2018-19 AP Government Summer Assignment I. Watch Season 1 of The West Wing (Available on Net Flix). As you watch pay special attention to the major characters and the jobs they perform, both their positions and what they actually do. Be prepared for a short quiz (Multiple Choice) on Season 1 during the first two weeks back from school. I will be posting key concepts/issues for various episodes on google classroom throughout the summer. II. Learn Article I of the U.S. Constitution, available on the following pages in more modern English form thanks to MS. Stein. Sections which are highlighted must be learned word for word. Be prepared for a quiz (Multiple Choice and Fill in the Blank/Short Answer) when we come back to school in September. III. Create a Presentation on a Supreme Court case to be assigned during our meeting before school ends this year. Your presentation should explain what the constitutional issue at stake was, the Supreme Court decision and the basis of its decision, any concurrent or dissenting opinions, and how this decision influenced interpretation of the Constitution and Public Policy. You must submit this presentation by the first week we come back to school. You will give the presentation to the class when we reach that point during the year.
AP GOVERNMENT: US CONSTITUTION PREAMBLE We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. ARTICLE I: LEGISLATURE 1. BICAMERAL CONGRESS=House of Representatives & Senate 2. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES a. 2 year term b. qualifications: 25 years old, 7 years US citizen, inhabitant of state chosen c. each state has at least 1 representative ((3/5 th compromise- other persons (slaves) counted for taxation)) d. Executive Authority fills vacancies e. House chooses Speaker/Officers; sole power of impeachment 3. SENATE a. 2 Senators per state chosen by state legislatures (17 th A changed-direct elections) w/ 6 year terms b. 1/3 chosen every 2 years; state executive fills vacancies c. qualifications: 30 years old, 9 years US citizen, inhabitant of state chosen d. Vice President is President of Senate, only votes if tie e. Chooses own Officers; President pro tempore in absence of VP or VP acting as President f. sole power to try impeachment w/ Chief Justice presiding (if President impeached); 2/3 members present for conviction g. if found guilty in impeachment trial removal from office & cannot hold any office of honor; liable & subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment 4. ELECTIONS/MEETINGS OF CONGRESS a. states control elections for Senators & Representatives b. Congress assembles at least once per year (1 st Monday in Dec-changed by 20 th A to Jan 3) 5. RULES/PROCEDURES OF EACH HOUSE a. Each House: judge of elections, returns, and qualifications; majority=quorum (vote); smaller # OK for day to day business & may compel attendance of absent members + penalties b. Each House: rules of Proceedings, punish own members, expel member w/ 2/3 vote c. Each House: keep & publish Journal of proceedings (except for security/secrecy); Yeas and Nays recorded if 1/5 present agree d. Neither House: adjourn for more than 3 days during Session w/out consent of other
6. SALARIES a. Salary (compensation) paid by Treasury; cannot be arrested (except Treason, Felony, Breach of Peace) while in/coming/going into Session, Speech, or Debate b. barred from holding civil/federal, appointive offices & receiving compensatory money (Emoluments) 7. BILLS a. revenue (money) bills begin in House; Senate can propose/concur w/ amendments on other bills b. bill passes House & Senate; goes to President to sign into law or return (veto) w/ objections to house of origin; if reapproved by 2/3 of both houses: bill becomes law; if not returned by President within 10 days (except Sunday) after presented to Pres., becomes law unless Congress adjourned c. same process occurs for orders, resolutions, or votes during concurrence of both houses 8. POWERS a. lay/collect taxes, pay debts, provide for defence & general welfare; uniformity of Duties, Imposts & Excises b. borrow money on Credit of US c. regulate commerce w/ foreign nations, among states, within Indian tribes d. establish rules of naturalization & bankruptcies e. coin money, regulate value of US and foreign money; fix standard of weights & measures f. punish counterfeiters g. establish Post Offices & Post Roads h. promote Science & Arts, patents & copyrights to authors and inventors i. constitute Tribunals (courts) inferior to Supreme Court j. punish piracies k. declare war, grant Letters of Marque (right of piracy) and Reprisal l. raise/support Armies (money not supported more than 2 years) m. provide/maintain Navy n. make Rules for government and regulation of land/naval forces o. call militia to suppress insurrections (rebellions) and repel invasion p. govern Washington DC (10 miles square) and government places (forts, buildings) q. make all laws necessary & proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof 9. PROHIBITED FEDERAL POWERS a. stop importation of slaves (of such Persons) before 1808: maximum tax; $10 per person b. suspend writ of habeas corpus unless during rebellion or invasion of public safety c. pass a bill of attainder (guilty w/out a fair trial) or ex post facto law (act now criminal although act legal when committed) d. lay direct taxes in proportion to census (16 th A changed- federal income tax-no census needed) e. lay export taxes from states f. give preference to any state; no state pays taxes of any other state
g. publish drawn money from Treasury h. grant titles of nobility; Congress must approve titles from foreign countries 10. PROHIBITED STATE POWERS a. enter treaties, alliances, w/ foreign nations; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin money; pass bills of attainder & ex post facto laws or laws impairing sanctity of contracts; grant titles of nobility b. tax imports/exports w/out consent of Congress except for inspection laws c. lay Duty of Tonnages, keep troops or ships in times of peace, make agreements with other states or foreign nations; engage in war w/out consent of Congress unless invaded or imminent danger ARTICLE II: EXECUTIVE 1. OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE a. President & Vice President serve 4 year terms b. Electors=Senators + Reps; no member of Congress or person holding office of Trust or Profit can be appointed Elector c. greatest number of electoral votes: President, second-greatest number of electoral votes: Vice President (changed by 12 th A: president of Senate announces votes; if no majority, top 3 candidates considered by House of Representatives; each state gets one vote with 2/3 of states needed for quorum; majority of states needed for choice; same requirements for VP) d. Congress sets date for choosing electors and for casting electoral votes e. qualifications: natural born citizen (except at Ratification), 35 years old, 14 consecutive years US resident f. presidential death, resignation, or disability: powers passed to Vice President; Congress can choose Officer to be President until disability is removed or President elected ( 25 th A changed Presidential Succession & Disability) g. receives compensation during term(s); cannot receive emoluments h. oath of office: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. (+ so help me God) 2. POWERS a. Commander-in-Chief of armed forces, require opinions of heads of executive departments, pardons offences except impeachment b. With Advice & Consent of Senate: make treaties (2/3 concurring), appoint ambassadors, ministers/consuls, Supreme Court justices, and other federal Officers c. fill vacancies during Senate recess w/ Commissions expiring at end of next session 3. gives Congress info on State of the Union; can convene both houses or adjourn them in times of disagreement; receives ambassadors, executes the laws of US, commission US officers
4. President, VP, & Officers can be removed by impeachment and conviction of Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors ARTICLE III: JUDICIARY 1. Supreme Court; inferior courts established by Congress; judges hold office during Good Behaviour (for life/until retirement) & receive compensation not diminished during service 2. JURISDICTION a. hears cases arising under Constitution, federal laws, treaties; cases affecting ambassadors/public officials, admiralty/naval jurisdiction, controversies involving US, between states, state & citizen of different state (11 th amendment forbade), citizens of different states, citizens of the one state claiming lands of different states, between state and foreign nation, citizen, or subject b. Cases involving ambassadors: original (place where case begins) jurisdiction; other cases: appellate (originally in lower court) jurisdiction c. criminal trials use juries except impeachment; trial held in state where crime committed or chosen by law if not occurred within state 3. TREASON a. levying war against US, comforting/aiding enemies; cannot be convicted w/out 2 witnesses testimony to same act or open court confession b. Congress sets punishment for treason; attainders of treason do not punish heirs (Corruption of Blood) or forfeiture (loss of rights) when convicted person dies ARTICLE IV: STATE RELATIONS 1. Each state must give Full Faith and Credit to acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states 2. INTERSTATE a. citizens entitled to privileges/immunities of other states b. person charged with treason, felony, or other crime within state who escapes to new state brought back to state of jurisdiction of crime by state executive of fled state c. no slave can be discharged & can be reclaimed by its owner (13 th A changed outlawing slavery) 3. ADMISSION OF NEW STATES a. new state cannot be formed within a state or on state borders w/out consent of Congress & concerned (relevant) legislatures b. Congress can pass rules and regulations on US territories/properties 4. Each state must have Republican form of government.
ARTICLE V: AMENDMENTS --2/3 of both houses or 2/3 of state legislatures needed for proposing amendments to Constitution; 3/4 of states or state conventions needed for ratification; no amendment before 1808 can affect A1 S9 C1 or A1 S9 C4 (Article 1, Section 9, Clauses 1 & 4); no state can be deprived equal suffrage (voting) in Senate ARTICLE VI: DEBT, SUPREMACY, OATH OF OFFICE 1. All debt accumulated before adoption of Constitution valid against US just as in the Articles of Confederation 2. Supremacy clause Constitution, federal laws, and treaties supreme Law of the Land (judges bound to follow) 3. All federal and state officials have to swear an oath to Constitution before taking office; no religious test administered for public office ARTICLE VII: RATIFICATION Nine of original thirteen states needed for ratification of Constitution (Sept 17, 1787)
(BILL OF RIGHTS=1 ST 10 AMENDMENTS) Amendment I: Freedom of Expression (1791) Congress shall make no law establishing a national religion, prohibiting free exercise of religions, or abridging freedom of speech, the press, peaceful assembly, & petition government for grievances Amendment II: Bearing Arms (1791) A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Amendment III: Quartering Soldiers (1791) No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law Amendment IV: Search & Seizure (1791) Private property cannot be searched or seized without probable cause and a warrant describing place of search and persons/items to be seized. Amendment V: Rights of Persons (1791) Grand Jury necessary for indictments on capital (serious) crimes (except for military in wartime); no double jeopardy for same offense; no one compelled to testify against himself. No deprivation of life, liberty, property w/out due process of law or taking private property w/out compensation Amendment VI: Rights of Accused in Prosecutions (1791) Right to speedy public trial, impartial jury in State/District where crime committed, be informed of nature/cause of accusation, face witnesses against him & obtain witness in favor, & Assistance of Counsel. Amendment VII: Civil Suits (1791) Right to jury trial preserved for common lawsuits where controversy value exceeds $20. Amendment VIII: Bail/Punishment (1791) Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Amendment IX: Unenumerated Rights (1791) The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X: Reserved Rights (1791) The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Amendment XI: Suits Against States (1795) One state cannot be sued by citizens of another state or foreign nations. Amendment XII: Electoral College (1804) See Article II Amendment XIII: Slavery (1865) Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Amendment XIV: Rights/Privileges of Citizens (1868) 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. 2. If any 21 year old male denied suffrage by state (except criminal), state loses representation in Congress. 3. Southern rebels and office holders denied right to hold public office. 4. Federal pensions paid to those suppressing, not causing, insurrection; no compensation for loss or emancipation of slaves 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. Amendment XV: Black Male Suffrage (1870) 1. Voting cannot be denied due to race, color, or previous servitude. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Amendment XVI: Income Tax (1913) Federal Income Tax legal (no census needed)
Amendment XVII: Direct (Popular) Election of Senators (1913) Amendment XVIII: Prohibition of liquor (1919) 1. No manufacturing/sale for beverage purposes 2. concurrent federal/state enforcement Amendment XIX: Woman s Suffrage (1920) The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Amendment XX: Terms of Congress/President & Vacancies (1933) 1. President & VP take office at noon on Jan 20 following Nov election; Senators & Representatives take office at noon on Jan 3. 2. Congress assembles at least once a year, 3. Vice President Elect becomes President if President Elect dies before taking office. 4. If no President or VP elected, House of Representatives chooses President & Senate chooses VP Amendment XXI: Repeal of 18 th Am (Alcohol Prohibition) (1933) Amendment XXII: Limit of Presidential terms (1951) Presidency limited to 2 full terms (max of 10 years if finish previous pres. term); not applicable to current President. Amendment XXIII: Electors for President for Washington DC Amendment XXIV: Abolition of Poll Taxes to Vote (1964)
Amendment XXV: Presidential Succession & Disability (1967) 1. Vice President becomes President in case of Removal or Death of President. 2. If VP vacant, Pres. nominates VP, confirmed by majority of BOTH houses 3. When the President writes to Speaker & President Pro Tempore he is unable to discharge duties & until contrary declaration, Vice President is Acting President. 4. If Vice President & majority of Cabinet write to Speaker & President Pro Tempore that Pres. unable to perform duties, VP immediately becomes Acting President. Then goes to Congress (must assemble w/in 48 hrs. if not in session); w/in 21 days Congress by 2/3 majority in BOTH houses must vote to deny Pres w/ VP continuing as Acting Pres Amendment XXVI: Reduction of Voting Age to 18 (1971) Amendment XXVII: Limits on Congressional Salaries (1992) Salaries for Senators & Representatives cannot be changed until after the next election of Representatives.