2017 Summer Reading List for
AP Government & Politics
This reading will help you get a jump-start on AP Government & Politics before the first day of class. If you have
questions or problems with the reading, please e-mail one of us right away at either
[email protected] or [email protected]. Enjoy your reading and have a
great summer! We look forward to working with you next year!
Mr. Featherstone & Miss Schottenstein
 Part 1 –Historical Background Reading
 The Penguin Guide to the United States Constitution
Richard Beeman, The Penguin Guide to the United States Constitution (Penguin Books, 2010), paperback ISBN:
978-0-14-311810-7
This short book is an excellent overview of both the history of American independence and an annotated
guide to some of the major documents. Note that we will be using this book the rest of the year, so make
sure you get your own copy.
Read pages 117-188 and be prepared to answer the following questions on an essay test:
1) Explain the causes of the movement for American independence.
2) To what extent were the values set forth in the Declaration of Independence followed by the newly
independent states?
3) Analyze how the ideas and experiences of the revolutionary era influenced the principles embodied in
the Articles of Confederation.
4) Analyze the following controversies; what the disputes were over and how they were settled
a. Federalism/nature of the national government
b. The presidency
c. Slavery
d. Bill of Rights
5) Analyze the debate over ratification of the Constitution.
6) To what extent and in what ways did the US government from 1789-1801 shape the meaning of the
Constitution?
7) Analyze the central principles that underpin the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
OVER for the rest…
 Part 2 – Textbook Reading
 Reading Guide: Chapter 1: Constitutional Democracy, &
Chapter 2: The Constitution
Chapter 1: Constitutional Democracy
Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
Federalist No. 10
Democracy
Direct democracy
Representative democracy
John Locke
Thomas Hobbes
Constitutional democracy
Baron de Montesquieu
Constitutionalism
Self-determination
statism
popular consent
majority rule
plurality rule
federalism
separation of powers
bicameralism
checks and balances
Bill of Rights
Democratic consensus
theocracy
Declaration of Independence
Articles of Confederation
Constitutional Convention
Shays’ Rebellion
George Washington
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Connecticut Compromise
Three-fifths compromise
Electoral college
Federalists
Anti-federalists
The Federalist
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
1)
What are the characteristics of our system of government?
2)
What characteristics must be present for democracy to thrive?
3)
Trace the events that led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
4)
Describe the competing interests at the convention.
5)
Analyze the compromises reached at the Convention, and the way those compromises
manifested themselves in the Constitution.
6)
Analyze the arguments for and against ratification, and describe the results of the debate.
Chapter 2: Constitutional Foundations
Natural law
Federalist No. 51
Federalism
Popular tyranny
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
Divided government
partisanship
Institutional competition
Judicial review
Federalist No. 78
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Judiciary Act of 1789
Writ of mandamus
John Marshall
Original jurisdiction
Congressional elaboration
Impeachment
Executive orders
Executive privilege
Impoundment
Judicial interpretation
Originalist approach
Adaptive approach
Amendment
Ratification
Convention
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
1)
Describe the general characteristics of the Constitution.
2)
What goals were the founders trying to accomplish in writing the Constitution?
3)
How did the founders structure the government (as outlined in the Constitution) in order to
accomplish their goals?
4)
Provide examples of how the branches may can check each other.
5)
To what extent have changing circumstances altered the way the founders’ system works?
6)
Describe how judicial review came to be a part of our constitutional system.
7)
Evaluate the implications of Marbury v. Madison (1803).
8)
How can the constitution be informally changed?
9)
Analyze the controversy over judicial interpretation.
10)
Explain the specific ways in which the Constitution can be formally changed.
11)
Analyze the ways in which the Constitution has been formally amended over the years.
12)
Using the ERA as a case study, analyze the implications of changing the constitution.
The first test of the year will cover this. If you can answer the questions
provided here and define the terms in the context of the chapter, you are
good to go. Be prepared for this!
If you have any questions email either Mr. Featherstone or Miss
Schottenstein.
Make sure you check your school email or give Miss Schotty your
summer email so she can send you the PDF of the textbook pages
you will need to read.