Social Science

AP United States Government & Politics

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS/AP MICROECONOMICS PAIRING: The semester-long courses AP U.S. Government and AP Microeconomics (see course description on the following page) are paired. Students who enroll in AP U.S. Government and Politics will automatically be enrolled in AP Microeconomics. A civics course (government and/or economics) is required for graduation.

This course focuses on the state of politics in the United States, as well as looking at the structure of the U.S. government. Students learn about the various agencies and institutions that make up the government and learn to describe how their interactions influence the people as a whole and, conversely, how the people are able to influence the government. Through simulations and discussions, students examine case studies from the U.S. These discussions and simulations enable students to gain an understanding of the institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that make up the American political environment. This course will help students attain the skills and knowledge they need in order to understand the shifting political climate. Students also learn how the U.S. both influences the world and how events around the world affect the United States. This semester-long course prepares students to take the AP U.S. Government examination in May.