Course Content
- Constitutional Foundations: Explore the principles behind the US Constitution, federalism, and the foundation of American government.
- Political Institutions: Study Congress, the Presidency, the Judiciary, and the federal bureaucracy—structure, function, and real-world impact.
- Political Behavior & Participation: Learn about political parties, elections, voting, interest groups, and the media’s influence on politics.
- Civil Rights & Liberties: Analyze landmark Supreme Court cases and the protection of individual rights under the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment.
- Public Policy: Evaluate how government creates and implements policies, and how policy decisions affect society.
- Exam Skills: Practice Free-Response Questions (FRQs), argument essays, and data analysis for AP exam success.
Exam Structure
- Section I: Multiple Choice – 55 questions, 80 minutes, 50% of score
- Section II: Free Response – 4 FRQs, 100 minutes, 50% of score:
- Concept Application
- Quantitative Analysis
- SCOTUS Comparison
- Argument Essay
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Skills Developed
- Civic understanding: knowledge of U.S. political institutions, processes, and policies
- Critical thinking: analyzing political behaviors, policy decisions, and government structures
- Argumentation: constructing evidence-based essays and explanations of political phenomena
- Data analysis: interpreting political data, polls, and election results
- Research and synthesis: integrating multiple sources and perspectives to evaluate political questions
Who Should Take AP Gov?
- High school students (grades 9–12) interested in US government, politics, law, or social studies.
- Learners aiming to develop advanced argumentation and analytical writing skills.
- Students who want to earn college credit and build a foundation for further studies in political science, law, or related fields.
College Credit
Many U.S. colleges grant credit or advanced placement for high AP U.S. Government and Politics scores (usually a 4 or 5). This can satisfy introductory political science, civics, or social science course requirements, allowing students to advance to upper-level government, policy, or political studies courses earlier in their college curriculum.
