Advanced Placement (AP) United States Government and Politics (often shortened to AP Gov or AP GoPo and sometimes referred to as AP American Government or simply AP Government) is a college-level course and examination offered to high school students through the College Board's Advanced Placement Program. This course surveys the structure and function of American government and politics that begins with an analysis of the United States Constitution, the foundation of the American political system. Students study the three branches of government, administrative agencies that support each branch, the role of political behavior in the democratic process, rules governing elections, political culture, and the workings of political parties and interest groups.

Topic outline

The material in the course is composed of multiple subjects from the Constitutional roots of the United States to recent developments in civil rights and liberties. The AP United States Government examination covers roughly six subjects listed below in approximate percentage composition of the examination.

Foundations of American Democracy (15–22%)

Interactions Among Branches of Government (25–36%)

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (13–18%)

American Political Ideologies and Beliefs (10–15%)

Political Participation (20–27%)

Public Policy (Part of the Units, embedded within all five units)

Required Supreme Court cases and Foundation Documents

Supreme Court cases

Starting from 2019 Administration of the Test, the College Board requires students to know 15 Supreme Court cases. After the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, Roe v. Wade was removed from the required case list. The 14 required Supreme Court cases are listed below:

Foundation Documents

College Board requires students to memorize foundational documents. The nine documents are listed below:

Exam

The Multiple-Choice section is analytical and the Free-Response questions are as follows.

Grade distribution

The grade distributions since 2007 were: