AP US Government

Unit 1 – Foundations of American Democracy

Unit 2 – Branches of Government

Unit 3 – Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Unit 4 – American Political Ideologies and Beliefs

Unit 5 – Political Participation

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In this stream, we explore the uniqueness of the American judicial system, the structure of the federal courts, as well as the selection and nomination of federal judges. We also discuss how to start preparing for the SCOTUS FRQ on the AP exam!

Origins of American Democracy

The Road to the Constitution

Unit 1 Overview: Foundations of American Democracy

Introduction

Key Ideals of Democracy

Key Founding Documents

Principles of the American Government

Ideals of Democracy

Required Founding Documents for APGOPO

Required Founding Documents

Types of Democracy

Key Required Documents 

Key Vocabulary

Federalist No. 10 Summary

Brutus No. 1 Summary

Key Questions

Review Time

Federalist No. 10 & Brutus 1 Summary 

Key Weaknesses

Shays' Rebellion 

Things to Review

Challenges of the Articles of Confederation

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Electoral College 

Three-Fifths Compromise  

Compromise on the Importation of Slaves 

Ratification of the U.S. Constitution

Key Terms

Checks and Balances

Separation of Powers

Principles of American Government

What is Federalism?

Article IV

Exclusive and concurrent powers

The changing distribution of power between states and the federal government

Relationship Between States and the Federal Government

Necessary and Proper Clause

Amendments

Supreme Court Cases

Constitutional Interpretations of Federalism

Key Vocabulary 

How Federalism Actually Works

Federalism in Action

Unit 2 Logistics

Congress

The Presidency

The Courts

The Bureaucracy

Unit 2 Overview: Interactions Among Branches of Government

The House of Representatives

The Senate

Powers

Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives 

Tenure

Court-Curbing

Enforcement of Rulings

Partisanship

The Court in Action

Checks on the Supreme Court

Nominations

Activism vs. Restraint

Checks on the Judicial Branch

Types of Bureaucratic Agencies 

Policy Development

Civil Service

How do these powers work?

Discretionary and Rule-Making Authority

Congressional Oversight

Executive Direction

Judicial Rulings

Holding the Bureaucracy Accountable

What does each branch do?

Interactions

Policy and the Branches of Government 

Balancing the Policy-Making Process

Powers Unique to One Chamber

Legislative Process

Structure

Functions

The President's Desk

Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress

Models of Representation

Divided Governments

Congressional Behavior

Presidential Powers

Roles and Power of the President

Executive Appointments and Senate Confirmation

Illustrative Examples

Checks on the Presidency

Key Documents and Developments

Interpreting the President's Power

Key Events and Illustrative Examples

Expansion of Presidential Power

Modern Tech: Social Media

The Bully Pulpit and Impact on Policymaking

Illustrative Example

Presidential Communication

Judicial Review

Structure of the Judicial Branch

Marbury v. Madison and Judicial Review

The Judicial Branch


What is the principle of stare decisis and why is it important in the legal system?

How do courts balance the principle of stare decisis with the need to adapt to changing circumstances and new legal issues?

Can the Supreme Court overrule previous decisions and set new precedents?

How does the ideology of Supreme Court justices impact their decision-making with regards to precedents and stare decisis?

How do presidential appointments and changes in the composition of the Supreme Court affect the precedents it upholds and the principle of stare decisis?

How do lower courts reconcile conflicting precedents from different levels of the judiciary?

How does the principle of stare decisis differ across different legal systems and jurisdictions?

Legitimacy of the Judicial Branch

Some Background

4 Key Points for Each Case

Cases Involving Federalism

Cases Involving the First Amendment

Cases Involving Selective Incorporation

Cases Involving the Equal Protection Clause

Cases Involving Federal Policy

Cases Involving Districting & Representation

Cases Involving Judicial Review

How to study the required court cases?

Unit 3 Overview: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Civil Liberties

Court Interpretations of the Bill of Rights

The Contents

The Bill of Rights

Voting Rights Act 1965

Title IX

Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court Case

Civil Rights Movement (1960s)

Equal Protection Clause

Social Movements and Equal Protection

Responses to the Civil Rights Movement

Responses to Gender Discrimination

Conclusion

Government Responses to Social Movements

Cases to Know

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) 

Summary

Balancing Minority and Majority Rights

Colorblind" Constitution

Grutter v. Bollinger (2003) & Gratz v. Bollinger (2003)

Key Takeaways

Affirmative Action

Freedoms!

Lemon Test 

Important Cases: Illustrative Examples

First Amendment: Freedom of Religion

First Amendment: Freedom of Speech

First Amendment: Freedom of the Press

Interpreting the Amendment

Optional Supreme Court Case Examples

Fast Forward to Today

Second Amendment: Rights to Bear Arms

The Balancing Act

The Eighth Amendment

The Second and Fourth Amendments

Amendments: Balancing Individual Freedom with Public Order and Safety

What is Selective Incorporation?

Cases & Examples

Selective Incorporation & the 14th Amendment

What is the Due Process Clause?

Miranda Rights

Fourteenth and Sixth Amendment

Exceptions to the Fourteenth

Amendments: Due Process and the Rights of the Accused

Amendments: Due Process and the Right to Privacy

Unit 3 – Civil Liberties & Civil Rights

Unit 4 Overview: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs 

Individualism

Equality of Opportunity

Free Enterprise

Rule of Law

Limited Government

American Attitudes about Government and Politics 

Ideologies and Government Intervention

Ideology and Social Policy

Definition 

Socializing Agents

Globalization and U.S. Political Culture

Political Socialization

Generational Effects

Lifecycle effects

Changes in Ideology

Wars

Political Scandals

Economics

Influence of Political Events on Ideology

Unit 4 – American Political Ideologies & Beliefs

Selection and Nomination of Federal Judges - Slides

Selection and Nomination of Federal Judges - Slides

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