AP U.S.
Government and Politics Semester 1: 2020-21
North Farmington High School
Instructor: T.Seremet
[email protected] VM – 71905
Syllabus – Unit VI: Judicial Branch / Civil Liberties / Civil Rights
OBJECTIVE: Article III of the Constitution establishes the judicial branch. One Supreme Court and a number of inferior
courts will be analyzed in promoting civil liberties and civil rights throughout a diverse community. This branch balances out
the democratic principles established by the framers who felt it important to put a device that stabilized the power of the
executive and legislative branches.
The student will:
1. evaluate the formal and informal powers of the judicial branch.
2. analyze the relationships between this branch and other two, describing the varying balances of power.
3. analyze the development of civil liberties and civil rights by judicial interpretation.
4. understand the knowledge of substantive rights and liberties.
5. understand the impact of the Fourteenth Amendment on the constitutional development of liberties and rights.
SCHEDULE: Reading for Wed.1/2: Ch.16 pp.504-11: Art III – Judicial System, Rule of Law. Reading for Thurs.1/3: Ch.16
pp.512-21: Supreme Court. Reading for Fri.1/4: Ch.16 pp.522-28: Policy Making. Reading for Mon.1/7: Ch.16 pp.528-32:
Policy Agenda. Reading for Tues.1/8: Ch.16 pp.532-40: Judicial Policy. Wed.1/9: Quiz (Ch.16). In Class: Ch.4 pp.94-6: Civil
Liberties v. Civil Rights. Reading for Thurs.1/10: Ch.4 pp.96-8: Bill of Rights & Incorporation. Reading for Fri.1/11: Ch.4
pp.98-103: Freedom of Religion. Reading for Mon.1/14: Ch.4 pp.103-118: Freedom of Speech. Reading for Tues.1/15: Ch.4
pp.188-31: Defendant’s Rights. Reading for Wed.1/16: Ch.5 pp.134-9: Racial Equality & the 14th Amendment. Reading for
Thurs.1/17: Ch.5 pp.139-49: Race. Fri.1/18: Quiz (Ch.4 & 5). Turn in SC Cases. Reading for Tues.1/23: Ch.5 pp.149-69:
Women and CR Groups. Wed.1/24 and Thurs.1/25: Unit VI Exam: MC & Essay.
GRADED ITEMS: Quizzes (2): Ch.16 Wed. 1/9 & Fri. 1/18; Daily Work: S.C. Cases – Due Mon. 1/22
Exam: 50 Item MC Exam & Essay on Final Exam Day Wed. 1/24 and Thurs. 1/25.
TERMS:
Chapter 16 (pp.504-41) 24. Courts: Warren, Burger, 45. self-incrimination
1. criminal law Rehnquist, Roberts 46. Sixth Amendment
2. civil law 25. US v. Nixon (1974) 47. plea bargaining
3. common law 26. judicial restraint 48. Eighth Amendment
4. Standing to sue 27. judicial activism 49. cruel and unusual punishment
5. class action suits 28. statutory construction 50. right to privacy
6. justifiable disputes
7. amicus curiae briefs Chapter 4 (pp.94-133) Chapter 5 (pp.134-70)
8. original jurisdiction 29. civil liberties v. civil rights 51. civil rights
9. appellate jurisdiction 30. Bill of Rights 52. Fourteenth Amendment
10. districts courts 31. First Amendment _ 53. due process clause
11. courts of appeal 32. Fourteenth Amendment 54. equal protection of the laws
12. Supreme Court (Constitution) 33. incorporation doctrine 55. Thirteenth Amendment
13. Sandra Day O’Connor 34. establishment clause 56. de jure & de facto segregation
14. writ of certiorari 35. free exercise clause 56. Civil Rights Act of 1964
15. senatorial courtesy (factors) 36. prior restraint 57. Fifteenth Amendment
16. solicitor general 37. libel 58. poll taxes
17. opinion 38. symbolic speech 59. Twenty-Fourth Amendment
18. stare decisis 39. commercial speech 60. Nineteenth Amendment
19. precedent 40. probable cause 61. ERA
20. original intent 41. unreasonable search + seizure 62. Title IX of the Education Act (1972)
21. judicial implementation 42. search warrant 63. comparable worth
22. Marbury v. Madison 43. exclusionary rule 64. American Disability Act (1990)
23. judicial review 44. Fifth Amendment 65. affirmative action
