What do I hope to learn in AP Government this year?

The main reason i chose this class was to simply learn the basics of how my government works. It seems like you can't go a day without turning on the television and hear of a brewing political debate or the 2008 presidential race for the white house. By taking this class, I hope to have some of these questions answered. I also see this class as a potential gateway toward opening a future in political science in college. I have always been attracted by the allure of senate and presidential races, and have made in effort in the past to keep current with issues not only around the nation, but  in middle Tennessee as well. In particular, it will be interesting to learn about how a political campaign is run,especially from a man who holds a public office.