1. Intro to AP Government
AP Whaaaat???!!

2. AP Government is…
From the AP Web Site: AP® United States Government and Politics is an intensive study of the formal and informal structures of government and the processes of the American political system, with an emphasis on policy-making and implementation

3. What are we doing this semester?
Course syllabus – take a look at it!

4. AP Government Units
Unit One: Constitutional Underpinnings and Federalism Unit Two: Political Beliefs and Behaviors Unit Three: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and the Mass Media Unit Four: Institutions of National Government Unit Five: Public Policy Unit Six: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

5. AP Government Exam Date
Tues May 14, 2013!

6. AP Expectations… This is a college level course…
I expect college-level work
You can expect to take ownership and responsibility of your own work! In an AP course, the learning is ultimately up to you! And I am here to help you SUCCEED!

7. Sample Activities
In this class, we will take active approach to learning:
 Write a bill and follow it through the process of becoming a law
 Engage in role playing activities to see how politics affects real peoples’ lives. For example:
 Follow branches of government, particularly Congress, through their everyday lives to get an idea of job specifics
 Create and become and become involved in an interest group and lobby the government
 Simulate a town hall meeting
 Run for office and give a speech you’ve created
 Manage a campaign
 Take part in a Political Action Committee
 Debate pertinent political issues
 Analyze, rate, and perform in political ads and commercials

8. I will emphasize… Writing Quizzing Testing Practicing Thinking
Analyzing
Mastering

9. I will emphasize… Active-Learning Visualization of ideas
Understanding of concepts, not memorization!
HAVING FUN!
THE AP EXAM! (May 14, 2013…)