U.S. Gov't & Politics

United States Government and Politics

AP GOV - based fall assignments/activities are listed below. 

Here are some study guidelines:

1. Form a habit of paying attention to the national news. We will work with current events in class, formally through assignments and informally in class discussion. 

By exposing yourself to the news online, in the newspaper, or on television over the summer, you will have a base of knowledge which you can immediately apply in class.

2. Read the United States Constitution. Take your time with it and research any phrases that you do not understand. Complete the question packet – neatly hand write your answers. 

3.  View the first five videos of the Course U.S. Government and Politics series and answer the questions as you watch [video links and questions provided below]. You will probably find it necessary to pause the video as you watch to answer the questions.  

4. Read the subject packets given in class. Take notes. Your notes can take any form you choose (outline, bullet points for each heading, maps, etc). These MUST be handwritten.  They will not be collected or graded; however, any notes you take can be used on quizzes during class.  You will not be allowed to use typed notes on any quiz.  

Note-taking Tips and Comments:

• Skim the chapter before you begin reading or taking notes. This will help you understand how it is organized.

• The first page of the chapter provides a good breakdown of headings/subheadings.

• Define all key terms – put into your own words as much as possible.

• Provide explanations, facts, examples of major ideas

• Jot down questions you have about the concepts and any connections or observations.

• Taking notes ≠ just copying sentences or phrases from the chapter.

• Show that you worked with the material and are able to identify and summarize main points.

• Write neatly and legibly.

 ____________________________________________________________________

Government and Politics #1: Introduction

1. What is government? 

2. Why study government? 


3. What is politics? 


4. What is a republic? What is a democracy? 


5. What are four ways people can participate in government? 


6. What is the most important thing a citizen can do when it comes to participating in government? 


Crash Course Government and Politics #2: The Bicameral Congress

1. What is supposed to be the most important branch of government?

2. What are the requirements to serve in the House of Representatives?

3. Requirements for the Senate?

4. What specific powers are given to the House of Reps?

5. What is the historical reason for our bicameral Congress?

6. What is an intrabranch check?

7. Acting as a trustee:

8. Acting as a delegate:

Government and Politics #3: Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances

1. What is the responsibility of the executive branch?

2. Who interprets the law and explains what it means?

3. List at least three examples of checks and balances by the legislative branch:

4. List at least three examples of checks and balances by the executive branch:

5. How does the Supreme Court use checks and balances?

6. Why do we have checks and balances?

7. Do you agree with Madison’s view that human nature requires checks and balances?

Government and Politics #4: Federalism 

1. What is Federalism? 


2. In the US federal system, what is the federal government responsible for? 

3. What are the state governments responsible for? 

4. Do they share any responsibilities? If so, list them here as well. 


5. What are the two types of federalism? 


6. How long did “Dual Federalism” last? 


7. Discuss the characteristics of “Dual Federalism”. 


8. What were the national government and state government responsibilities under dual federalism? 


9. Who has more jurisdiction under “Dual Federalism”? 


10. What is the Commerce Clause? 


11. What “Deal” brought us “Cooperative Federalism”?

12. What are grants­in­aid?

13. What the two types of categorical grants­in­aid?

14. What is a block grant?

15. What is “Regulated Federalism”? 

16. What are examples of mandates (funded or unfunded) set up the federal government? 

17. What type of federalism do we currently live under? 

18. What form of federalism did Nixon and Reagan popularize? 

19. What are the three forms of “New Federalism”? 

Government and Politics 5: Constitutional Compromises

1. What was the original purpose of the Philadelphia Convention? What actually happened? 


2. What was wrong with the Articles of Confederation? 

3. What was one thing the Articles government was able to accomplish? 


4. What was the Virginia Plan? 


5. What was the New Jersey Plan? 


6. What is the Great Compromise? 


7. How were slaves counted in terms of determining representation in the House of Representatives? 


8. What are the characteristics and political thought differences between Federalists and Anti­ Federalists? 


9. The final “compromise” of the Federalists? 


Name ________________________________________________________________

AP United States Government and Politics

Constitution Assignment

Read your pocket Constitution. If you can’t find it or didn’t receive one, you can find the Constitution on the Internet.

Unless otherwise instructed, you do not need to write in complete sentences, but make sure your meaning is clear. 

Write in your own words. Do not quote the Constitution. I know what it says; I want to know if you understand the words of the document. If you do not understand what a word or phrase means, look it up. Some words, like ratify, have specific, legal meanings and should not be substituted.

Read the 7 articles of the Constitution. In one or two sentences for each, summarize the general topic covered in each article. 

Article I

Article II

Article III

Article IV

Article V

Article VI

Article VII

Preamble: In your own words, list the general purposes of the Constitution.

A.

B. 

C. 

D.

E. 

F. 

Article I

1. What are the formal job requirements for the House of Representatives?

A.

B. 

C. 

2. What is the term length for a Representative?

3. How are States represented in the House of Representatives?

4. How are States represented in the Senate?

5. What is the term length for a Senator?

6. What are the formal job requirements for the Senate?

A.

B.

C.

7. What is the Vice President’s role in the Senate?

8. List the House and Senate offices (positions) specifically stated in the Constitution.

A.

B.

C. 

9. In Article I, section 3, what power of the Senate is listed?

10. What determines when, where, and how Congressional elections are held?

11. Revenue bills always originate in which house?

12. According to the Constitution, what two actions can the President take on a bill?

A.

B.

13. With what two methods can a law be passed without the President’s signature?

A.

B. 

14. List the enumerated powers of Congress, found in Article I, section 8. 

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

H.

I.

J.

K.

L.

M.

N.

O.

P.

Q.

R.

S.

T.

U.

V.

W.

15. List the powers denied to Congress, found in Article I, section 9. 

A.

B. 

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

H.

14) List the powers denied to the States, found in Article I, section 10. 

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

H.

I.

J.

K.

L.

M.

N.

O.

P.

Article II

1. What is the length of a presidential term?

2. Describe how the President is chosen, according to the current Constitution.

3. If no presidential candidate receives a majority of Electoral College votes, how is the President chosen?

4. What are the formal job requirements for the President?

A.

B.

C.

5. If for any reason the President cannot maintain his duties as President, who takes over the position?

6. List the powers the Constitution grants the President.

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

H.

I.

J.

K.

L.

7. How can Presidents, Vice Presidents, and other civil officers of the U.S. be removed from office?

Article III

1. What bodies exercise the nation’s judicial power?

2. In what kinds of cases does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?

A.

B.

3. What other type of jurisdiction does the Supreme Court have?

Article IV

1. Explain the Full Faith and Credit Clause (Article IV, section I) in your own words.

2. Summarize Article IV, section 2 in your own words.

3. What two restrictions does the Constitution place on the creation of new States?

A.

B. 

4. What guarantees does the Constitution promise the States?

A.

B.

C.

Article V

1. How can a constitutional amendment be proposed?

A.

B.

2. How can a proposed amendment be ratified?

A.

B.

Article VI

1. What does the Constitution describe as the “supreme law of the land?” (The Supremacy Clause)

A.

B.

C. 

2. What job requirement does the Constitution prevent from being applied to public offices and federal employment?

Article VII

1. How many states needed to ratify the Constitution in order to put it into effect?

2. The Constitution was signed in 1787. In what year was it ratified by the required number of states? (This answer is not found in the Constitution itself.)

Amendments

1. The Bill of Rights is made up of which amendments? (Look this up)

2. In sentence form, summarize the main ideas of each amendment to the Constitution. Most can easily be done in just one sentence. (Once we return to school, I will ask you to memorize the content of the amendments. Your answers here will be a great study resource; respond carefully.)

   1. (1791)

   2. (1791)

3. (1791)

4. (1791)

5. (1791)

6. (1791)

7. (1791)

8. (1791)

9. (1791)

10. (1791)

11. (1795)

12. (1804)

13. (1865)

14. (1868)

15. (1870)

16. (1913)

17. (1913)

18. (1919)

19. (1920)

20. (1933)

21. (1933)

22. (1951)

23. (1961)

24. (1964)

25. (1967)

26. (1971)

27. (1992)