Curriculum Map

AP US Government & Politics

College-level study of American government and politics. Aligned to the College Board AP US Government & Politics Course and Exam Description. Covers constitutional underpinnings, political institutions, civil liberties, and political participation.

14 Units

Early Units (Foundation)

Building Skills

Advanced Concepts

Capstone/Synthesis

Constitutional Foundations

Examines the Enlightenment ideas, colonial experience, and political compromises that shaped the U.S. Constitution.

3-4 days

Federalism

Examines the constitutional division of power between national and state governments, and how that relationship has evolved.

3-4 days

Congress

Analyzes the structure, powers, and lawmaking process of Congress, and the tensions between representation and effective governance.

3-4 days

The Presidency and Executive Branch

Examines the constitutional and informal powers of the presidency, the federal bureaucracy, and the expansion of executive authority.

3-4 days

The Federal Judiciary

Examines the structure of federal courts, the power of judicial review, Supreme Court decision-making, and debates over judicial philosophy.

3-4 days

Civil Liberties

Examines the Bill of Rights, selective incorporation, and the Supreme Court's role in defining the limits of government power over individuals.

3-4 days

Civil Rights

Examines the constitutional guarantee of equal protection, the civil rights movement, and ongoing debates about voting rights and affirmative action.

3-4 days

Political Ideologies and Beliefs

Maps the major political ideologies in American politics and analyzes how ideological beliefs connect to policy preferences and political behavior.

3-4 days

Public Opinion and Political Socialization

Examines how public opinion is formed, measured, and translated into political behavior, and how socialization shapes political beliefs.

3-4 days

Political Parties

Analyzes the structure and function of American political parties, the two-party system, third parties, and the history of party realignment.

3-4 days

Campaigns, Elections, and Voting

Examines the electoral process, campaign finance system, Electoral College, and the factors that shape voter behavior and turnout.

3-4 days

Interest Groups

Analyzes the role of interest groups in American democracy, their tactics, and the controversy over their influence on policy and elections.

3-4 days

Media, Technology, and Political Communication

Examines the role of media — traditional and digital — in shaping political knowledge, opinion, and behavior, and the constitutional protection of press freedom.

3-4 days

Public Policy

Examines how the American political system translates political pressures into public policy, covering the policy process, domestic policy domains, and foreign policy.

3-4 days

Learning Progression

This course is designed to be taken sequentially. Earlier units establish foundational concepts that later units build upon. While you can explore units in any order, following the numbered sequence provides the most coherent learning experience.