AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
About AP U.S. Government & Politics
AP U.S. Government and Politics provides a college-level, nonpartisan introduction to key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. Students will study U.S. foundational documents, Supreme Court decisions, and other texts and visuals to gain an understanding of the relationships and interactions among political institutions, processes, and behaviors. They will also engage in disciplinary practices that require them to read and interpret data, make comparisons and applications, and develop evidence-based arguments. In addition, they will complete a political science research or applied civics project.
Project Requirement
The required project adds a civic component to the course, engaging students in exploring how they can affect, and are affected by, government and politics throughout their lives. The project might have students collect data on a teacher-approved political science topic, participate in a community service activity, or observe and report on the policymaking process of a governing body. Students should plan a presentation that relates their experiences or findings to what they are learning in the course.
Skills You'll Learn
Connecting political concepts to real-life situations
Explaining the impact and implications of certain U.S. Supreme Court decisions
Analyzing data to find patterns and trends and draw conclusions
Reading and analyzing text and visual sources
Developing a claim or thesis and supporting it in an essay
Prerequisites
Grade 12 or older
College Course Equivalent
AP U.S. Government and Politics is equivalent to a one-semester introductory college course in U.S. government.
Summer Homework
There is no summer work for this class!
Contact Information
Teacher - Mark Lutz , Anna O'Neill
AP Coordinator - Dave Haluga
College/Career Counselor - Liz Emmons