Advanced Placement US Government & Politics Homework Assignments- 2010/2011 Chet Cutick, Instructor

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1 Susan E. Wagner High School Gary M. Giordano, Principal Social Studies Department Suzette Lippa, Assistant Principal Advanced Placement US Government & Politics Homework Assignments- 2010/2011 Chet Cutick, Instructor The homework assignments have been arranged into more or less weekly units. Each of the assignments is due on a particular date to coincide with the lessons for that week. Each assignment will be read and graded. Late assignments will be marked as such and not graded. They will have a negative effect on your grade. Each assignment should run four to six pages- preferably typed and doubled spaced. Missing hom ework will affect your report card grade significantly and can result in failure of the class. (Yes, failure means a 55 and the joy of being dropped from the AP track taking this course all over again in the spring AND econom ics.) As with all written work in any class, it is fully expected that the work you hand is your own. Should there be reason for me to believe that your homework is the product of plagiarism, you will suffer severe penalties for this highest of academ ic crim es. Such penalties can result in failure of this course, rem oval from the scholars track, and, if applicable, possible rem oval from the Scholars Academy. I see such conduct not only as blatantly dishonest, but as a personal insult and an affront to the efforts I put into this course. Homework #1 - The Roots of American Government Pages 3-12 Due Thursday, September 16 1) Compare and contrast the theories of John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. Be sure to discuss how each theorist has affected the American system of government. 2) Does the concept of American exceptionalism still hold true? Give reasons to support your answer. 3) Compare and contrast tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy. 4) What is social contract theory? 5) There are still nine monarchies in the western Europe. How has that institution adapted to modern political beliefs and practices? Homework #2 - American Political Culture Pages Due Wednesday, September 22 1) As noted in the text, the Framers set out several key functions of government that later found their way into the Constitution. Name and describe these five functions. 2) Over 40 percent of Americans under age 25 (excluding illegal aliens)are members of a minority group. How will this ultimately affect politics in the United States? 3) Immigration, especially across our Southern borders, continues to divide the citizenry, the political parties, and the president. Political scientist Samuel Huntington believes that this new wave of immigration is particularly harmful to the continued maintenance of American values. Do you agree or disagree with his concerns? Make sure to use examples to support your answer. 4) What is a political ideology? Describe the differences between liberal, conservative, and libertarian ideologies. What policy positions are members of these groups likely to support? 5) Political scientists note that political ideologies perform four key functions. List and discuss each of these functions.

2 Homework #3 - The Constitution Pages (includes a copy of the Constitution for reference) Due Monday, September 27 1) Fully discuss the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and how they were addressed in the new Constitution. 2) Federalists claimed that the Constitution would provide a strong but limited governing system. How was this to be achieved? 3) What is the difference between enumerated and implied powers? How could these different powers tip the balance of power within the federal system? 4) Describe three key features of the separation of powers principle established in the U.S. Constitution. 5) Using examples provided in the text, discuss the difficulties that face groups or individuals seeking to change the U.S. Constitution. 6) Compare and contrast the formal and informal methods of constitutional change. 7) Discuss the constitutional and underpinnings of American federalism. Homework # 4 - Federalism Pages Due Friday, October 1 1) Discuss the facts and significance of McCulloch v. Maryland. 2) Discuss the allocation of federal and state powers within the U.S. system and how they have changed over time. 3) Citing at least three Supreme Court cases, discuss the role of the Court in the development of federalism. 4) Using contemporary examples, discuss the current state of federalism in the United States. 5) Discuss the history of federal grants to states. How has the role of federal grants changed and why? 6) Name and discuss four areas where federal powers have grown into areas that have traditionally been reserved for the states.. 7) What impact has September 11, 2001, had on the growth of national power (if any)? Please provide at least three specific examples. Homework #5 - Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Pages Due Friday, October 8 1) Discuss the Bill of Rights, the reasons for its addition to the Constitution, and its eventual application to the states. Be sure to cite cases where appropriate. 2) Compare and contrast the two clauses in the First Amendment dealing with religion. How does a nation founded on majority rights with protections for minorities deal with the increasing religious diversity of its citizenry and clashes caused by competing religious views? 3) Discuss the meanings of the free speech and press guarantees in the Constitution. Cite cases and discuss the changes over time in the interpretation of these First Amendment freedoms. 4) Does the USA PATRIOT Act balance liberty with security? If so, how does it strike that balance? If not, what should be done to secure the nation against terrorist attacks? 5) Using the Terri Schiavo case as your point of reference, discuss whether or not you believe that state or federal governments should involve themselves in cases such as hers. 6) Define and discuss the right to privacy including access to contraception, abortion, and homosexual rights. On what basis does the Court determine privacy rights? 7) How does the enforcement of civil rights statutes by different administrations affect basic civil rights?

3 Homework #6 - The Congress Pages Due Monday, October 18 1) Discuss the powers of Congress and the differences between the House and Senate. 2) How representative is Congress? Discuss both the theories of representation and the demographic make-up of Congress. 3) What is incumbency advantage, and how does it work? 4) What is the relationship between Congress and the president? Be sure to discuss the balance of power and oversight and how the modern Congress reflects the wishes of the Framers. 5) What is the War Powers Act? When and why was it enacted by Congress? 6) Describe how the power of Congress has ebbed and flowed over time in relation to the presidency. 7) Discuss the arguments for and against greater minority party rights in the Congress. 8) Name and describe the functions of the different kinds of congressional committees. Homework #7 - The Presidency Pages Due Monday, October 25 1) Discuss the impact of crises on the power of the president. 2) Discuss the roles of the Executive Office of the President and the White House staff. 3) How does presidential style affect the nature and success of a given administration? 4) Explain why FDR is said to be the founder of the modern presidency. 5) According to James David Barber, what makes a president successful? Give specific examples. 6) What is going public and how can a president use it to influence public policy? 7) Drawing on the president s many hats analogy, describe the various roles that the U.S. president plays. 8) What situations have resulted in expansion of presidential powers? How does the expansion of presidential powers affect the system of checks and balances envisioned by the Framers? Homework #8 The Bureaucracy Pages Due Tuesday, November 9 1) Discuss how the following events have affected the nature of American bureaucracy: the Civil War, Civil Service reform, the New Deal, World War II, and the September 11, terrorist attacks. Give specific examples. 2) Discuss the roles, responsibilities, and functions of the four general types of government agencies (Cabinet departments, government corporations, independent executive agencies, and independent regulatory commissions). 3) According to German sociologist Max Weber, model bureaucracies have six characteristics. Name and explain at least four of these characteristics. 4) Define iron triangles, issue networks, and interagency councils. Using examples, discuss which typology you believe best describes how the bureaucracy makes policy. 5) President George W. Bush has used a variety of ways to further what many call his conservative evangelical agenda, many of them involving the bureaucracy. Identify and discuss at least three ways that the president has done this. 6) Using Title IX as an example, explain the role of Congress, the executive, the bureaucracy, and interest groups play key roles in the setting and enforcing of public policy. 7) How does Congress, the president, and the judicial branch make bureaucracies accountable?

4 Homework #9 - The Judiciary Pages Due Tuesday, November 16 1) Compare and contrast original and appellate jurisdiction. 2) Compare and contrast judicial activism and constraint. 3) Discuss the importance of John Marshall and Marbury v. Madison for the role and authority of the Supreme Court. 4) Discuss the arguments for and against Senate filibustering judicial nominees. 5) Describe the ways in which a case can get to the U.S. Supreme Court. 6) Define stare decisis and its role in the American judicial system. 7) Name and discuss the models of judicial decision making that have been offered by scholars to explain how the Court makes its decisions. Homework #10 - Political Behavior and Public Opinion Pages Due Monday, November 29 1) Explain the role of symbols in public opinion formation. 2) The paths to political awareness differ among individuals, but most people are exposed to the same agents of political socialization. What are those agents? How do they help to shape political knowledge and values? 3) How can a pollster tell what the nation thinks by talking to only a few hundred people? What factors determine the accuracy of a sample? What additional problems must poll takers guard against to ensure that poll results are as accurate as possible? 4) Discuss the two major problems concerning the reliability of polls. 5) Name and discuss the events that have shaped your political opinions and how they have changed your ideas. 6) What is a straw poll, and why is it problematic? 7) Going beyond the simple explanation of cynicism, speculate about the reasons for the apathy most Americans feel toward their government and officials and their low levels of political knowledge. Homework #11 - Political Parties Pages Due Wednesday, December 11 1) How have American parties evolved? Discuss their history from the founding to the present, including threats to the party system and how parties have overcome those threats. 2) Explain the major party realignments that have occurred in the United States. Why have we not seen a major realignment in recent years? 3) What are the roles and functions of political parties in America? 4) In what ways have third parties both helped and hindered politics in America? 5) Discuss the modern transformation of party organization. Be sure to include the differences in the ways the Democrats and Republicans have adapted to modern campaigning. 6) Compare and contrast the roles played by political parties in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. 7) Is there a gender gap in modern elections? Why or why not? 8) What is dealignment? How has it affected the strength and functions of the party system?

5 Homework #12 - Voting and Elections Pages Due Tuesday, January 4 1) Compare and contrast conventional and unconventional political participation. 2) Name two reasons for low voter turnout and discuss them. 3) Compare and contrast caucuses and primaries as methods of presidential nomination. 4) Discuss voter turnout. Who votes and why? What proposals exist to increase voter turnout, and how effective are they likely to be? Does voter turnout matter? ow does a vote-by-mail system help and hinder the democratic process? 5) How can citizens use initiatives, referenda, and recall elections to influence politics? How often are these procedures used? 5) Discuss the nature of presidential elections from the nomination process through the general election. 6) Should the Electoral College be abolished? Why or why not? What other systems might we use? 7) Discuss the incumbency advantage in congressional elections. 8) How were the 2006 midterm elections typical and atypical of other midterm contests? How would you classify the 2010 midterm elections. Homework #13 - Political Campaigns Pages Due Monday, January 10 1) What are the differences between the primary and general election campaigns? 2) What is the difference between paid and volunteer campaign staff? 3) What types of media are available to candidates, and what effect do they have? 4) How has the Internet changed campaign finance? 5) What is the significance of presidential debates? 6) What is the role of spin in the modern campaign process? 7) Fully discuss political action committees, including their role in financing campaigns, advocating candidates or issues, and discuss whether they are a good or bad aspect of the modern electoral process. 8) Discuss the changing nature of campaign finance including the role of 527 political committees and the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. (The Citizens United case will not be in your text book. Use the internet to learn more about it.) Homework #14 - The Media Pages Due Wednesday, February 2 1) Which ideology seems to dominate talk radio and why? 2) Discuss the impact of the Internet on the media. Explain how blogs engage the public differently than other forms of media. 3) Compare and contrast the print press and electronic media. 4) Where do Americans get their political news? How does this vary by age? What effects are there when young people get most of the news from late night or comedy "news" shows? 5) What is the character issue, and how do the media deal with it? 6) How does the increased celebrity status of journalists affect the objectivity of the media? 7) Compare and contrast CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, Al-Jazeera, and C-SPAN. Who is likely to get their news from these sources? 8) Compare and contrast the coverage the media give to the three branches of government. 9) Explore the question of media bias. What types of biases do the media have, and how do they affect media coverage of people, events, and campaigns?

6 Homework #15 - Interest Groups and Lobbying Pages Due Monday, February 14 1) Explain the K Street Project and identify its proponents. 2) How do public interest groups differ from economic interest groups? 3) Why were the Framers wary of.the mischief of faction?. 4) How has the Internet changed how interest groups function? 5) Using disturbance theory, explain the rise of the progressive and business movements. 6) Discuss the role of religious groups in politics. Is it a good or bad thing? 7) Enumerate at least five types of lobbying commonly performed by a majority of Washington, D.C., based interest groups. 8) List and compare the reasons for and against greater limits on interest group participation in the political process. Homework #16 - Social Policy Pages Due Tuesday, March 1 1) What is policy implementation? What is involved, and what are the possible pitfalls? 2) Compare and contrast authoritative and incentive techniques for policy implementation. 3) Discuss the seven steps of the policy process. Give specific examples for each and discuss why that step is important. 4) Define the nature of income security programs and discuss how successful they have been at alleviating the problems of poverty and economic dependency. 5) Discuss the nature of federal involvement with public education. When did it start? Who has primary responsibility for education and why? How have reform efforts dealt with the problems facing public education today? 6) How and why has social welfare policy changed in the last several decades? Give specific examples. 7) Discuss the politics surrounding immigration reform. Homework #17 - Economic Policy Pages Due Tuesday, March 8 1) What kind of economic system does the United States have? How does that affect economic policy? 2) Compare the philosophies of Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes. 3) Define and discuss deregulation. Why did it become popular in the 1970s and 1980s, and what impact has it had? 4) Explain the Gramm-Rudmann-Hollings Act. 5) What is the Federal Reserve System, and why is it important? Why are there people who say it should be abolished? What do supporters of the Fed say would be the result of its elimination? 6) Why did the United States have budget surpluses from 1998 to 2002? Why did deficits return in 2003? What are the prospects for achieving a balanced budget again in the near future? 7) Why does the subject of taxes raise such anger among many Americans? Research where taxes come from and where they go at the Federal level. How does the general dislike (I'm being so polite!) of taxes affect our ability for government to provide the services we desire and deal with the massive national debt? Homework #18 - Foreign and Defense Policy Pages Due Tuesday, March 15 1) Discuss the War Powers Act. 2) What impact can the media have on foreign policy? 3) What is the military-industrial complex? 4) Compare and contrast containment and the Bush Doctrine of preemption. 5) To what extent has human rights affected foreign and military policy? 6) What's the difference between isolationism, unilateralism, and multilateralism? Under what circumstances has the U.S. pursued each of these types of foreign policy? Which do you think the United States should be pursuing now? Why? 7) Compare and contrast the president's influence over foreign policy with Congress's influence. 8) How can the public affect foreign and military policy?

American Government & Civics Final Exam Review Guide

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