AP Government and Politics

Students taking Advanced Placement Government and Politics should check here for assignments, readings, helpful links and other information that will assist them in their studies.

What is Political Science?

Politics has been defined in terms of governance, power, and as the authoritative allocation of values, and, even who gets what, when, and how. But no simple definition can capture the broad range of subject matter that is included in political science. You can get some idea of the scope of the discipline from the four main subfields that make up the undergraduate curriculum: Political Theory, Comparative Government International Relations, and American Government.

Political scientists study topics such as the exercise of power and influence; sources and resolution of conflicts; the relationship of politics to the economy, culture, and other aspects of society; the adoption and implementation of public policies; and the development of political systems. These topics are studied at all levels, from local communities to the global community.

However politics is defined, it is clear that actions in the political arena have vital effects on our lives, liberties, and well-being. From this standpoint, political science deals with how we reach the collective decisions that shape our common fate.

Curriculum and Syllabi

Course Requirements - includes paper and project assignments. - - from the Spring 2000 course at NHP Memorial - I have left this online as a guide to other educators.

Course of Study and Reading Assignments - from the Spring 2000 course at NHP Memorial - I have left this online as a guide to other educators.

Required and Supplementary Readings

*Readings*	*Documents*
Pluralism The Power Elite Political Culture Political Participation Interest Groups Political Parties Campaigns and Elections The Media Congress The Presidency The Bureaucracy The Judiciary
*Lecture Notes*
The American Political System The Constitution Federalism Economic Policy Political Culture Public Opinion and Political Ideology Political Particpation Interest Groups Political Parties Elections and Campaigns The Media Congress The Presidency The Bureaucracy The Judiciary

Web Sites of Interest

*News Organizations and Publications*	*Government Sites*
CNN - Cable New Network - "All New All The Time!" C- Span - Public Affairs Coverage - "All Congress, All the Time!" .. a.p. pun! USA Today - National News, often has great charts and graphs... dubious writing. Roll Call - Plug into Congress Online! What the insiders read. The Hill - More Washington reporting The New York Times - Need I say more?? "All the news that's fit to print." The Washington Post - The second best paper in America, though I'm sure some would argue. Hey, what can I say, I'm a New Yorker! Newsweek - Terrific national news magazine. Political focus. Congressional Quarterly - Guess what its about yet??	THOMAS - The official website of the Congress of the United States. A massive site with information galore and tons of links to other government sites. Library of Congress Home Page Fed World - A world of information and links about the Federal Government. Key word searchable. The White House - Bill and Hillary are bored, drop them an e-mail!!
*Political Science Sites*	*Other Sites of Interest*
Political Source Net. Political Source Net is a resource to support all Houghton Mifflin Political Science textbooks. Each unit contains a document archive, several Internet activities, and a list of links for further exploration. Project Vote Smart - Much info on government! Teach Politics - Images of Political History	American Political System - Posc 105 - Dr. H.T. Reynolds, Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Delaware Political Philosophy Home Page - Marx, Hegel, Machiavelli, Rousseau, Kant, Locke.. they may be dead but their ideas live on... here! The Political Graveyard - - Perhaps this will pique your rather morbid curiosity. The College Board Online. Sample questions and essay grading suggestions. The online store is also a good source for review materials.

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