Novak

Integrated A.P. Government and Politics

2011-2012

UNIT I: Theoretical and Constitutional Structure of the American System California State Standards Addressed in this Unit: 12.1 Students will explain the fundamental principals and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy. 12.2 Students evaluate and take and defend positions on the scope and limits of rights and obligations as democratic citizens, the relationships among them, and hoe they are secured. 12.5 Students summarize landmark U.S. Supreme Court Interpretations of the U.S. Constitution and its amendments.

Reading:

G/A Chapter 1 (2-26), Chapter 2 (28-63), Handouts: news articles Consent of the Governed Limited Government Articles of Confederation Shays Rebellion U.S. Constitution Factions New Jersey Plan Virginia Plan Connecticut Compromise Writ of Habeas Corpus Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Republic Federalist Anti-federalist Federalist Papers 10 and 51 Bill of rights Equal Rights Amendment Marbury v. Madison Judicial review People Thomas Hobbes - Leviathan John Locke - Second Treatise on Government Baron Montesquieu - Spirit of the Laws Max Weber The Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism C. Wright Mills The Power Elite

Chapter 1 Government Public Goods Politics Political participation Single-issue groups Policy making system Linkage institutions Policy agenda Political agenda Policy making institutions Public policy Democracy Majority Rule Minority Rights Representation Pluralist Theory Elite and class theory Hyper-pluralism Policy gridlock Gross domestic policy Individualism Chapter 2 Constitution Declaration of Independence Natural Rights

Major Themes & Issues: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. terminology basic to political science differentiating various types of governments basic theories that underlie governments (generally) and American democracy (specifically) theories of who actually rules in a republic historical evolution that created our Constitution and the struggle over its ratification essential concepts embodied in the Constitution

Activities and Assignments: Summer Writing Assignments & Journal Summer News Quiz Quick Write Unit Exam