AP Government 2025 Live Stream Overview

Introduction

• Course will be covered in one night due to changes in exam dates
• Live stream to prepare for AP Gov exam on May 6th
• Format: Go through each unit, take super chat shoutouts
• Super chats reserved for shoutouts, not content questions

Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy

Big Idea 1: Influence of Enlightenment Thought

• Four Key Concepts:
  • Natural Rights
  • Popular Sovereignty
  • Social Contract
  • Republicanism
• Illustrated in:
  • Declaration of Independence
  • Constitution

Big Idea 2: Models of Democracy

• Models: Participatory, Elite, Pluralist
• Illustrated in foundational documents:
  • Constitution
  • Brutus One
  • Federalist Ten

Big Idea 3: Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

• Federalists: Strong central government
• Anti-Federalists: Weak central government, strong state power
• Key documents:
  • Federalist Papers (Federalist 10)
  • Brutus One

Big Idea 4: Articles of Confederation

• Weak federal power, strong state power
• Problems: No executive or judicial branch, no power to tax
• Associated event: Shays' Rebellion

Big Idea 5: Compromises in Constitution

• Great Compromise, Electoral College, Three-Fifths Compromise
• Amendment process in Article 5

Big Idea 6: Separation of Powers

• Federalist 51
• Branch responsibilities: Legislative (makes laws), Executive (executes laws), Judicial (evaluates constitutionality)

Big Idea 7: Federalism

• Sharing of power between national and state governments
• Defined by exclusive, reserved, and concurrent powers
• Fiscal federalism: Categorical grants, block grants, mandates

Big Idea 8: Balance of Power

• Key constitutional provisions: 10th Amendment, 14th Amendment, Commerce Clause
• Key SCOTUS cases: McCulloch v. Maryland, United States v. Lopez

Unit 2: Branches of Government

Big Idea 1: Power of Congress

• Article 1, Section 8: Enumerated and implied powers
• Structure of Congress: House of Representatives, Senate

Big Idea 2: Committees and Leadership

• House: Speaker of the House, Majority and Minority Leaders, Whip
• Senate: President of the Senate, President Pro Tempore, Majority Leader
• Committees: Standing, Joint, Select, Conference

Big Idea 3: Congressional Efficiency

• Influenced by ideological divisions, representation, redistricting, and gerrymandering

Big Idea 4: Presidential Powers

• Formal powers: Veto, Commander-in-Chief
• Informal powers: Bargaining, persuasion, executive orders

Big Idea 5: Conflicts and Checks

• Senate's role: Advice and consent, especially for federal judges

Big Idea 6: Growth of Presidential Power

• Expanded significantly over time (Jackson, Lincoln, FDR)

Big Idea 7: Communication

• Presidents use technology to appeal directly to people

Big Idea 8: Judicial Review

• Federalist 78: Independence of judiciary, lifetime appointments
• Marbury v. Madison: Established judicial review

Big Idea 9: Legitimacy of the Court

• Precedents and stare decisis
• Controversial decisions can lead to questioning of legitimacy

Big Idea 10: Bureaucracy

• Structure: Cabinet secretaries, agencies, commissions, government corporations
• Responsibility: Enforce regulations, issue fines, testify before Congress

Big Idea 11: Delegated Discretionary Authority

• Agencies make rules and carry out laws

Big Idea 12: Checks on Bureaucracy

• Congressional oversight, budget control, judicial review

Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Rights

Big Idea 1: Bill of Rights

• Protects individual liberties from federal government, not originally states

Big Idea 2: Freedom of Religion

• Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses
• Key cases: Engel v. Vitale, Wisconsin v. Yoder

Big Idea 3: Freedom of Speech

• Not absolute, high bar for restriction
• Key case: Tinker v. Des Moines

Big Idea 4: Freedom of the Press

• Essential for democracy
• Key case: New York Times v. United States

Big Idea 5: Second Amendment

• Individual right to own a gun upheld

Big Idea 6: Rights Balancing Act

• Eighth Amendment, death penalty
• Second and Fourth Amendments, public safety

Big Idea 7: Selective Incorporation

• Applies Bill of Rights to states
• Key case: McDonald v. Chicago

Big Idea 8: Court and Liberty

• Key cases: Miranda v. Arizona, Gideon v. Wainwright

Big Idea 9: Social Movements

• Inspired by constitutional provisions
• Key figure: Martin Luther King Jr.

Big Idea 10: Government Response

• Legislation and court rulings in response to movements

Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs

Big Idea 1: Core Beliefs

• Individualism, equality of opportunity, free enterprise, rule of law, limited government

Big Idea 2: Political Socialization

• Influenced by family, school, peers, media, globalization

Big Idea 3: Public Opinion Polling

• Types of polls: Opinion, benchmark, tracking, entrance, exit
• Importance of sampling techniques

Big Idea 4: Polls and Policy

• Reliability issues, non-scientific polls

Big Idea 5: Political Ideologies

• Spectrum from liberal to conservative
• Party alignment: Democrats (liberal), Republicans (conservative)

Big Idea 6: Public Policy and Participation

• Reflects attitudes of engaged participants

Unit 5: Political Participation

Big Idea 1: Voting Rights

• Expansion over time through amendments
• Models of voting behavior

Big Idea 2: Voter Turnout

• Influenced by barriers, efficacy, type of election

Big Idea 3: Linkage Institutions

• Political parties, interest groups, elections, media

Big Idea 4: Two-Party System

• Winner-take-all system, incorporation of third-party agendas

Big Idea 5: Interest Groups

• Influence policy through lobbying

Big Idea 6: Presidential Elections

• Primaries, caucuses, general election, electoral college

Big Idea 7: Congressional Elections

• Incumbency advantage, gerrymandering

Big Idea 8: Campaign Process

• Importance of fundraising, campaign duration

Big Idea 9: Campaign Finance

• Laws governing contributions, key case: Citizens United

Big Idea 10: Media as a Linkage Institution

• Role as watchdog, gatekeeper, influence on elections