Advanced Placement American Government
Summer Assignment
To: Students of AP Government and Politics
From: Mrs. Stewart ([email protected])
Re: Summer Preparation Assignment
Dear Students,
Welcome to AP U.S. Government and Politics. You will have the opportunity to earn college
credit through the College Board at the end of the year for this course by taking the AP Exam in May of
2015. This is a very rigorous and fast-paced course. It is important that you are aware of the year long
commitment you are about to undertake as a student of this course in your Senior Year of high school.
Please make sure to read the assignment completely and carefully so that you will be ready to fully and
successful participate when class begins for the upcoming 2014-2015 school year.
AP Government requires different thinking and writing skills than you used in U.S. History.
Writing for government requires the understanding and analysis of abstract concepts and principles. You
will depend less on the study of chronology of facts and events than on your interpretation of facts and
events. You will have the added benefit of taking the course during an interim election year (if you don’t
know what this means…look it up!) and an interesting and exciting upcoming presidential election.
Throughout the year you will become aware of politics in general and specifically, have an opportunity
to explore your political self, and where you fit into our political world. This summer assignment is
designed to help you to transition from thinking historically to thinking and writing from a political
perspective.
There are two parts to this summer assignment and each one is described below. Assignments
should be prepared and completed for the first day of class. Students will be given a brief supplemental
time period to complete the assignment prior to grading. However, because this is an advanced course
students will be given coursework assignments almost immediately. Students who put this assignment
off until school begins may find it difficult to manage time and attention to accurate completion of this
assignment and may be ill prepared to discuss current events in class.
Assignment #1: Knowing Important Constitutional/Historical Court Cases
Research the 25 court cases listed on the following page. Create a journal in which
the following information is recorded:
1) The “Constitutional Question” brought up by the case.
2) Background information. What is the case about?
3) Opinion of the court and long term results. What impact did the precedent have?
The journal should be typed and is due on the first day of the semester (Do NOT CUT AND PASTE FROM
THE INTERNET!!!!). Students will be tested on the journal the first week of class and should be prepared
to see these cases repeated throughout the semester. Information can be found on several reliable
websites. My favorite is oyez.org. Do not rely exclusively on Wikipedia!
List of Cases
1. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
2. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
3. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
4. Gitlow v. New York (1925)
5. Korematsu v. United States (1944)
6. Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka (1954)
7. Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
8. Engle v. Vitale (1962)
9. Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
10. Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
11. Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
12. Lemon v. Kurtzman (1973)
13. Roe v. Wade (1973)
14. US v. Nixon(1974)
15. Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
16. Greg v. Georgia (1976)
17. Regents of California v. Bakke (1978)
18. Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988)
19. Texas v. Johnson (1989)
20. Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992)
21. U.S. v. Lopez (1995)
22. Veronia School District v. Acton (1995)
23. Clinton v. New York (1998)
24. Boy Scouts of America et al v. Dale (2000)
25. Grutter v Bollinger (2003)
Assignment #2: Get to Know the U.S. Constitution
SURVEYING THE U.S. CONSTITUTION:
Using a copy of the U.S. Constitution, answer the following questions to gain a solid background in the
structure of our government before we begin class in the fall. You will be tested on your knowledge of
this material at some point within the first two weeks of class. It is suggested that you find a copy of the
Constitution that explains some of the points in modern English, as some of the language used from
the 18th century is a bit different from what you are used to reading.
1) How does the opening of the Preamble express popular sovereignty (power)?
2) List the six (6) goals stated in the Preamble.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
ARTICLE ONE:
1) Which Branch is described in Article One? ___________________.
2) What did section 1 of Article one provide for?
3) Who are “the electors” of the members of the House of Representatives? _____________________.
4) What are the three requirements for being in the House of Representatives?
a.
b.
c.
What is the term of office for a member of the House of Representatives?
5) In clause 3, how was the provision for direct taxes changed?
6) What eliminated the 3/5ths Compromise? (Clause 3)
7) What is the basis for the number of Representatives?
8) What is the limit placed on the number of Representatives today? (Since 1911)
9) What is the sole position in the House that is mentioned in the Constitution?
10) Which House has the power of impeachment?
11) How many Senators are there from each state? __________________
12) How long is the term of office for a Senator? _______________
13) Who chose the Senators in the original Constitution? _________________________
14) How did the “classes” of Senators bring about a staggered system of election? (Section 3, Clause 2)
15) List the qualifications for being a Senator.
a.
b.
c.
16) In clause 4, who is President of the Senate? _____________________
17) When does he get to vote? _______________________________
18) What is the substitute position for when the President of the Senate is absent?
_________________________________________
19) What power does the Senate have in impeachments?
20) Who presides if it is the President who is being tried for impeachment?
21) What percentage of vote is needed to find someone guilty of impeachment?
22) In clause 6, what is the penalty for conviction for impeachment? __________________________
and __________________________________
23) What two things does impeachment NOT prevent?
a.
b.
24) What level of government authority controls the election process or manner in which members of
Congress are elected? Is their authority absolute?
25) Under Section 5, how were the rules of the House and Senate determined?
26) Define Quorem
27) What is the ultimate punishment of a member of either House, and how many members must agree
to this punishment for it to be enacted?
28) What percentage of members of each House can request that a vote in their house be officially
recorded (as Yeas and Nays)?
29) What is the rule for adjournment that both Houses must share?
30) Section 6, what two immunities are granted members of Congress? (Be Specific)
a.
b.
31) What are the two main restrictions in Sec. 6, Clause 2?
c.
d.
32) Where must all revenue bills originate (section 7, clause 1)?
33) What can the Senate do to revenue bills?
34) How can a Bill become law if the President vetoes it?
35) What percentage of both Houses of Congress must agree to override a veto? __%
36) When can a bill become a law without the President’s signature?
37) What happens after ten days if the President doesn’t sign a bill?
38) What other Congressional require Presidential signature?
39) Which exception does your book provide to requiring a Presidential signature?
40) List the expressed powers of Congress listed in Section 8, Clause 1
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
o.
p.
q.
r.
41) What did Clause 2 establish?
*42) What is the purpose of the “elastic clause” (clause 3), and what power does it provide?
*43) There are 12 denied powers of Congress listed in 8 clauses. List what they are
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
44) How is the list of powers in section 9 different from those listed in section 8?
44) From Section 10, Clause 1, list the eight powers denied to the states.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
45) What power is denied to the states under most circumstances in Clause 2?
46) What happens to any money raised through duties (taxes) on imports or exports by the states?
47) What six powers are denied to the states in Clause 3? What is the exception?
ARTICLE TWO:
1) Which Branch does Article Two describe? ___________________________.
2) Who is the head of the Executive Branch? ___________________________.
3) What is the term of office for the President? __________________________.
4) How is the number of Electors to the Electoral College determined (clause 2), and how are they
appointed?
5) Who specifically cannot serve as an Elector?
6) Clause 3 was altered by the 12th Amendment. Refer to the 12th Amendment and clause 3 to answer
these questions.
• Where are electoral votes counted?
• What must a person receive to become the President?
• Who decides who is President if no one has a majority or if there is a tie?
• What role does the Senate play?
7) Who has the power to decide what day the Electors meet to cast their vote?
8) *What is the formula that determines the day of the Presidential election in any given election year?
9) What are the qualifications for President as provided in Clause 5?
a.
b.
c.
10) The 25th Amendment modified Clause 6. Under the new guidelines, who become President if the
President can no longer fulfill that duty? How is this different from the original system found in clause 6?
11) If the President is replaced by the Vice President during his term, how is a new Vice President
chosen? (This was provided by the 25th Amendment, but is also in blue in your book)
12) What cannot happen to the President’s pay scale during his/her term? Why?
13) What 2 things does the President swear to in his/her oath of office?
a.
b.
14) In Section 2, Clause 1, what power is provided to the President regarding the military?
15) How did Section 2, Clause 1 lead to the formation of today’s Presidential Cabinet?
16) What can a President NOT pardon or reprieve someone convicted of a federal crime?
17) With whom does the President share appointment and treaty powers?
19) What percentage of Senators must agree with the President in making appointments or treaties with
foreign nations?
20) What level of officials do NOT require Senate approval (VERY important today)?
21) *What is meant by a “recess” appointment, and why might it be used?
22) List the ten major powers and duties of the President found in Section 2 and 3.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
23) What yearly speech is referred to in Section 3 of Article II?
24) What are the offenses for which government officials can be impeached?
a.
b.
c.
25) In comparing the powers of the President with the powers of the Congress, what difference(s) do
you note?
ARTICLE THREE:
1) Which Branch does Article Three describe? _________________________.
2) Which is the only court mentioned in Section 1? _____________________
3) What is its function?
4) What are inferior courts? ___________________________________________
5) Who creates them and how?
6) What is the term of office for a federal court judge? ______________________
7) *Why can salaries for federal judges NOT be reduced by Congress?
8) List the ten types of cases which are always tried in a federal court.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
9) In what three types does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction? (Section 2)
a.
b.
c.
10) * What is appellate jurisdiction, which accounts for the rest of the Court’s power?
11) What are the requirements of federal trials with regards to
a. judgement
b. location
12) How did the Congress of Vienna in 1815 change the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction?
13) What is the only crime defined in the Constitution? (Article 3, Section 3)
14) How does the Constitution define treason?
15) What is required in order for someone to be convicted for treason?
a.
b.
16) In Section 3, clause 2, what does it mean that punishment for this crime cannot work “corruption of
blood?” (check the explanation of the crime)
ARTICLE FOUR:
1) What is the general subject of Article Four?
2) What is meant by the “Full Faith and Credit Clause” in section one of Article 4?
3) Explain the “Privilege and Immunities Clause” in clause one, Section two.
4) What does extradition mean and what powers for it are provided in the Constitution?
5) In Section 2, Clause 3, how did the 13th Amendment change this section?
6) How did Section 3 protect the sovereignty of all states from the power of the national government?
7) In Section 4, what does the national government guarantee to the states? a.
b.
c.
8) How did Section 4 give more strength to the national government than the Articles of Confederation?
ARTICLE FIVE:
1) What is the subject of Article Five? _________________________________
2) Explain the two methods used to amend the Constitution.
a.
b.
3) What amendment cannot be proposed in today’s world?
4) Why were the writers of the Constitution wise in planning a way to make changes in the constitution?
5) How did they arrange to make people think long and hard before they could change the Constitution?
ARTICLE SIX:
1) What is Article Six called? ____________________________________
2) In Clause 1, when were the public debts incurred that the new government said they would pay?
3) What does Clause 2 say is the supreme law of the U.S.?
4) What is the name by which this provision is known?
5) In Clause 3, what does it mean by stating that officials can take either an oath or an affirmation?
6) What concern is expressed in clause 3 when it states there can be no religious test for any public
office?
7) What principle of our system of government is the idea expressed in question 6.
ARTICLE SEVEN:
1) What is the seventh and last Article about? ______________________________
2) How many states were needed to adopt the new constitution? ____________________
3) How many of the people attending the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution?
_________________________.
THE BILL OF RIGHTS and 14th AMENDMENT:
1) Which level of government is the Bill of Rights limiting?
2) What 2 things does the First Amendment say about religion?
a.
b.
3) What controversial right is covered by the 2nd Amendment?
4) What basic protection are we guaranteed in the 4th Amendment?
5) What are the five rights provided in the 5th Amendment?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
6) What are the six rights provided for us in the 6th Amendment?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
7) What right are we provided in the 7th Amendment, and under what conditions?
8) What two rights are provided to us in the 8th Amendment?
a.
b.
9) Which 4 Amendments (in the Bill of Rights) limit or define procedures in criminal cases?
10) According to Amendments 9 and 10, who gets the rights not mentioned in the Constitution?
9th Amendment10th Amendment11) What does the 14th Amendment say about…?
a. defining citizenship (who has the power and why)
b. providing equal protection to all people
c. due process being required by state governments
12.)Since the 14th Amendment, what has been the most common subject or topic of later
Amendments? (about 6 in all)
13.) What are the basic provisions of each of the following Amendments?
-13th
-15th
-16th
-17th
-18th
-19th
-20th
-21st
-22nd
-23rd
-24th
-25th
-26th
-27th
Assignment #3: Get to know the Vocabulary of Politics
Directions: Become intimately familiar with the following vocabulary. A working knowledge of the terms
below is critical to understanding not only the earliest material we cover, but the content for the
duration of the year. You will have a vocabulary test on the first day to ensure comprehension.
Articles of Confederation
Federalist #10
Federalist #51
elastic clause
bipartisanship
bicameral
bureaucracy
caucus
conservative
liberal
constituent
deficit
judicial review
ALL 27 AMENDMENTS
Free Exercise clause
Establishment Clause
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
Federalism
Due process
Equal Protection Clause
Plurality system
Bill of Attainder
Electoral College
Primary
devolution
polarization
executive order
enumerated
ex post fact
exclusionary rule
faction
full faith and credit
habeas corpus
iron triangle network