Unit 1 Foundations of American Democracy Overview

  • Do you know your basic rights as an American citizen?
  • How are laws created and who enforces them?
  • What powers do United States presidents have and how are they elected?
  • What powers do states have compared to the federal government?
  • Is freedom of speech absolute or are there limits to what a person can say, even in a democracy?

These are just a few of the questions that will be addressed in this unit. You will learn about the development of American government, the details of the United States Constitution, the roles of the three branches of government, the interactions of other policy making institutions, and ways citizens can participate in the political process.

Additionally, you'll learn how the compromises that were necessary for constitutional ratification – which in some instances led to ambiguity – continue to fuel debate and discussion over how best to protect liberty, equality, order, and private property. This first unit sets the foundation for the course by examining how the framers of the Constitution set up a structure of government intended to stand the test of time. Compromises were made during the Constitutional Convention and ratification debates, and these compromises focused on the proper balance between individual freedom, social order, and equality of opportunity. In subsequent units, you will apply your understanding of the Constitution to the institutions of government and people's daily lives.

  • This unit features five foundational documents (the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. Constitution, Brutus No. 1, Federalist No. 10 and Federalist No. 51).
  • This unit features two required Supreme Court cases (McCulloch v. Maryland and U.S. v. Lopez). You will use your skills to not only know the cases but also to compare the court's ruling with non-required cases.
  • Finally, you will be introduced to the four types of Free Response Questions on the AP Exam and their related disciplinary skills.

The big ideas in the unit are:

  • BIG IDEA 1: Constitutionalism (CON) – The U.S. Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances among branches of government and allocates power between federal and state governments. This system is based on the rule of law and the balance between majority rule and minority rights.
  • BIG IDEA 2: Liberty and Order (LOR) – Governmental laws and policies balancing order and liberty are based on the U.S. Constitution and have been interpreted differently over time.
  • BIG IDEA 3: Civic Participation in a Representative Democracy (PRD) – Popular sovereignty, individualism, and republicanism are important considerations of U.S. laws and policy making and assume citizens will engage and participate.
  • BIG IDEA 5: Methods OF Political Analysis (MPA) – Using various types of analyses, political scientists measure how U.S. political behavior, attitudes, ideologies, and institutions are shaped by a number of factors over time

computer icon For students who have access to AP Classroom, explore the learning opportunities in Unit 1. To gain access to this helpful resource, reach out to your teacher or consult with your school's AP Coordinator or counselor.

textbook icon This unit will cover the following chapters of the online textbook, American Government 2e from OpenStax.

All students should have access to the AP U.S. Government and Politics Course and Exam Description, which details the required content from this unit on pgs 40 - 50.

Content from this unit: 15-22% AP Exam Weighting