Course Overview
AP U.S. Government and Politics is an introductory college-level course in U.S. government and politics. Students cultivate their understanding of U.S. government and politics through analysis of data and text-based sources as they explore topics like constitutionalism, liberty and order, civic participation in a representative democracy, competing policy-making interests, and methods of political analysis.
Course and Exam Description
Update: Roe v. Wade
We’ve received questions from AP teachers about the status of Roe v. Wade (1973), one of the 15 required Supreme Court cases. The Supreme Court recently overturned Roe in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022). Accordingly, Roe no longer applies as precedent for Topic 3.9, “Amendments: Due Process and the Right to Privacy.” Furthermore, the full set of legal implications related to the Dobbs decision and the status of Roe remain uncertain and are likely to evolve. Because AP Exam questions are drafted years before they are administered, future questions about the role of this case as precedent are at risk of becoming inaccurate and confusing to students.
Consequently, teachers and students should not expect exam questions related to Roe v. Wade on the 2023 AP Exam. The AP Program is evaluating inclusion of Roe on future AP Exams and will post an update this fall.
Course Resources
Course Content
Based on the Understanding by Design® (Wiggins and McTighe) model, this course framework provides a description of the course requirements necessary for student success. The framework specifies what students should know and be able to do, with a focus on big ideas that encompass core principles and theories of the discipline. The framework also encourages instruction that prepares students for advanced political science coursework and active, informed participation in our constitutional democracy.
The AP U.S. Government and Politics framework is organized into five commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. As always, you have the flexibility to organize the course content as you like.
|
Unit |
Exam Weighting (Multiple-Choice Section) |
|
Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy |
15%–22% |
|
Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government |
25%–36% |
|
Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights |
13%–18% |
|
Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs |
10%–15% |
|
Unit 5: Political Participation |
20%–27% |
Disciplinary Practices
The AP U.S. Government and Politics framework included in the CED outlines distinct skills, called disciplinary practices, that students should practice throughout the year—practices that will help them learn to think and act like political scientists.
|
Skill |
Description |
| 1. Concept Application |
Apply political concepts and processes to scenarios in context. |
| 2. SCOTUS Application |
Apply Supreme Court decisions. |
| 3. Data Analysis |
Analyze and interpret quantitative data represented in tables, charts, graphs, maps, and infographics. |
| 4. Source Analysis |
Read, analyze, and interpret foundational documents and other text-based and visual sources. |
| 5. Argumentation |
Develop an argument in essay format. |
AP and Higher Education
Higher education professionals play a key role in developing AP courses and exams, setting credit and placement policies, and scoring student work. The AP Higher Education section features information on recruitment and admission, advising and placement, and more.
This chart shows recommended scores for granting credit, and how much credit should be awarded, for each AP course. Your students can look up credit and placement policies for colleges and universities on the AP Credit Policy Search.
Meet the Development Committee for AP U.S. Government and Politics.
The AP Program is unique in its reliance on Development Committees. These committees, made up of an equal number of college faculty and experienced secondary AP teachers from across the country, are essential to the preparation of AP course curricula and exams.