B+ in Humanities 2 or Humanities 2 in Action, AP Language and Composition or Junior English.
Note: This course meets the American Studies recommendation.
AP Government and Politics is a yearlong course that braids together the course content, concepts, and skills practiced in both the AP U.S. Government and Politics course and the AP Comparative Government and Politics course. The course, therefore, results in two separate AP exams, and participation in both the U.S. and Comparative AP exams in May is expected. Students will analyze the political institutions and systems of the United States and six other case-study countries: China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom, representing a range of authoritarian to liberal democratic regimes. The course will familiarize students with the theoretical frameworks of political science and civics education, including topics such as how best to balance liberty and order, sources of power and authority, the roles and responsibilities of citizens, the impacts of globalization, and the economic and social development of states. Many students credit the course with preparing them for future studies in public policy, law, and international relations.
Students will learn:
- The structures of political systems and institutions
- The difference between democratic and authoritarian practices
- The unique political challenges of developing countries
- The governments and political identities of seven case-study countries
- Electoral systems and political participation
- Ways citizens interact with government and its branches
- Concept understanding and application
- Argument
- Quantitative (Data) Analysis
- Comparative Analysis
- Shared Inquiry and Structured Discussions and Debates
- Individual and Group Presentations
- Simulations and Roleplaying
- Text Analysis (Foundational Documents, U.S. Supreme Court Cases)
- Reflections and Self-assessments
Students are required to take both the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam and the AP Comparative Government and Politics exam in May.
"AP Government and Politics teaches you the critical skills to analyse the world around you. This course is content-heavy, but it will help you understand the political workings of the US and the 6 course countries. It taught me to keep up with assignments, learn content, and review by myself. I struggled to refute arguments in debates because I could not quickly make up a line of reasoning. But by going to office hours, doing the AP Classroom exercises, and lots of Heimler’s History, I learned how to debate effectively."
"AP Government and Politics is a course that really explains how the world works. You get a real sense of how government works (or doesn’t), and it weaves between the US Gov side and the Comp Gov side really well. It can be challenging to remember all the concepts and vocabulary, but through really immersing yourself in what goes on in the class (jeopardy, simulations, shared inquiries), you will definitely be set up on your way to success! If there is one thing you can take away from this course, it is being able to understand the news from around the world. Against the backdrop of recent events in the US, our Branches of Government Simulation was very enlightening, as I was able to see (as president) how different people in government would try to support or stop me in advancing my agenda. This course complements what you learn in Hum II and APUSH very nicely, and you will explore everything from why Congressmen pork-barrel to how Iran’s Majles is elected (or not), things that almost always stay relevant. In AP Government and Politics, not only will the world’s inner workings be unraveled to you, but you will have a lot of fun!"
"This course is fast-paced but very manageable, and it is truly connected to current events and politics all over the world. In AP Government and Politics, there are many in-person simulations, discussions, and activities to model real political processes, which makes the content more memorable and keeps the class fun and engaging. Alongside projects, there are in-class written summatives and multiple-choice questions that further assess your skills to prepare for the test at the end of the year. I learned to analyze sources and discuss current events using evidence, which are skills I now apply when watching the news. The best way to study for this course is through practice problems on AP Classroom and the student notebook! Additionally, going to officer hours was very beneficial for me when I faced challenges like memorizing all the Supreme Court cases required. The course eases you in; the homework load is light if you stay focused in class, and if you manage your time well, the class can quickly become one you look forward to!"