Advanced Placement - AP U.S. Government and Politics Sample Syllabus #1

Sep 20, 2026

Advanced Placement AP U.S. Government and Politics Sample Syllabus #1 outlines a college-level yearlong course built around required foundational documents and Supreme Court cases. The curriculum organizes learning into five units, each centered on big ideas and taught through daily instruction. Students develop course skills spanning concept application, SCOTUS application, quantitative data analysis, source analysis for both text and visuals, and argumentation in essay format. Progress Checks, Topic Questions, unit reviews, exams, and a civics research project culminate in student presentations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time43 min

AccessFree to download

Section 1: Overview of the Course and the AP Exam

Introduction to AP U.S. Government and Politics

Units of Study

Course Skills and Skill Categories

Topic Questions and Progress Checks

Reteaching and Assessments

Applied Civics Project

SAMPLE SYLLABUS \#1 AP® United States Government and Politics Curricular Requirements The teacher and students have access to a college-level U. S. government and politics textbook and news media sources from multiple perspectives. The course includes the required foundational documents and required Supreme Court cases as described in the AP Course and Exam Description. The course is structured to incorporate the big ideas and required content outlined in each of the units described in the AP Course and Exam Description. The course provides opportunities for students to develop Skill Category 1: Concept Application—apply political concepts and processes to scenarios in context. Seepage: 4 Seepage: 5 Seepage: 2 Seepage: 11 The course provides opportunities for students to develop Skill Category 2: SCOTUS Application—apply Supreme Court decisions. The course provides opportunities for students to develop Skill Category 3: Data Analysis—analyze and interpret quantitative data represented in tables, charts, graphs, maps, and infographics. Seepage: 6 Seepage: 15 CR7 The course provides opportunities for students to develop the text-based analysis skills in Skill Category 4: Source Analysis—read, analyze, and interpret foundational documents. Seepage: 9 CR8 The course provides opportunities for students to develop the visual source analysis skills in Skill Category 4: Source Analysis—read, analyze, and interpret visual sources. Seepage: 10 CR9 The course provides opportunities for students to develop Skill Category 5: Argumentation—develop an argument in essay format. CR10 Students are provided with an opportunity to engage in a political science research or applied civics project tied to the AP Course and Exam Description that culminates in a presentation of findings. Seepage: 13 Seepage: 7 Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics Sample Syllabus \#1 Section 1: Overview of the Course and the AP Exam Introduction to AP U.S. Government and Politics AP® U. S. Government and Politics is a college-level yearlong course that not only seeks to prepare students for success on the AP Exam in May, but also provide students with the political knowledge and skills to participate meaningfully and thoughtfully in discussionsand debates that are currently shaping American politics and society. It is important to note that this course is not a history course; it is a political science course that studies the interconnectedness of the different parts of the American political system as well as the behaviors and attitudes that shape this system and are the byproduct of this system. AP U. S. Government and Politics accomplishes these goals by framing the acquisition of political knowledge around big ideas about American government and politics that can be applied to a set of course skills. Through the development of this set of political knowledge and course skills, students will be able to analyze current and historical political events like a political scientist and develop factually accurate, well-reasoned, thoughtful arguments and opinions that acknowledge and grapple with alternative political perspectives. This yearlong course will meet for 48 minutes daily. The course will be organized around the following units of study: CR3 ■ Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy (19 days) ♦ (big ideas: Constitutionalism, Liberty and Order, Methods of Political Analysis) ■ Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government (34 days) ♦ (big ideas: Competing Policymaking Interests, Methods of Political Analysis) ■ Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (18 days) ♦ (big ideas: Liberty and Order, Methods of Political Analysis) ■ Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs (13 days) ♦ (big ideas: Civic Participation in Representative Democracy, Methods of Political Analysis) ■ Unit 5: Political Participation (26 days) ♦ (big ideas: Civic Partic

FAQs

What is the main purpose of AP U.S. Government and Politics in this syllabus?

It prepares students for success on the AP Exam while developing political knowledge and skills to participate meaningfully in discussions and debates about American politics and society.

How is the course organized across units?

The course is structured around five units of study, each defined by big ideas and applied to the course skills throughout instruction.

What assessments support student understanding and progress?

Topic Questions support understanding of foundational and difficult topics, Progress Checks provide personal feedback with rationales, and reteaching occurs after Progress Check results.

Sep 20, 2026

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