AP Government Videos for Enhancing Review

All teachers would probably agree that adding some strategically placed videos to your lessons can really enhance the experience for your students. Short, to-the-point videos that are seamlessly integrated into a lecture or activity can have a huge impact. This is especially true in AP Government, where students face dense content, abstract theories, and a mountain of required cases and documents. Thankfully, there are AP government videos that can enhance your review.

To help with this, I would highly recommend these videos! In this post I have linked a series of short videos associated with every single unit in the AP course. All of these AP Government review videos are created by Carey LaManna, who goes by “La Money “in his videos. His content is concise, engaging, and designed specifically for students. He also uses real-world examples and simple definitions that make tough topics more accessible. I have found this can make a big difference for students. 

Looking for more AP Government materials? I’ve got tons of resources ready for you. From full units to quick activities, be sure to check them out!

You can integrate these AP Government videos into your lectures, embed them in activities, or share them as supplemental resources for students. Best of all? They’re short (most are under 10 minutes) and organized by unit—making it easy to plan ahead or link students directly to what they need. 

Required Foundational Documents:

• Declaration of Independence (5:06)
• Brutus No. 1 (7:29)
• Federalist No. 10 (9:06)
• Federalist No. 51(5:31)
• Federalist No. 70 (7:02)
• Federalist No. 78 (7:01)
• Letter from Birmingham Jail (6:59)
• How to use the Constitution in FRQ’s (5:12)

Required Supreme Court Cases: 

Each of the 15 required Supreme Court cases is explained in a short, digestible video—perfect for review or deepening understanding.

• McCulloch v. Maryland (4:31)
• U.S. v. Lopez (4:57)
• Baker v. Carr (4:44)
• Shaw v. Reno (5:51)
• Marbury v. Madison (4:32)
• Engel v. Vitale (2:52)
• Wisconsin v. Yoder (2:55)
• Tinker v. Des Moines (5:35)
• Schenck v. U.S.(3:56)
• New York Times v. U.S.(2:52)
• Gideon v. Wainwright (3:24)

• McDonald v. Chicago (3:57)
• Roe v. Wade (3:32)
• Brown v. Board of Education (3:16)
• Citizens United v. F.E.C. (7:25)

Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy

Explore the origins of American government, the Federalist/Anti-Federalist debate, and how the Constitution balances liberty with order.

• 1.1 Ideals of Democracy (5:33)
• 1.2 Types of Democracy (4:50)
• 1.3 Government Power and Individual Rights (5:57)
• 1.4 Challenges of the Articles of Confederation (4:40)
• 1.5 Ratification of the U.S. Constitution (6:34)
• 1.6 Principles of American Government (3:34)
• 1.7 Relationships between States & Federal Government (9:20)
• 1.8 Constitutional Interpretations of Federalism (7:33)
• 1.9 Federalism in Action (4:19)

Unit 2: Interaction Among Branches of Government

These AP Government videos cover how the three branches interact through checks and balances, and how their power has evolved—especially the presidency and judiciary.

• 2.1 Congress: The Senate & House of Representatives(4:54)
• 2.2 Structures, Powers and Functions of Congress(14:40)
• 2.3 Congressional Behavior (9:08)
• 2.4 Roles and Powers of the President (6:06)
• 2.5 Checks on the Presidency (5:37)
• 2.6 Expansion of Presidential Power (4:19)
• 2.7 Presidential Communication (2:57)
• 2.8 The Judicial Branch (3:49)
• 2.9 Legitimacy of the Judicial Branch (4:52)
• 2.10 The Court in Action (8:08)
• 2.11 Checks on the Judiciary (2:46)
• 2.12 The Bureaucracy (5:41)
• 2.13 Discretionary and Rule-Making Authority (5:04)
• 2.14 Holding the Bureaucracy Accountable (2:55)
• 2.15 Checks on the Bureaucracy (2:49)

Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights 

This section is focuses on the Bill of Rights and 14th Amendment, analyzing how the courts have interpreted and protected individual freedoms and rights, while also addressing historical and modern movements for civil rights and equality

• 3.1 The Bill of Rights (6:00)
• 3.2 First Amendment: Freedom of Religion (4:46)
• 3.3 First Amendment: Freedom of Speech (5:52)
• 3.4 First Amendment: Freedom of the Press (2:43)
• 3.5 Second Amendment: Right to Bear Arms (3:59)
• 3.6 Balancing Individual Freedom with Public Order (6:14)
• 3.7 Selective Incorporation (6:55)
• 3.8 Due Process & Rights of the Accused (7:15)
• 3.9 Amendments: Due Process and Right to Privacy (2:51)
• 3.10 Social Movements and Equal Protection (4:51)
• 3.11 Government Responses to Social Movements (5:27)
• 3.12 Balancing Majority and Minority Rights (3:28)
• 3.13 Affirmative Action (4:44)

Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs

Examine how personal beliefs about politics and government are shaped by factors like family, education, and media. It also covers the spectrum of political ideologies and how they influence policy preferences and party alignment.

• 4.1 American Attitudes About Government and Politics (5:15)
• 4.2 Political Socialization (3:12)
• 4.3 Changes in Ideology (2:28)
• 4.4 Influence of Political Events on Ideology (2:51)
• 4.5 Measuring Public Opinion (9:50)
• 4.6 Evaluating Public Opinion Data (6:30)
• 4.7 Ideologies and Political Parties (4:18)
• 4.8 Ideology and Policy Making (3:46)
• 4.9 Ideology and Economic Policy (6:14)
• 4.10 Ideology and Social Policy (4:43)

Unit 5: Political Participation

The final AP government unit covers the ways citizens engage in the political process. From voting to campaign finance and the forces shaping civic involvement.

• 5.1 Voting Rights and Models of Voting Behavior (6:01)
• 5.2 Voter Turnout (7:04)
• 5.3 Political Parties (3:22)
• 5.4 How and Why Political Parties Change and Adapt (5:27)
• 5.5 Third Party Politics (5:17)
• 5.6 Interest Groups Influencing Policy Making (9:20)
• 5.7 Groups Influencing Policy Outcomes (3:56)
• 5.8 Electing a President (9:06)
• 5.9 Congressional Elections (5:10)
• 5.10 Modern Campaigns (3:49)
• 5.11 Campaign Finance (7:12)
• 5.12 The Media (4:02) 
• 5.13 Changing Media (5:51)

Final Thoughts

By thoughtfully incorporating these AP Government videos for review into your AP Government course, you can enhance student engagement, deepen understanding, and offer a flexible, student-friendly resource that works both in and out of the classroom. Whether you’re projecting these in a lesson or sharing the full list with your students for review, this collection is a game-changer for your AP Government unit. 

Looking for more U.S. Government Resources? 

If you’re teaching U.S. Government or AP Government, you’re in the right place! I have a wide range of resources available on both my website and Teachers Pay Teachers—including a full-year AP Government bundle designed to make planning a breeze.

Need more support or inspiration? Check out my past blog posts where I dive into key topics like:

• Teaching the Legislative Branch
  
• Teaching the Judicial Branch
  
• Teaching the Executive Branch
  
• Federalism Round-Up
  
• Teaching the Election
  
• Checks and Balances
  
• Government Classroom Décor
  

I’m here to help you make your Government lessons more engaging and effective!

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