AP U.S. Government and Politics - Notes

Here's a breakdown of the topics and skills covered in the AP® U.S. Government and Politics course, which will be assessed through multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and free-response questions (FRQ):

Course Content:

  • Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy (15–22% of the AP Exam)

    • Ideals of Democracy
    • Types of Democracy
    • Government Power and Individual Rights
    • Challenges of the Articles of Confederation
    • Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
    • Principles of American Government
    • Relationship between the States and National Government
    • Constitutional Interpretations of Federalism
    • Federalism in Action

  • Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government (25–36% of the AP Exam)

    • Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives
    • Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress
    • Congressional Behavior
    • Roles and Powers of the President
    • Checks on the Presidency
    • Expansion of Presidential Power
    • Presidential Communication
    • The Judicial Branch
    • The Role of the Judicial Branch
    • The Court in Action
    • Checks on the Judicial Branch
    • The Bureaucracy
    • Discretionary and Rulemaking Authority
    • Holding the Bureaucracy Accountable
    • Policy and the Branches of Government

  • Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (13–18% of the AP Exam)

    • The Bill of Rights
    • First Amendment: Freedom of Religion
    • First Amendment: Freedom of Speech
    • First Amendment: Freedom of the Press
    • Second Amendment: Right to Bear Arms
    • Amendments: Balancing Individual Freedom with Public Order and Safety
    • Selective Incorporation
    • Amendments: Due Process and the Rights of the Accused
    • Amendments: Due Process and the Right to Privacy
    • Social Movements and Equal Protection
    • Government Responses to Social Movements
    • Balancing Minority and Majority Rights
    • Affirmative Action

  • Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs (10–15% of the AP Exam)

    • American Attitudes About Government and Politics
    • Political Socialization
    • Changes in Ideology
    • Influence of Political Events on Ideology
    • Measuring Public Opinion
    • Evaluating Public Opinion Data
    • Ideologies of Political Parties
    • Ideology and Policymaking
    • Ideology and Economic Policy
    • Ideology and Social Policy

  • Unit 5: Political Participation (20–27% of the AP Exam)

    • Voting Rights and Models of Voting Behavior
    • Voter Turnout
    • Political Parties
    • How and Why Political Parties Change and Adapt
    • Third Parties
    • Influencing Politics
    • Interest Groups Influencing Policy Outcomes
    • Presidential Elections
    • Congressional Elections
    • Electing a President
    • Congressional Election
    • Modern Campaigns
    • Changing Media

AP U.S. Government and Politics Course Skills

  • Skill Category 1 Concept Application
  • Skill Category 2 SCOTUS Application
  • Skill Category 3 Data Analysis
  • Skill Category 4 Source Analysis
  • Skill Category 5 Argumentation
    • 1. A Describe the argument, perspective, evidence, and reasoning presented in the source.
    • 2. B Explain how the argument or perspective in the source relates to political principles, institutions, processes, policies and behaviors.

Required Foundational Documents:

  • The Articles of Confederation
  • Brutus No. 1
  • The Constitution of the United States (