AP Gov

  1. Foundations of American Democracy

    • Understanding the principles of democracy: popular sovereignty, limited government, and individual rights.

    • The Constitutional framework: Articles of Confederation, U.S. Constitution, Federalism.

    • The Federalist Papers: key arguments in favor of ratifying the Constitution.

  2. Political Beliefs and Behaviors

    • Public opinion: factors that shape it and how it’s measured (polling).

    • Political socialization: family, schools, media influence.

    • Voter behavior: demographics, party identification, and trends in voting.

  3. Political Parties and Interest Groups

    • The role of political parties in American government.

    • Differences between major and minor parties.

    • Interest groups: types, roles, and how they influence politics.

  4. Elections and Campaigns

    • Understanding the electoral process: primaries, caucuses, general elections.

    • Campaign finance laws and regulations.

    • The impact of media and technology on campaigns.

  5. Institutions of Government

    • Structure and functions of the three branches: Legislative (Congress), Executive (President), and Judicial (Supreme Court).

    • Checks and balances, separation of powers, and how they function in practice.

    • The role of bureaucracies in implementing laws and policies.

  6. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

    • Key Supreme Court cases related to civil liberties (e.g., free speech, right to privacy).

    • The concept of civil rights: historical context and key legislation (e.g., Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act).

    • Contemporary issues in civil rights and liberties.

  7. Public Policy

    • The policymaking process: agenda setting, formulation, adoption, and evaluation.

    • Types of public policy: economic, social, and foreign policy.

    • The role of the federal budget in policy decisions.