1. Welcome to AP US Government and Politics
Unit 1 – Constitutional Democracy
Unit 2 – American Political Culture and Beliefs
Unit 3 – Political Participation
Unit 4 – Congress
Unit 5 – The Presidency and Bureaucracy
Unit 6 – The Budget and Economic Policy
Unit 7 – The Judiciary, Civil Rights and Liberties

2. Teaching Strategies & Class Activities
Discussion (large and small group)
Reading (about a chapter/week)
Writing (almost daily)
Panel discussions/debate
Current events
Simulations (elections, mock congress, trial)
Technology
Guest speakers

3. Why study government?

4. Introducing Government
Chapter 1
Warm-up: One question I still have about this chapter is…

5. Young People and Politics
Millennials and the next generation have a low sense of political efficacy—the belief that political participation matters and can make a difference.
Young people are the most active members of their communities but have less interest in politics than older generations.

6. Government
Institutions of Government: Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Bureaucracy
These institutions make policy

7. Republican Government
The United States is a republic, where representatives are elected to carry out citizens’ preferences.

8. Politics
Politics
The process by which we select our government leaders and what policies these leaders produce.

9. Linkage Institutions
Political Parties
Elections
Media
Interest Groups

10. The Policy Making Process
Policy Making Involves:
Individuals or groups identify a problem
The problem becomes part of the policy agenda
Congress passes legislation
The bureaucracy implements it
Feedback leads to revisions

11. Policy Agenda
The issues that government is addressing at a point in time
Items at the top of the policy agenda are taken care of first.
It may take years to get an item on the policy agenda and then several more years to enact policy.

12. Implementation Once policy is implemented, feedback occurs:
Effective or ineffective?
Are the resources available?
Does the policy need to be revised/clarified?

13. Democracy
Democracies have free and fair elections with civil rights and liberties.

14. Some Elements of Democracy
Equality in voting
Effective participation
Enlightened understanding
Citizen control of the agenda
Inclusion

15. Theories of US Democracy
Pluralist Theory
A theory of government and policies emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.
Public interest will prevail

16. Bowling Alone
In Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam argues that American civil society (groups outside of government control) is threatened by a decline in group-based participation

17. Theories of US Democracy
Participatory Democracy: Broad participation in policies and civil society
Civil Society: Voluntary associations independent of government

18. Theories of US Democracy
Elite Theory
A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule.
Policies benefit those with money / power

19. Political Culture
Political culture is the set of shared values within American society.
Americans share a commitment to:
Individualism
Rule of Law
Limited Government
Equality of Opportunity

20. American Political Values
Individualism
Focus on individual rights and responsibilities
Rule of Law
The notion that the law is supreme and no one is above the law

21. American Political Values
Limited Government
The idea that the government’ power is enumerated and constrained by constitutional rules
Equality of Opportunity
The idea that everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed (not equality of result)

22. Challenges to Democracy
Increased Complexity of Issues
Limited Participation in Government
Escalating Campaign Costs
Diverse Political Interests

23. Questions About Democracy
Are people knowledgeable enough about government?
Is low voter turnout a threat to democracy?
Do political parties meet the needs of most American voters?

24. Questions About Democracy
What is the proper balance between individual freedom, social order, and equality of opportunity?