"Government is the social science that studies the processes, principles, and structure of political institutions and the exercise of authority and the act of governing, especially the control and administration of public policy in a political unit."  - Wikipedia

The AP United States Government and Politics course will give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. government and politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. government and politics as well as with a variety of theoretical perspectives and explanations for various behaviors and outcomes. By providing students with an understanding of the purpose of government, how it works, and the responsibilities of citizens living in a democratic society, this course seeks to create socially and politically informed students who possess the ability to make future decisions that will ensure the survival of the ideals that America was founded upon. 

Students successfully completing this course will:

• Understand the purpose of government.

• Compare and contrast different forms of government.

• Examine and Analyze the political theories that formed the foundation for the U.S. government.

• Understand the roles and responsibilities of the different branches of the American government.

• Examine how interpretations of the Constitution have change over time.

• Understand and Critique the American election process.

• Analyze and Interpret basic data relevant to U.S. government and politics (including data presented in charts, tables, and other formats)

• Detect bias in the media, political commentaries, and political campaigns. 

• Trace the evolution of Americans’ civil rights and liberties

• Critically Evaluate relevant theories and concepts, apply them appropriately, andd develop their connections across the curriculumm 

Our ultimate objective will be reached the first week of December, 2015, when each of you will sit down fully prepared to pass an AP Examination in American Government....and for many of you it will continue until Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 8:00am when you will be taking the actual AP exam in order to get college credit!