AP U.S. Government & Politics Prior Knowledge Assignment

Transcription

1 Name Teacher : Hubacher AP U.S. Government & Politics Prior Knowledge Assignment Welcome to APGOPO. You re about to be part of a class that is both fun and rigorous. Here s your first mission: Our summer assignments will help you to be ready for this college level course. Please Note : The prior knowledge assignment is due on MONDAY, 8/22. A prior knowledge test will be given during the first two weeks of the year. Contact me at matt.hubacher@pinelakeprep.org with any questions. I look forward to a great year! Google Doc Version: Part 1: Human Nature Assignment: Are We Good or Evil? As individuals we have choices about what direction our life may take us. Ultimately what we choose is our decision. However, are our decisions based upon what we are deep inside? Is there a common human nature in all of us and, if so, is that nature good or evil? How does this tension shape the governments men form? JOIN. Join our class group on the website EDMODO. IF you already have an EDMODO account for another class use this link: IF you do not yet have an EDMODO account, you will need to create one and use the below SIX DIGIT CODE to join our group. IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS BY JUNE 14 YOU MAY NEED TO CONTACT ME FOR A NEW CODE. IF YOU WAIT UNTIL THE END OF SUMMER THIS WILL TAKE UNNECESSARY TIME AND YOU MAY NOT GET MY APPROVAL IN TIME!!! Code: 2zxanq READ. Click on the Human Nature Seminar post and complete as directed. PREPARE. This assignments will be the basis of a class discussion during the first week of class. Part 2: Current Events: You will need to get in the habit of reading the news and current political happenings events every day. Try to pick at least three reputable sources of news (if you have questions about what these are please let me know, but Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, et al, although hilarious, are not always your best source for politics). Whether it s newspapers, magazines, or the Internet, it is important to diversify your intake of information. I read and view a steady stream from CNN, TIME Magazine, Newsweek Magazine, FoxNews, and I listen to NPR regularly when I am in the car. I peruse channels like MSNBC, CNBC, and Headline News, along with local news channels as well as to gather other information and gain new

2 perspectives. Online news sites are fine, in fact preferable at times, but I would not put too much stock in blogs if you are just starting out. Read news that enlightens you about the topics in our curriculum, such as: Significant Supreme Court Decisions (or 4 4 ties) announced in June Affirimative Action State abortion restrictions Challenges to the President s immigration actions The ongoing legislative process in Congress on topics such as energy policy, trade, immigration, education and any other subject that interests you Any news on the budget deficit and national debt The 2016 Presidential Election and Party Conventions The president in his various roles: commander in chief, head of the executive branch, diplomat, party leader American military deployment in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere Conservative or liberal criticism of President Obama s decisions How the federal government deals with state governments (i.e. Federal enforcement of drug laws in states that allow recreational marijuana) The media s role in government Complaints about civil rights or civil liberties violations that come up Please note: there is no specific assignment with these current events readings. I will warn you however that I will be testing you on this at the start of the school year by selecting some of the largest news stories that the websites above most certainly will deal with and have you either write about them or take some other form of assessment. You can also follow me on Twitter to see what kind of stories/sources I Part 3: The United States Constitution. The essential guide to our government s structure and core philosophy. Want to be ready for anything? Keep a copy in your pocket. FIND. Search for it, buy a pocket copy or this website has a nicely searchable version: READ. We ll be using the Constitution all year long. Read every word thoroughly from the beginning of the Preamble to the end of the 27 th Amendment. Look up what you don t understand. WRITE. Complete the worksheets attached to this page. You ll use it all year as your personal guide to the Constitution. Submit it via Edmodo by MONDAY 8/22.

3 THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION Read the U.S. Constitution. Complete this worksheet using any online or print resources you require you ll keep it in your notebook all year. A. Create a Table of Contents: The Original Constitution Read each article of the Constitution. Summarize the general purpose or subject of each article, and then write down the meanings of any unfamiliar terms (look them up) or any bigger questions you have for discussion. This can be a place for creative what if questions, too now is a great time to write them down. ARTICLE BIG IDEA: THE SUBJECT DETAILS: UNFAMILIAR TERMS & QUESTIONS FOR CLASS I II III IV V VI VII TICLE BIG IDEA: THE SUBJECT DETAILS: UNFAMILIAR TERMS & QUESTIONS FOR CLASS Follow Up #1: Which Article is longest and most detailed? Why do you think that is? B. Create a Table of Contents: The Amendments Identify the main point of each Constitutional amendment. AMENDMENT BIG IDEA: WHAT DID THIS AMENDMENT ACCOMPLISH?

4 AMENDMENT BIG IDEA: WHAT DID THIS AMENDMENT ACCOMPLISH? Follow Up #2: If you could only keep two amendments to the Constitution, which would they be? Why?

5 C. The Three Branches: Powers Enumerated powers are those listed specifically in the Constitution. Look through the first three Articles for examples. Pay careful attention to checks and balances how each branch of government controls the others. Remember to answer in your own words, and to look up what you don t understand. That method will help you the most. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Checks & Balances: What are TWO enumerated powers it has over the president? Checks & Balances: What s ONE enumerated power it has over the courts? What other enumerated powers does Congress have? EXECUTIVE BRANCH Checks & Balances: What are TWO enumerated powers it has over the Congress? Checks & Balances: What s ONE enumerated power it has over the courts? What other enumerated powers does president have? JUDICIAL BRANCH Checks & Balances: What are TWO enumerated powers it has over the president? Checks & Balances: What s ONE enumerated power it has over the Congress? What other enumerated powers do the courts have?

6 D. Rules for Policymakers What requirements can you find to hold political office in the United States? Fill in the table below with your findings. Age Requirement Citizenship Requirement Length of Term Gaining Office: How does it happen? HOUSE SENATE PRESIDENT SUPREME COURT JUSTICE Follow Up #3: Why would the requirements vary for different offices? Come up with some theories on why the founders would make different rules for different branches. E. The Amendment Process In your own words, describe TWO ways to propose an amendment, and TWO ways to ratify an amendment. PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT RATIFYING AN AMENDMENT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT RATIFYING AN AMENDMENT Follow Up #4: Can you find which process of proposal and ratification has been used most often? Which has never been used? Any ideas why?

7 F. Grab Bag: Additional Questions 1. Identify two powers the Constitution prohibits the states from having. 2. The court of original jurisdiction is the first court that hears a case. Although the Supreme Court mostly hears cases on appeal from a lower court, what kinds of cases does it have original jurisdiction? 3. Who has the power to declare war? What powers do the other branches have during a war? 4. The Constitution requires only a simple majority for some actions. (That means anything over half). It requires a supermajority for others. (A majority greater than merely a simple one). Find two actions that require a supermajority. Why do you think the Constitution requires this? 5. Find two ways to remove a president from office one in the original Constitution, and one in the amendments. Describe each in your own words, and be sure to say where you found each method. 6. If no candidate for the presidency wins a simple majority of the total number of electoral votes, what body has the power to choose the presiden 7. How many electoral votes does one need to become president? 8. Where in the Constitution is the Electoral College described? (Hint: there are two parts) 9. How were US Senators chosen before the Seventeenth Amendment?. 10. Who creates executive branch departments?