AP U.S. Government and Politics

Units

1. Unit 1 Foundations of American Democracy 15–22% of the multiple-choice section · 9 topics

   1. 1.1Ideals of Democracy
   2. 1.2Types of Democracy
   3. 1.3Government Power and Individual Rights
   4. 1.4Challenges of the Articles of Confederation
   5. 1.5Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
   6. 1.6Principles of American Government
   7. 1.7Relationship Between the States and National Government
   8. 1.8Constitutional Interpretations of Federalism
   9. 1.9Federalism in Action

   Unit 1 overviewUnit 1 check

2. Unit 2 Interactions Among Branches of Government 25–36% of the multiple-choice section · 15 topics

   1. 2.1Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives
   2. 2.2Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress
   3. 2.3Congressional Behavior
   4. 2.4Roles and Powers of the President
   5. 2.5Checks on the Presidency
   6. 2.6Expansion of Presidential Power
   7. 2.7Presidential Communication
   8. 2.8The Judicial Branch
   9. 2.9The Role of the Judicial Branch
   10. 2.10The Court in Action
   11. 2.11Checks on the Judicial Branch
   12. 2.12The Bureaucracy
   13. 2.13Discretionary and Rulemaking Authority
   14. 2.14Holding the Bureaucracy Accountable
   15. 2.15Policy and the Branches of Government

   Unit 2 overviewUnit 2 check

3. Unit 3 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights 13–18% of the multiple-choice section · 13 topics

   1. 3.1The Bill of Rights
   2. 3.2First Amendment: Freedom of Religion
   3. 3.3First Amendment: Freedom of Speech
   4. 3.4First Amendment: Freedom of the Press
   5. 3.5Second Amendment: Right to Bear Arms
   6. 3.6Amendments: Balancing Individual Freedom with Public Order and Safety
   7. 3.7Selective Incorporation
   8. 3.8Amendments: Due Process and the Rights of the Accused
   9. 3.9Amendments: Due Process and the Right to Privacy
   10. 3.10Social Movements and Equal Protection
   11. 3.11Government Responses to Social Movements
   12. 3.12Balancing Minority and Majority Rights
   13. 3.13Affirmative Action

   Unit 3 overviewUnit 3 check

4. Unit 4 American Political Ideologies and Beliefs 10–15% of the multiple-choice section · 10 topics

   1. 4.1American Attitudes About Government and Politics
   2. 4.2Political Socialization
   3. 4.3Changes in Ideology
   4. 4.4Influence of Political Events on Ideology
   5. 4.5Measuring Public Opinion
   6. 4.6Evaluating Public Opinion Data
   7. 4.7Ideologies of Political Parties
   8. 4.8Ideology and Policymaking
   9. 4.9Ideology and Economic Policy
   10. 4.10Ideology and Social Policy

   Unit 4 overviewUnit 4 check

5. Unit 5 Political Participation 20–27% of the multiple-choice section · 13 topics

   1. 5.1Voting Rights and Models of Voting Behavior
   2. 5.2Voter Turnout
   3. 5.3Political Parties
   4. 5.4How and Why Political Parties Change and Adapt
   5. 5.5Third-Party Politics
   6. 5.6Interest Groups Influencing Policymaking
   7. 5.7Groups Influencing Policy Outcomes
   8. 5.8Electing a President
   9. 5.9Congressional Elections
   10. 5.10Modern Campaigns
   11. 5.11Campaign Finance
   12. 5.12The Media
   13. 5.13Changing Media

   Unit 5 overviewUnit 5 check

Labs

• Topics 1.1, 1.6 and 1.7 Foundational document analyzer Build a claim from a primary passage, select supporting evidence, and explain its connection to a political principle.
• Topics 2.2, 2.4, 2.8, 1.7, 2.13 and 2.14 Institutional decision simulator Trace a bill through institutional decisions, predict the next stage, and test the limits of each constitutional move.
• Topics 1.8, 2.8 and 2.10 SCOTUS comparison workspace Compare case facts, constitutional questions, holdings and reasoning before judging whether a factual difference matters.
• Topics 4.5, 4.6 and 5.2 Graph and polling reader Change fictional response counts and a graph’s baseline, then distinguish percentage differences, visual effects and sampling limits.
• Topics 1.6, 1.8, 2.2 and 4.6 FRQ writer and rubric self-check Practice evidence and reasoning in four response formats with a timer and a point-by-point comparison after writing.
• Topics 1.7, 2.15 and 5.13 Civics project guide Plan a nonpartisan public-records investigation, record evidence and limitations, and organize a presentation without collecting personal data.