Course Title:  AP US Government and Politics
 
2 Semesters – 10 Credits – 5 Class periods per week
 

Course Objectives:
A crucial aspect for a Christ-centered discussion of American Government necessitates a firm grasp of a Biblical Core.  Similar to other Social Studies classes, students will be challenged to apply “Core Biblical Truths” to various aspects of both Government and Economics.  Foremost, students must understand the importance of God’s sovereignty in any government system and the necessity of the governing bodies to recognize His proper place.  They must also recognize the governmental disaster that looms when God is removed from His seat of authority and depraved man institutes him and his “flesh controlled” desires instead.  This study must also include notions of stewardship both public and private analyzing both the benefits and hardship created when godly stewardship is followed or ignored.  Once more, the building of this Biblical Core becomes the center of study from which all other topics find their foundation.
 
AP US Government and Politics is an intensive year-long analytical study of the government; formal and informal processes, policy making, government institutions, the impact of the media.  Students are required to keep abreast of the news and analyze articles in various newspapers to determine bias.  The course puts emphasis on critical analysis of current events and how those apply to current class discussion.  Students will be challenged to be more than just passive observers.  Through this course, they will be shown the outlets available to them to participate in the formation of government.
 
Course Description:
Pursuant to the directions of the College Board, a course in US Government and Politics must include certain prerequisite studies.  Because the Constitution is paramount to the functioning of the government and how it should function, a strong introduction at the beginning of the course is emphasized.  Coupled with the Biblical Core, this becomes the course’s foundation.  Both are continually referrenced throughout the remainder of the year.  From this foundational point, the students study Federalism, both how it was envisioned in the Constitution and how it has been altered in the years since that document was written.  Further Constitutional analysis occurs in a section which exams the Civil Liberties that are granted in the Bill of Rights and Civil Rights which stem from a series of Supreme Court decisions.  Both of these sections examine the Court as an arbitor when the government has stepped beyond the boundaries, both actual and perceived, as interpretted by the Constitution.  Once the examination of the Constitution and how it works is completed, students begin a lengthy study in the various institutions of the government as created by (and implied by) the Constitution.  They will examine the functions of the Congress and their law making abilities; the Judicial branch and their ability to interpret and apply the laws; the Executive Branch and the scope of power wielded by both the president and the bureaucracy in the enforcement of  the laws.  As the bureaucracy is scrutinized, students will also investigate the various aspects of public policy from governmental spending to taxation; from military policy to domestic policy; from education to welfare, to name just a few.  As the government portion of the course concludes, the students will discuss the political process:  the relationship between the Media and public opinion; the influence of interest groups and political parties; the campaign process, voting and elections; and the participatory role required by all citizens in the nation.
Once the AP exam is taken, students launch into an intensive study of economics.  This basis and cursory study of economics provides them with the basic tools necessary to comprehend an introductory course in college economics.  This study includes: a discussion of macro- economics and economic terms and principals; market structures and different economic systems, including a comparative study of various economic systems; the importance of the Free Market for our economic system; the banking system and the function of the Federal Reserve; a discussion of micro-economics entailing personal finance, budgetting, banking, investing and financial planning.
 
 
Textbooks:
The Bible
 
O’Connor, Karen and Larry J. Sabato.  American Government: Continuity and      Change, 2002 Edition, NewYork: Addison, Wesley, Longman, Inc., 2002.
 
Supplemental:
Woll, Peter.  American Government: Readings and Cases, 12^th Edition, New         York: Harper Collins, 1996.
 
Other Materials:
Magazines: National Review, US News and World Report, Smithsonian, World, New American
Newspapers: LA Times, New York Times, Orange County Register, the Washington Post, Local papers
Excerpts from Fox News, CNN, MS NBC
Numerous Web-sites
 
 
Prerequisites:
For admission to AP US Government and Politics, students must be either a junior or senior who has completed both World History and US History (AP or Regular).  They may also have completed AP European History in lieu of World History.  In all their history classes, they must have obtained at least a “B” in all semesters and have teacher recommendations that profess of a readiness to participate in AP level classes.  A written test assessing their reading, writing and historical knowledge may also be required for students coming in outside of the Woodcrest Christian School System.