Advanced Placement United States Government
Unit 1A: American Constitutional Government
Chapters 1.1-1.3, 2 and 3.1 in the O’Connor text

The AP student’s primary responsibility is to read each day’s assigned section of the textbook and to have a solid grasp of the main ideas, concepts, and terminology in that section.  Each class period may begin with a quiz that evaluates the student’s understanding of the material.  The teacher’s role is to clarify the significance of the readings, concepts, and terms and to facilitate a discussion of the material that enhances student understanding.  If the student does not fully understand a term or concept, he/she must ask in class.

In preparation for class on…	Topic	Section	Main Ideas, Concepts, and Terminology	Other	
Thu, Aug 29	Types of Government	1.1-1.3	direct vs. indirect democracy (republic)
initiative, referendum, recall (see pp. 335-37)
Summarize the functions of the American government.		
Fri, Aug 30	
		Tip: Use the 3-day weekend to get ahead on next week’s readings		
Mon, Sep 2	
		NO SCHOOL – Labor Day		
Tue, Sep 3	Roots of the Constitution	2.1	Identify several differences/disagreements between Britain
   and the colonies that led to separation in 1776.
Summarize Locke’s social-contract theory.	Declaration of Independence	
Wed, Sep 4	Articles of Confederation	2.2	Describe several key aspects of the Articles of Confed.
Identify several key weaknesses in the Articles of Confed.
Explain how Shays’ Rebellion contributed to the call for a new
   constitution.		
Thu, Sep 5	The Constitutional Convention	2.3	Summarize key elements of the Great Compromise; explain
   why it satisfied both “big” (more populous) and “small”
   (less populous) states.
Tip: Watch Crash Course G&P #5 (Constitutional Compromises)		
Fri, Sep 6	
		Tip: Use Quizlet to review all vocabulary learned so far		
Mon, Sep 9	The Ratification Debate	2.5	Contrast the Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
What was the purpose of The Federalist Papers?
Identify Madison’s main argument in Federalist No. 10 & 51.
How did the Bill of Rights help win approval of the Const?	Federalist 84 and Federalist 10	
Tue, Sep 10	
		Tip: Watch videos on Federalist 10 & 51		
Wed, Sep 11	The U.S. Constitution	2.4	What is the significance of the Constitution’s opening words,
   “We the People…”?
federalism (or federal system of government)
separation of powers
Identify the primary power/function of each branch of gov’t.
checks and balances
Provide one example of a check/balance each branch has on
   the others (L-E, L-J, E-L, E-J, J-E, J-L).
Summarize what is contained in each article of the Const.
Tip: Watch Crash Course G&P #3 (Separation of Powers/Checks & Balances) & #4 (Federalism)		
Thu, Sep 12	Government Powers	3.1 (partial)	federal vs. unitary vs. confederation systems of government
enumerated powers
implied powers, Necessary and Proper Clause
Supremacy Clause
reserved powers, Tenth Amendment
concurrent powers		
Fri, Sep 13	
		Tip: Use the weekend to study (Stage 1: General Review), using your notes, test-prep book, Quizlet, Crash Course videos, etc.	Federalist 51	
Mon, Sep 16	
		Tip: Watch video on Brutus 1	Brutus 1	
Tue, Sep 17	
			Constitution Day
Celebration	
Wed, Sep 18	
		Tip: Start studying with multiple choice (Stage 2: Practice) for 15-30 minutes each day between now and the test	MID-UNIT QUIZ 1A	

Thu, Sep 19	Amending the Constitution	2.6	Describe the amendment process.  (Identify one method used
   in each step: proposal and ratification.)
Describe informal ways the Constitution can be “amended.”		
Fri, Sep 20	
		Tip: Continue studying with multiple choice (Stage 2: Practice) this weekend; make note of “stuff you don’t know” and focus on those items		
Mon, Sep 23	
			UNIT 1A TEST	

Unit 1B: Federalism
Chapter 3 in the O’Connor text

Tue, Sep 23			Tip: Make an appointment to look over your Unit 1A Test; add any topics you missed to your “stuff I don’t know” list	How to complete case briefs	
Wed, Sep 24	Roots of Federalism	3.1
(partial)	bill of attainder
ex post facto law
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Privileges and Immunities Clause
interstate compacts		
Thu, Sep 25	Marshall Court	3.2	Summarize the Marshall Court’s impact on the federal-state
   relationship.	Case briefs:  McCulloch v. Md., Gibbons v. Ogden	
Fri, Sep 26	
				
Mon, Sep 30			
	Introduce FRQ:
SCOTUS Comparison	
Tue, Oct 1	Dual & Cooperative Federalism	3.3-3.4	dual federalism
nullification
How did the 16th and 17th Amendments expand federal
   power at the expense of the states?
cooperative federalism
How did the New Deal change federalism from dual to
   cooperative?		
Wed, Oct 2	Federal Aid	3.5-3.6	Why does the federal government provide grant money to
   the states?  (See pp. 72-73.)
categorical grants
New Federalism, block grants
“devolution revolution”
unfunded mandates
programmatic requests (“earmarks”)
Summarize the Rehnquist Court’s impact on the federal-state
   relationship.
Tip: Watch Crash Course G&P #4 (Federalism)		
Thu, Oct 3	
		Tip: Watch video on US v. Lopez (and McCulloch v. Maryland for review)	Case brief:
U.S. v. Lopez	
Fri, Oct 4	
			UNIT 1 TEST	

Possible FRQ Topics:
(Use this space to make note of possible FRQ topics.  Many of these are suggested in class; you can also find ideas in various test-prep books.)