AP U.S. Government & Politics

AP US Government is a college-level course. This course will introduce key concepts, ideas, policies, institutions, and interactions of the US government and will require analysis of primary source documents to understand the constitutional system.

Prerequisite

Final year average of an A in Honors World History plus an A in English or an A or B in Honors English

Special Purchases

AP U.S. Government & Politics Crash CourseISBN-13: 978-0738612492

Homework Estimate

Approximately 3-5 hours per week

Major Concepts Covered

AP U.S. Government and Politics covers the following: Foundations of American democracy, interactions among the branches of government, civil liberties, and civil rights, American political ideologies and beliefs, and political participation; key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. Foundational documents, landmark Supreme Court cases, and opportunities for research and civic action are key elements that prepare students to be informed and active participants in society.

Insider Information

Writing is an integral part of this course and those with weak writing skills should consider if they are willing to put forth the work needed to be successful in this course.

AP U.S. Government and Politics requires the ability to apply political concepts to scenarios in context, apply Supreme Court decisions, and analyze and interpret quantitative data represented in tables, charts, graphs, and maps. Students must be able to read, analyze, and interpret foundational documents and be proficient at writing argumentative essays.