Fostering academic excellence and biblical virtue to equip students for lives as local and global Christian servants.

AP U.S. Government and Politics

Course Catalog ID:
771
Subject Categories:
AP Course, Government
Description

This is a challenging college-level course designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of U.S. government and politics. Students study the foundations of U.S. government, foundational documents (Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Federalist Papers, the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights), federalism, institutions of government, political parties, interest groups, political polling, elections, rights and responsibilities of citizens, public policy, media and politics, bureaucracy, landmark Supreme Court cases, and political trends and outcomes. Students not only study the fundamentals of U.S. government and politics, but also consider the worldviews held by those who founded it. To help illustrate important concepts and deepen student understanding, the class will also debate both sides of major current issues faced by the U.S. government, so students will also be required to look beyond the rhetoric in current news and events. As the course progresses, instruction also focuses on preparation for the AP exam, including an exam overview, practice exams, essays, content review, and class discussions. A considerable amount of reading, preparation, and independent learning is required for every class.

Prerequisites
Grade Levels*:
10, 11, 12
* Enrollment restricted based on Date of Birth and Grad Year (whichever is more limiting). Enrollment outside these levels requires written concurrence from TPS Support.
Notes and Conditions

Flexible Scheduling: This course may be taken with live class attendance reduced or waived if the student has a schedule or time zone conflict. Please review the Flexible Scheduling information for details.

AP® Certified: Learn more about TPS AP courses and exam results. (AP® is a trademark owned by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this course.)

California A-G: This course has CA A-G approval.

“I thought Government would be a complex, intimidating, and dry subject — but this class proved me wrong! The teacher is incredible — godly, well-read, and completely dedicated to helping his students succeed. He explains difficult subjects in an engaging way and selects wonderful resources to further expound on topics he goes over in class, as well as help students prepare for exams and, ultimately, the AP test. I learned so much about the history, structure, and application of government every week! I thoroughly enjoyed this class, and I hope that many more students will choose to study US Government with TPS.”

Ines T
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Student

“AP Government with TPS is the best intro to (or review of) political science and US government. The coursework is thoughtfully put together, the class lectures are informative and also engaging, and the content itself is enough to encourage students to be more politically aware, well-informed, and involved. I recommend this course to everyone, not just those hoping to go into government or political science. Don’t be daunted by the AP label; if you’re a good test-taker and essay-writer, this class is approachable, and as you might discover, enjoyable.”

Emma M
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Student

“Coming into this class, I was embarrassed at how little I knew about our government. But now I’m impressed at how much I’ve learned and I’m happy that I’m better informed on how our government works. The class was a lot of work, but the teacher was always encouraging and had helpful constructive criticism. I’d encourage anyone even remotely interested in politics to take this class. It certainly will not disappoint!”

Zion T
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Student

“This was by far one of the most interesting, enlightening, and captivating courses I have taken in TPS. Through this course I have widened my understanding of politics and government and have learned to view these topics through a Christian perspective.”

Nicolette V
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Student

“This course will very much open your eyes as to the complexity of the governmental institutions which can majorly affect our lives as civilians. I don’t think I’ll ever look at another presidential debate or hear about a new bill that is trying to be passed without remembering the things I learned in this class! And that’s amazing!”

Brady R
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Student

“This course was awesome. I came into the course knowing too little about U.S. Government, and I left it feeling like my knowledge on the subject had increased 100-fold. The teacher does an excellent job teaching the material, and makes class time enjoyable. If you’re not afraid of hard work and want an awesome overview of American Government and Politics, then I highly recommend this course!”

Zaid A
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Student
Reviews from Students and Parents