This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the economic and political systems of the United States. The course is aligned with the College Board curriculum and covers the following topics:

Constitutional Foundations: This unit explores the origins and evolution of the US Constitution, including the Articles of Confederation, the Constitutional Convention, and the Bill of Rights. Students will examine the key principles and concepts of the Constitution and analyze their impact on American politics and government.

Federalism: This unit examines the division of power between the federal government and the states. Students will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of federalism and explore the roles of the federal and state governments in policy making.

The Three Branches of Government: This unit explores the roles and responsibilities of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. Students will examine the processes of lawmaking, enforcement, and interpretation and analyze the checks and balances that ensure the separation of powers.

Bureaucracy: This unit examines the role of the federal bureaucracy in implementing policies and enforcing laws. Students will analyze the structure and function of the bureaucracy and evaluate its impact on American politics and government.

Ideology and Policymaking: This unit explores the different ideologies that shape American politics, including liberalism, conservatism, and libertarianism. Students will analyze the ways in which ideology influences policy making and evaluate the effectiveness of different policy approaches.

Political Participation: This unit examines the various forms of political participation, including voting, lobbying, and protest. Students will analyze the factors that influence political participation and evaluate the impact of different forms of participation on American politics and government.

Throughout the course, students will study foundational documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, and landmark Supreme Court cases such as Marbury v. Madison, Brown v. Board of Education, and Roe v. Wade. Emphasis will be placed on how different parts of the government interact with each other and the populace, incorporating the system of checks and balances.

Students will be expected to engage in critical analysis of primary and secondary sources, participate in class discussions, and complete various assignments including essays, research papers, and presentations. The course will prepare students to take the AP exam in May by providing rigorous and challenging coursework that develops their analytical and critical thinking skills.

At a glance:

• Comprehensive understanding of US economic and political systems: This course provides students with a thorough grasp of the economic and political systems of the United States, aligned with the College Board curriculum.

• Key topics covered: Students will explore constitutional foundations, federalism, the three branches of government, bureaucracy, ideology and policymaking, and political participation, analyzing their impact on American politics and government.

• Emphasis on critical analysis and exam preparation: Students will engage in critical analysis of foundational documents, participate in discussions, and complete various assignments, preparing them for the AP exam through rigorous coursework that develops analytical and critical thinking skills.