AP U.S. Government and Politics Crash Course Notes

Understanding the AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam Scale

The AP U.S. Government and Politics exam consists of 120 points, with 60 points from multiple-choice questions and 60 points from free-response questions.

  • Score of 90-120: AP Grade 5 (minimum correct: 75%)
  • Score of 75-89: AP Grade 4 (62%)
  • Score of 60-74: AP Grade 3 (50%)
Understanding the AP U.S. Government and Politics Curriculum Outline

Six major topics for multiple-choice questions:

  • The Constitution and Federalism: 5-15%
  • Political Beliefs, Public Opinion, and Voting: 10-20%
  • Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media: 10-20%
  • The Three Branches of Government and Bureaucracy: 35-45%
  • Public Policy and Budget: 5-15%
  • Civil Liberties and Rights: 5-15%
Importance of Released Exams and Free-Response Questions

Released exams from years 1989, 1994, 1999, 2002, and 2009 are valuable resources.
AP Central contains discussions of free-response questions since 1999; topics are often repeated.

Importance of Key Topics

The exam focuses on:

  • Congress and the Presidency: 33% of multiple-choice, 40% of free-response.
  • Supreme Court, Civil Liberties, and Rights: 20% of multiple-choice, 15% of free-response; know 30 key cases.
  • Top Twenty Topics: 33% of multiple-choice, 25% of free-response.
Overlap Between Multiple-Choice and Free-Response Questions

Both sections are derived from the curriculum outline, so studying multiple-choice questions prepares you for free-response too.

Using Your Crash Course Book
  • Chapters 2: Key terms
  • Chapters 3-16: Detailed topic discussions
  • Chapters 17-19: Lists of vital Supreme Court cases and acts of Congress
  • Chapters 20 and 21: Test-taking strategies
Supplementing with College Board and REA Materials

Order the College Board's AP Course Description Booklet and released exams from their website. Visit www.rea.com/crashcourse for updates.

Key Terms
  • Majority Rule: Respect for majority's view
  • Checks and Balances: Each branch limits others' powers
  • Federalism: Division of power between central and regional governments
  • Reserved Powers: Powers held by states through the Tenth Amendment
  • Civil Liberties: Rights protecting individuals from government acts
  • Civil Rights: Laws protecting against discriminatory treatment
Political Culture and Socialization
  • Emphasizes liberty, equality, individualism, and democracy.
  • Political socialization is the formation and transfer of political values, primarily through