AP U.S. Government and Politics

Below you will find C-SPAN Classroom resources relating to the topics and categories listed above. Click on each title to expand the section and view the featured resources.

AP U.S. Gov Resource Crosswalks

Find C-SPAN Classroom resources that directly align to College Board's Course and Exam Description (CED) for AP U.S. Government and Politics with the following unit-by-unit crosswalks!

AP U.S. Government and Politics Content Outline

Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy

LOR-1: A balance between governmental power and individual rights has been a hallmark of American political development.

CON-1: The Constitution emerged from the debate about the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation as a blueprint for limited government.

PMI-1: The Constitution created a competitive policy-making process to ensure the people’s will is represented and that freedom is preserved.

CON-2: Federalism reflects the dynamic distribution of power between national and state governments.

Unit 1 Review Resources Collection

Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government

CON-3: The republican ideal in the U.S. is manifested in the structure and operation of the legislative branch.

CON-4: The presidency has been enhanced beyond its expressed constitutional powers.

CON-5: The design of the judicial branch protects the Supreme Court’s independence as a branch of government, and the emergence and use of judicial review remains a powerful judicial practice.

PMI-2: The federal bureaucracy is a powerful institution implementing federal policies with sometimes questionable accountability. 

Unit 2 Review Resources Collection

Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights 

LOR-2: Provisions of the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights are continually being interpreted to balance the power of government and the civil liberties of individuals.

PRD-1: The Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause as well as other constitutional provisions have often been used to support the advancement of equality.

PMI-3: Public policy promoting civil rights is influenced by citizen–state interactions and constitutional interpretation over time. 

CON-6: The Supreme Court’s interpretation of the U.S. Constitution is influenced by the composition of the Court and citizen–state interactions. At times, it has restricted minority rights and, at others, protected them.

Unit 3 Review Resources Collection

Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs 

MPA-1: Citizen beliefs about government are shaped by the intersection of demographics, political culture, and dynamic social change.

MPA-2: Public opinion is measured through scientific polling, and the results of public opinion polls influence public policies and institutions.

PMI-4: Widely held political ideologies shape policy debates and choices in American policies.

Unit 4 Review Resources Collection

Unit 5: Political Participation 

MPA-3: Factors associated with political ideology, efficacy, structural barriers, and demographics influence the nature and degree of political participation.

PMI-5: Political parties, interest groups, and social movements provide opportunities for participation and influence how people relate to government and policymakers.

PRD-2: The impact of federal policies on campaigning and electoral rules continues to be contested by both sides of the political spectrum.

PRD-3: The various forms of media provide citizens with political information and influence the ways in which they participate politically.

Unit 5 Review Resources Collection

The Great Debate on the Constitution

This *NEW* resource is a useful tool for teachers and students that pairs the text of the U.S. Constitution with the Federalist Papers!

Resource: The Great Debate on the Constitution (Google Doc)

Required Documents and Supreme Court Cases 

Required Foundational Documents

Required Supreme Court Cases

Practice Free Response Prompts

Practice Free Response Prompts (Google Docs)

Review Resources 

*NEW* Review Resources Collections

Review Lessons

Cram for the Exam Programs


Online Review Games and Activities

*Some online activities might require a login to access them.

Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances Resources

A list of key terms with C-SPAN clips explaining or exemplifying the term can be found on our Government and Politics Key Vocabulary Terms Featured Resources site.