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AP Central Student Portal (Generic site for all AP courses)
AP Central hub for United States Government & Politics
Released 2019 Free Response Questions (PDF file)
The AP exam for this course is scheduled for Mon, May 4, 2020, 8:00 a.m.
- Students enrolled in the AP U.S. Gov't. & Politics course are expected to take this exam.
- Concerns over family ability to pay for the exam should be brought to the attention of Mr. Tuccillo and/or the student's Guidance Counselor.
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AP GOV'T & POLITICS UNIT OUTLINE
The AP U.S. Government & Politics course is composed of the following units (AP exam weighting given in percentages):
1. Foundations of American Democracy (15-20%)
2. Interactions Among Branches of Government (25-36%)
3. Civil Liberties & Civil Rights (13-18%)
4. American Political Ideologies & Beliefs (10-15%)
5. Political Participation (20-27%)
6. Civics Projects
- Community Service Project (40 hours)
- Local Civic Engagement: Observations of local government board meetings (4)
- Mock Congress Simulation
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REQUIRED FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS
Foundational Documents are necessary for students to understand the philosophical underpinnings and political values of the U.S. political system and may serve as the focus of AP exam questions. The following list represents the required readings for the course:
1. The Declaration of Independence
2. The Articles of Confederation
3. Brutus I
8. The Constitution of the U.S. (inc. the Bill of Rights & other amendments)
9. Letter from a Birmingham Jail
An AP exam review summary of all nine foundational documents can be found HERE.
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REQUIRED SUPREME COURT CASES
Supreme Court (SCOTUS) cases are necessary for students to understand significant legal precedents may serve as the focus of AP exam questions. The following list represents required Supreme Court cases as related to enduring understandings in the content outline:
FEDERALISM
GOV'T POWER vs. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
6. New York Times v. United States
EQUAL PROTECTION OF INDIVIDUALS
8. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, KA
SELECTIVE INCORPORATION TO PREVENT STATE INFRINGEMENT
10. Roe v. Wade
FEDERAL ELECTIONS
12. Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
13. Baker v. Carr
14. Shaw v. Reno
JUDICIAL BRANCH
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HOMEWORK GUIDELINES
Typically, homework for the AP class will be assigned by chapter. For that chapter, students should identify the bold terms from the list of "Key Terms and Documents" at the end of each chapter in the class text, American Democracy Now. Please follow the following format in completing your homework:
1. Heading: Full name & Chapter Number.
2. Each identification has two parts:
- Definition: the textbook definition of that term
- ID: This demonstrates your thinking about the term. The ID can be an example, analysis, cause/effect, importance, relationship to historical/contemporary events, or a specific question that the student would like answered concerning the term.
3. Number each identification (If there are 17 terms, they should be numbered 1-17).
GRADING
1. Homework is due by 11:59:59 p.m. on the date provided for each assignment.
2. Late homework is not accepted and will result in a grade of '0'. There are no exceptions. Each assignment will provide the student with multiple days before its due date. Absence from school or from class - for whatever reason - does not affect this policy.
3. Homework may be emailed to me (anthonytuccillo@saugerties.k12.ny.us) or a picture can be sent via the Remind app in order to be considered 'on-time'. A paper copy of the homework should then be provided to me at the earliest opportunity. Student assumes liability if turning in work electronically/digitally.
4. Homework that is incomplete (not all terms completed or missing either part of the identification for any term) will result in a grade of '50'. Incomplete homework that constitutes less than 50% of the assignment will result in a '0'.
5. Plagiarized work will result in a '0' for all parties concerned and potential disciplinary measures.
