B+ in Humanities II or Humanities II 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.
“This course is fast-paced, fun, and light. If you know nothing about American politics, don't stress. The course eases you in and is quite flexible. If you have a solid understanding of American history/politics, you're set from the beginning. Basically, every homework assignment is a ‘Mastery Opportunity’ (summative) which is a savior for getting grades up. As long as you manage your time well, this class will quickly become your favorite.”
- Darcy Lin (Class of 2023)
“Similar to AP Comparative Government and Politics, the course is fast-paced but easy to keep up with given that you check in and finish all of your work. Participation and being good with deadlines and doing a little bit each day will save your grade in the course. If you're interested in the news, this course won't feel like a class at all.”
- Erika Hornmark (Class of 2023)
“AP US Government & Politics is a really fun and interesting course that will challenge you in different ways than other Advanced Placement (AP) courses do. Because of the unique mastery system of grading, you may feel more pressure as there are a greater number of assessments, however, because of this, you also have more chances to improve and more grade points to look at when determining grades. You will leave this course with substantial knowledge in US Government and Politics, as well as various skills in writing, analyzing texts and data, and debating, and the course is a great choice for those who wish to challenge themselves.”
- Jaslyne Tam (Class of 2024)