response section Free response section There are 60 multiple choice questions (45 minutes time limit). There are 60 multiple choice questions (45 minutes time limit). There are 4 free response questions (100 minutes time limit). There are 4 free response questions (100 minutes time limit). There are six units that will appear on the A.P. U.S. Government and Politics Examination. They are as follow: There are six units that will appear on the A.P. U.S. Government and Politics Examination. They are as follow:

Constitutional Foundations of United States Government 5 – 15% 5 – 15% Constitutional & Democratic Theory Constitutional & Democratic Theory Federalism Federalism 10 – 20% 10 – 20% Political Culture Political Culture Political Participation Political Participation Public Opinion Public Opinion Voting Patterns Voting Patterns Beliefs and Behaviors about Government

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and the Mass Media 10 – 20% 10 – 20% Political Parties Political Parties Campaigns & Elections Campaigns & Elections Interests Groups Interests Groups Mass Media Mass Media 35 – 45% 35 – 45% Congress The House of Representatives The Senate Institutions of Government

The Presidency The Presidency The President The President The Vice President The Vice President The Cabinet The Cabinet The Bureaucracy The Bureaucracy Agencies Agencies The Military The Military The Judiciary The Judiciary The Supreme Court The Supreme Court Lower Federal Courts Lower Federal Courts

Civil Rights & Liberties 5 – 15% 5 – 15% Civil Rights Civil Rights Racial Equality Movements Racial Equality Movements African Americans African Americans Hispanic Americans Hispanic Americans Native Americans Native Americans Asian Americans Asian Americans Women’s Rights Movement Women’s Rights Movement Americans with Disabilities Americans with Disabilities Gay & Lesbian Rights Gay & Lesbian Rights Affirmative Action Affirmative Action

Civil Liberties Civil Liberties Freedom of Religion Freedom of Religion Establishment Clause Establishment Clause Free Exercise Clause Free Exercise Clause Freedom of Speech Freedom of Speech Freedom of the Press Freedom of the Press Freedom of Assembly and Petition Freedom of Assembly and Petition Property Rights Property Rights Right to Privacy Right to Privacy Rights of the Accused Rights of the Accused Search and Seizures Search and Seizures Self-Incrimination Self-Incrimination Right to Counsel Right to Counsel Cruel & Unusual Punishment Cruel & Unusual Punishment

Public Policy 5 – 15% 5 – 15% Domestic Policy Domestic Policy Economic Policy Economic Policy Foreign Policy Foreign Policy

Scoring the A.P. U.S. Government and Politics Exam The composite score for the A.P. U.S. Government and Politics exam is 120 points. The composite score for the A.P. U.S. Government and Politics exam is 120 points. The composite score is determined by adding the score from the multiple choice section to the essay section score and rounding that sum to the nearest whole number. The composite score is determined by adding the score from the multiple choice section to the essay section score and rounding that sum to the nearest whole number. There are five possible categories of the scores on the exam (1- 5). The categories correlate with the composite scores in the following manner: There are five possible categories of the scores on the exam (1- 5). The categories correlate with the composite scores in the following manner:

Scoring the A.P. U.S. Government and Politics Exam Composite Score Range AP ScoreInterpretation Mid 80s – 120 points5 Extremely qualified for college credit Mid 70s – Mid 80s points4 Well qualified for college credit High 40s – Mid70s points3Qualified for college credit High 20s – High 40s points 2 Possibly qualified for college credit 0 – High 20s points1Not qualified for college credit

THE END OF LECTURE #1