AP Government 2016

Name:
Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings
Calendar & Learning Objectives (Chapters 1 - 3)
Day #

Date

Tasks

Reading/Assignments

Winter
Break

Read Chapters 1 & 2

Relax!

HW: CN Ch 1 & 2
Vocab for Ch 1 & 2

Monday
1/4

Course Intro / Political Survey

Obamas In-box
Crash Course GoPo #1
Intro John Locke Prcis

HW: John Locke Prcis

~ 150 Words

Wednesda
y
1/6

Quiz Ch 1 & 2
Jigsaw/Review Ch 1 & 2
John Lockes Contributions Debrief
Intro Declaration of Independence

HW: Federalist #51

Precis (Madisons Checks
& Balances)

Monday
1/11

Sunnylands on the Constitution

PPt The Constitution
Debrief Madisons Federalist #51
Federalist #78

HW:
Ch
3
Guided
Reading & Vocabulary

Wednesda
y
1/13

Quiz Chapter 3
Constitution Scavenger Hunt
PPt Federalism

HW: First FRQ Practice

Friday
1/15

Review First FRQ

Constitution Group Test
Hurricane Katrina (Federalism in Action)

HW: Unit 1 Review

Study for Exam

Wednesda
y
1/20

Unit 1 Exam

HW: Unit 2 Worksheets

Note: Your instructor reserves the right to amend, add to, subtract from this calendar as
necessary. Please make changes accordingly on this calendar if necessary.

Learning Objectives for Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings

Historical development and adoption of
the Constitution
Separation of Powers

Checks and balances

Federalism
Theories of modern government

1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5

2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8

3.1
3.2

3.3

3.4

Learning Objectives Chapter 1: Introducing Government in America (page 2)

Identify the key functions of government and explain why they matter.
Define politics in the context of democratic government.
Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policies and how policies can impact
people.
Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in
practice and the challenges democracy faces today.
Outline the central arguments of the debate in America over the proper scope of
government.
Learning Objectives Chapter 2: The Constitution (page 29)
Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the
Constitution.
Analyze how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to its failure.
Describe the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the core ideas they shared.
Categorize the issues at the Constitutional Convention and outline their resolutions
reached on each type of issue.
Analyze how the components of the Madisonian system addressed the dilemma of
reconciling majority rule with the protection of minority interests.
Compare and contrast the federalists and anti-federalists in terms of their background
and their positions regarding government
Explain how the Constitution can be formally amended and how it changes informally.
Assess whether the Constitution establishes a majoritarian democracy and how it limits
the scope of government.
Learning Objectives Chapter 3: Federalism (page 65)
Define Federalism and explain its consequences for American politics and policy.
Outline what the Constitution says about division of power between national and state
governments and states obligations to each other in trace the increasing importance of the
national government.
Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal
federalism and intergovernmental relations today.
Assess the impact of federalism on democratic government and the scope of government