AP Government and Politics Summer Assignment Introduction: Welcome to AP Government! This course will consist of a college-level survey of American politics and government. You should be prepared to work hard. There will be many difficult and complex readings and concepts to analyze, and the course is meant to prepare you to excel on the AP US Government and Politics Exam, which you will take in May 2019. In preparation for the course, we will analyze key documents from Unit 1 as well as look at the Constitution, which will weave its way through the entire semester. This assignment, which is to be hand written, will be due on the first day of class. WILSON TEXTBOOK OUTLINES Please hand write your outline for Chapter 1 of the Wilson Textbook. READING GUIDE FOR FEDERALIST #10 Questions: All questions must be answered in full sentences, on a separate piece of papert. This must be handwritten. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed10.asp 1. According to Madison, what conditions have historically plagued popular governments? 2. Had the US effectively dealt with these conditions? Explain. 3. Describe the two methods of removing the causes of factions. 4. Describe Madison s position on these two methods. 5. What is the most common cause of faction? 6. Is the republican principle more effective in controlling the effects of a minority faction or a majority faction? Explain. 7. Is a republic or a pure democracy more suitable for controlling the effects of factions? List the differences that Madison cites between these two forms of government. 8. What are the benefits when there is a delegation of the government to a small number of citizens? 9. Why is a large republic more likely to control the effects of a faction than a small republic? READING GUIDE FOR BRUTUS #1 Questions: All questions must be answered in full sentences, on a separate piece of paper. This must be handwritten. http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/brutus-i/ 1. According to Brutus, which form of government (a large national republic or a confederation of small republics) is more likely to preserve and protect personal liberties and why? 2. According to Brutus, can a larger republic, based on the principle of consent of the governed, sufficiently protect the rights and liberties of the individual states and people, or is a confederation the only method of securing such liberty? 3. Should the federal legislature be able to repeal state laws in order to impose federal laws for the purpose of promoting the general welfare or common defense of the nation? Why or why not?
4. Brutus argues that in a republic, the manners, sentiments, and interest of the people should be similar if not, there will be a constant clashing of opinions and the representatives of one part will be constantly striving against the other. Should a republic be made up of small group of like-minded people? Or, is diversity of opinion beneficial to the success of a federal government? READING GUIDE FOR THE CONSTITUTION Using: The Words We Live By Questions: All questions must be answered in full sentences, on a separate piece of paper. Any charts may be filled out right on the assignment paper or duplicated to your answer sheet. This must be handwritten. Many of these questions require more than just one sentence to fully answer. In order to give the best answers you will need to read the text, not just skim for answers. Even though court cases have not been assigned, take note of court cases that are mentioned - by the end of the course students will be responsible for knowing most of the cases mentioned in this book! http://lindamonk.com/books/the-words-we-live-by/ Preamble: 1. What was the first attempt at governing the 13 colonies? 2. What are some of the reasons this attempted form of government did not last? 3. When was the Constitution proposed? 4. How was the Constitution ratified? How did the Federalists and Anti-Federalist differ in their opinions about its ratification? 5. According to the Preamble - what was the purpose of creating the Constitution? Article I: 6. Create a bulleted list of the powers of Congress. Mark whether the powers are just that of the House/Senate or if the power belongs to both houses of Congress. 7. What items does Congress NOT have the power to do? 8. Why was a bicameral Congress created? 9. How was representation in the two houses determined when the Constitution was ratified? How has this changed? 10. How and why does gerrymandering occur? 11. What are the term limits for the House and Senate? 12. Who serves as President of the Senate? What is the main role of this person in this role? 13. Who serves if the person in #13 is absent? 14. What charges might result in impeachment? 15. How does the Senate differ in its proceedings from the House? 16. What are the requirements to become a Senator? To become a Representative in the House? Article II: 16. Create a bulleted list of the powers of the President. Mark any powers that seem to overlap with powers of Congress. 17. Today we tend to think of the President as the most powerful person in government. Why is the role of the President spelled in Article II and not Article I? 18. What is the term length for both the President and Vice President? Article III: 19. What arguments exist for the judicial branch being too powerful vs the weakest branch? 20. What court case solidified the power of judicial review?
21. How is the number of Supreme Court Justices determined? How many Supreme Court Justices are there currently? 22. What are the requirements to become a Supreme Court Justice? 23. What is the term length for a Supreme Court Justice? According to the principles of checks and balances, each branch of government must have control over the other branches. Look at the first three articles of the Constitution and identify one of each type of checks and balances. Indicate where each power is listed in the Constitution. Concept Constitutional Power Location in the Constitution (Article, Section) Power the Executive has over the Legislative Branch Power the Executive has over the Judicial Branch Power the Legislative Branch has over the Executive Branch Power the Legislative Branch has over the Judicial Branch Power the Judicial Branch has over the Legislative Branch Power the Judicial Branch has over the Executive Branch Article IV: 24. What rights of citizens are protected in this article? 25. How has the Full Faith and Credit Clause been tested in recent years? Article V: 26. What is the process by which the Constitution can be amended? 27. What types of amendments were not permitted to be made? Article VI: 28. Explain the importance of the supremacy clause. Which issues today deal with the tension between state s rights and the supremacy clause? Article VII: Summarize this article. Amendment I: 29. What rights are contained within the first amendment? 30. What is the difference between the establishment clause and the free exercise clause? 31. How does the establishment clause impact education? 32. How does the free exercise clause impact education? 33. What type of speech is protected? 34. What are the limits of free speech protection? 35. What is freedom of association? Why is this a right that is protected even though it is
not specifically listed in the Constitution? Amendment II: 36. How do people differ on the interpretation of this amendment? Amendment III: 37. Why was this amendment important in the late 1700 s? Is it still a necessary amendment to include in the Constitution? Amendment IV: 38. How was this amendment originally interpreted? 39. How has this amendment been interpreted over time? 40. What is the exclusionary rule? What are the exceptions to this rule? Amendment V: 41. What are the five right guaranteed in this Amendment? Amendment VI: 42. How does the Sixth Amendment protect the rights of criminals? 43. What is the difference between capital and noncapital cases/ Amendment VII: 44. What rights does a citizen have in civil cases? Amendment VIII: 45. How has the Supreme Court interpreted cruel and unusual punishment over time? Amendment IX: 46. Why was the Ninth Amendment included in the Constitution? 47. How has the Ninth Amendment been used to expand rights? Amendment X: 48. What rights are reserved to the states? 49. Explain how the balance between the power of the national and state governments has played out over time. Amendment XI: No questions for this amendment Amendment XII: 50. Why was this amendment necessary? 51. When there is a tie in the electoral college (body that finalizes the vote for election of president) - where is that tie broken? Amendment XIII: 52. Explain how this amendment overturned Dredd Scott v Sanford. Amendment XIV: 53. Why has this amendment been cited more often in modern legislation than any other? 54. Explain how this amendment has expanded rights since the beginning of the 20th Century? 55. How does the Fourteenth Amendment apply to voting rights and reapportionment? Amendment XV: 56. How was the power of this amendment limited for nearly 100 years after its ratification?
Amendment XVI: Summarize this amendment. Amendment XVII: Summarize this amendment. Amendment XVIII: Summarize this amendment. Amendment XIX: Summarize this amendment. Amendment XX: 56. How did this amendment give more power to the President and Congress? Amendment XXI: Summarize this amendment. Amendment XXII: Summarize this amendment. Amendment XXIII: 57. How were the number of electoral college votes determined for DC? 58. Why do some believe this amendment did not go far enough? Amendment XXIV: Summarize this amendment. Amendment XXV: 59. In the event of death or impeachment, who becomes president? 60. If the President is unable to fulfill his duties due to something like a planned surgery - what is the process by which power is transferred? 61. If the Vice President and the majority of the cabinet determines the President is unfit - what is the process? Amendment XXVI: 62. Why was this amendment added? Amendment XXVII: 63. When was this amendment first proposed? When was it ratified? CLOSE READING: DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Read the Declaration of Independence. As you read, use the questions in the right margin to guide your annotations. (Keep in mind that this document was written before the regulation of spelling and capitalization.)
[1] IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of Why would it be important for the decision to separate from Britain to be unanimous? America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, Paragraph 1 provides exigence (the reason why the document was written). What is the purpose of this declaration? the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
[2] We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Jefferson notes that all men are created equal, suggesting that this was self-evident. What is meant by that statement? pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new How has this idea been supported or challenged throughout history? Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed What, according to Jefferson, is the duty of the colonists? for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are What has Britain done? sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, What pattern of diction do you notice in the last half of this paragraph? it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a Highlight words that show how the colonists feel about Britain and the king. history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. Who is included in the audience of this text?
Who is he? [3] He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance,... and when According to Jefferson, how has the king been conducting business? so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of According to Jefferson, when the king calls together his legislative bodies, how does he manipulate them? fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. [4] He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of What has the king done, according to Jefferson? Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
[5] He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: Summarize the two grievances or issues that Jefferson has with the king in this section. 1. 2. For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: Why is it important for Jefferson to methodically name the grievances? [6] For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: Summarize the grievances or issues that Jefferson has with the king in this section. For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences Parallel structure provides a logical, balanced structure. Underline examples of parallel structure. For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:.
[7] He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation Examine the underlined sentence. Use a highlighter to identify the verbs. What connotation do these words share? What is the tone in this paragraph? and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. [10] He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the Summarize the grievances or issues that Jefferson has with the king in this section. executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. Parallel structure provides a logical, balanced structure. Underline examples of parallel structure.
[11] In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have According to Jefferson, what have the colonists attempted in the past? been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. lacking [12] Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by What other efforts did Jefferson claim that the colonists made? their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They How did the British brethren respond to the colonists efforts? too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. Read the underlined statement. Why is this an extreme statement?
[13] We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Read the underlined statement. What is Jefferson saying? Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved ; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy What rights does Jefferson claim that the colonies now possess? War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. Optional Work: The Words We Live By The following section is not required and will not be graded. However, of you get acquainted with these terms now, it will help in the long run. Terms to Know: Part of Constitution Preamble Term Popular Sovereignty Definition/Examples
Article I Separation of powers Checks and balances reapportionment redistricting Article I Conference committee veto
Pocket veto Line item veto Legislative veto Enumerated powers Implied powers Inherent powers
Bill of attainder Ex post facto law Habeas corpus Article II Executive privilege Article III Judicial Review Judicial restraint
Judicial activism Strict construction Loose constructions Article III jurisdiction Original jurisdiction Appellate jurisdiction
Writ of certiorari attainder Article IV extradition Article IV republic/republican form of government (note the small r!) Direct democracy Article V federalism
Amendment I Pure speech Symbolic speech defamation slander libel Prior restraint
Actual malice Amendment IV Exclusionary rule Amendment V indictment Double jeopardy Eminent domain Amendment VIII Aggravating circumstances
Mitigating circumstances Amendment X States rights nullification Amendment XI Sovereign immunity Amendment XIV incorporation Substantive due process
Selective incorporation Amendment XIV Affirmative action Amendment XX Lame Duck Amendment XXIV Poll taxes