AP Government Summer Assignment
Purchase – AP U.S. Government and Politics Crash Course by Larry Kreiger
ISBN 978-0-7386-0809-9
This book is an excellent supplement to what you will be learning in class. It is highly
suggested you purchase it and read it throughout the year.
Summer Journal – The summer journal will be required for most assignments. All assignments
must be completed in the journal except for the Constitution Worksheet. Journal may be
electronic or hard copy. If electronic, journal should be saved as a folder and each assignment
should be saved as a stand-alone document.
Required Reading
Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776)
Declaration of Independence
Required Assignment – Write a 500 word journal entry comparing and contrasting the Virginia
Declaration of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. What principles can be found in
both documents?
Read the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights
Required Assignment – Complete the,QWURGXFWLRQWRWKH Constitution Worksheet. This
worksheet is extremely useful for studying for the AP Exam and is required to understand
the concepts discussed throughout the semester.
Required Assignment – Complete the AP Government Vocabulary and Questions To Which
You Should Know The Answers Worksheet. Can be completed in Journal as multiple entries
or as one large document.
Suggested Readings
Mayflower Compact
Federalist Papers 10, 51, 78
Brutus (Anti-Federalist Papers) I, XI, XII, XV
Washington’s Farewell Address
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln’s Inaugural Speeches
AP Economics Summer Assignment
Required Reading – The Law by Frederick Bastiat
Required Assignment – This is a very short book discussing the nature of economics in society.
You are required to write a minimum of four journal entries discussing what you have read.
Suggested Readings
Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
ALL SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE ON SECOND DAY OF CLASS. IF NOT TAKING
ECONOMICS OR GOVERNMENT UNTIL THE SPRING SEMESTER, THE ASSIGNMENT FOR
THE SPRING CLASS IS DUE THE SECOND DAY OF SPRING SEMESTER.
~n
Jfntroburtion to tbe mlniteb ~tate!( ~on!(titution
Directions: Read the Constitution and complete the following questions directly on this handout. This
assignment is due September 16th. Use this chart or write on a separate sheet of paper. There will be a
quiz after the due date.
l)art Jf: 'Otbe ®berall ~trurture of tbe ~om~titution
Read each article of the Constitution. Summarize the general purpose or subject of each article
in sentence format in the chart below.
Identify
Article I
Article II
Article Ill
Article IV
Article V
Article VI
Article VII
General Purpose
Compare Article I with Article II. Which Article is longer and more detailed? Why do you
think that this is the case?
2.
3.
Identify two powers denied from Congress in the Constitution.
How does the House of Representatives determine the rules of proceedings (the ability to
have filibusters, riders, etc.)?
4.
5.
Identify two powers the Constitution prohibits from the states.
6.
What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for members of the House?
7.
What eligibility standards does the Constitution establish for members of the Senate?
8.
What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for the President?
9. The powers of the Constitution that are specifically granted to the branches of government or
to office holders are called expressed powers.
a. Identify two expressed powers of the President:
b.
Identify the expressed powers of the Vice-President:
c. Identify five expressed powers of Congress:
10. According to the principle of checks and balances, each branch of the government must have
the ability to limit the power of 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.
a.
A power that the executive branch has over the legislative branch and where found.
b.
A power that the executive branch holds over the judicial branch and where found.
c. A power that the legislative branch holds over the executive branch and where found.
d. A power that the legislative branch holds over the judicial branch and where found.
e. A power that the judicial branch holds over the executive branch and where found.
f.
A power that the judicial holds over the legislative branch and where found.
11. The court of oHyiJ1.1J]jurisdiction is the first court that hears a case. Appellate courts hear
cases on appeal from lower com LS. Although the Supreme Court functions primarily as an
appellate court, it is the court of original jurisdiction in certain kinds of cases. What are these?
12.
According to Article I of the Constitution, who has the power to declare war?
13.
What power does the Constitution give the President in the area of war?
,Jart 1Hf: ;1Majoritp anb ~upermajoritp
The Constitution requires a simple majority for some actions and a supermajority for others. A
simple majority means more than half, while supermajority requirements can involve 2/3
majority or% majority. Most elections in the United States require a plurality, or the most
votes, but not necessarily a majority.
14. Presidential Veto
a. What bodies have the power to override a presidential veto?
b. What margin is required to override a presidential veto?
c. Where in the Constitution is the veto power described?
15. Treaties
a. What body has the power to ratify treaties?
b. What margin is required to ratify treaties?
c. Where in the Constitution is the ratification power described?
16. To impeach means to bring charges against or indict.
a. What body has the power to impeach the President?
b. What margin is required to impeach the President?
c. Where in the Constitution is the impeachment power described?
17. Supreme Court Nominations
a. What body has the power to accept or reject a president's nominations to the
Supreme Court?
b. What margin is required to elevate a president's nominee to a seat on the Court?
c. Where in the Constitution are judicial nominations described?
18. Elections
a. If no candidate for the presidency wins a simple majority of the total number of
electoral votes, what body has the power to elect the president?
b. What margin is required to choose the president?
c. Where in the Constitution is the Electoral College described? (hint: there are 2 parts)
19. The Constitution specifies a% majority for just one process.
20. The Constitution has comparatively little to say about the structure and composition of the
Supreme Court. Identify two aspects of the Court's structure and composition that the
Constitution does NOT specify. (Hint: the Constitution does specify these two basic aspects of
structure and composition for the other two branches.)
21. List all parts of the Constitution that require a supermajority. For each, explain why you
believe there is a supermajority requirement.
22. See Article VI. Explain the supremacy clause in your own words.
23. What are two ways that amendments to the constitution can be proposed?
24. What are two ways that amendments to the Constitution can be ratified?
~a:rt
lf3Jlf: 'OI:be ~menbment~ to tbe Ql:on~titution
The first ten amendments to the Constitution also known as the Bill of Rights, protects citizens
from an abuse of power by the majority. In other words, no majority could vote to take these
rights away. They are inalienable. Read each amendment to the Constitution and answer the
questions below.
25. Outline the general purpose of the first ten amendments.
pt Amendment
2nd
Amendment
3rd Amendment
4th
Amendment
5th
Amendment
6th
Amendment
7th
Amendment
8th
Amendment
gth
Amendment
10th
Amendment
26. What is the total number of Amendments to the Constitution?
27. Summarize the last amendment to the Constitution.
28. When were the first ten amendments to the Constitution ratified?
29. Which amendment{s) address and protect the rights of women?
31. Summarize the sixteenth amendment.
32. Summarize the seventeenth amendment.
33. How were US Senators chosen before the seventeenth amendment?
34. Identify {by number) amendments that
a. Extend individual rights
b. Extend civil rights (including voting rights)
c. Prohibited certain practices by states
d. Changed specific language in the Constitution
35. Summarize the twenty-second amendment.
36. Outline the sequence of events that occurs in presidential succession according to the twentyfifth amendment.
37. Summarize the twenty-sixth amendment.
38. Howmany times does the word "privacy" exist in the Constitution Articles/amendments?
39. In the first amendment, what are the two separate clauses that detail religion?
40. What do each of these clauses mean?
A.P. GOVERNMENT 92&$%8/$5<
Identification: Write a complete definition for each of the following terms/names.
You should be familiar with all these terms by the start of the course.
Foundations and the Constitution
.
1. John Locke
2. social contract
3. Natural Rights
16.
17.
18.
Federalist Papers
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
31.
32.
33.
4. State of Nature
19.
34.
5. unalienable rights
6. Thomas Hobbes
20.
21.
The Great (or Connecticut
Compromise
Republic
judicial review
7.
8.
9.
10
22.
23.
24.
25.
37.
38.
40.
41.
26.
separation of powers
federalism
Popular sovereignty
Federalists and
Antifederalists
James Madison
Separated Powers
Necessary and Proper
Clause
Apportionment
Supremacy Clause
Treason
Fugitive Slave Clause
42.
Veto
27.
Alexander Hamilton
43.
Electoral College
Democracy
Oligarchy
Monarchy
Mixed Government
11 Articles of
Confederation
12 Constitutional
.
Convention
13. Shays’s Rebellion
14. Northwest Ordinance
15. factions
.
28. Federalist Nos. 10 and 51
29. Coalition
30. Bill of Attainder
35.
36.
Ex post facto law
Bill of Rights
Proportional
Representation
Enumerated Powers
44. Original Jurisdiction
45. Appellate Jurisdiction
46. Charles Beard
Federalism
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Federalism
Devolution
Sovereignty
Unitary System
Confederation
Tenth Amendment
7. Supremacy Clause (Article
VI)
8. Elastic or “Necessary and
Proper” Clause (Art. I,
Section 8, Clause 18)
9. Commerce Clause (Art. I,
section 8, clause 3)
10 “Full Faith and Credit”
.
Clause (Art. IV, Sec. 1)
11 “Privileges and Immunities
.
Clause (Art. IV, sec. 2)
12 Enumerated Powers
.
(national) {also called
Expressed or Delegated
Powers}
13. Reserved Powers (state)
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
Concurrent Powers
Implied Powers
Denied Powers
John Marshall
Nullification
Kentucky and Virginia
Resolutions
20. John C. Calhoun
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
referendum
recall
grants-in-aid
categorical grants
block grants
revenue sharing
grants
Mandates
21.
Dual Federalism
34.
104th Congress
22.
Layer Cake Federalism
35.
Unfunded Mandates
23.
Marble Cake Federalism
36.
Conditions of Aid
24.
Creative Federalism and The
Great Society (LBJ)
New Federalism (Competitive
Federalism)
37.
Devolution
38.
Second-order
devolution
initiative
39.
Third-order
devolution
25.
26.
The Legislative Branch (Congress)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
franking privilege
unicameral
bicameral
Speaker of the House
Henry Clay
Newt Gingrich
Denny Hastert
Party caucus
Rules Committee
filibuster
17th Amendment
Rule 22
cloture
term limits
US Term Limits, Inc. v.
Thornton (1995)
Marginal districts
Safe districts
House Banking scandal
House Post office
scandal
malapportionment
gerrymandering
24.
majority-minority
districts
Wesberry v. Sanders
1964
Baker v. Carr (1962)
25.
“one man, one vote”
26.
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
23.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
descriptive representation
substantive representation
sophomore surge
privileged speech
Edmund Burke
Representational theory
Organizational theory
Attitudinal theory
President Pro Tempore
Majority and Minority leaders
Party Whip
Steering Committee
Committee on Committees
Policy Committee
Party polarization
53.
54.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
Public bill
Private bill
Simple resolution
Concurrent resolution
Joint resolution
multiple referral
sequential referral
discharge petition
closed rule
open rule
restrictive rule
quorum
quorum call
cloture rule
double-tracking
42. Caucus
43. Congressional Black Caucus
44. Blue Dog Democrats
45. Standing Committees
69. voice vote
70. standing vote
71. roll-call vote
72. rider
46.
47.
Select Committees
Joint Committees
48.
Conference Committees
49.
Seniority system
73. “Christmas Tree bill”
74. Committee of the
Whole
75. Congressional
Accountability Act
76. “Pork-Barrel Politics”
50.
Congressional Research Service
(CRS)
51. General Accounting Office
(GAO)
52. Congressional Budget Office
(CBO)
77. Abscam
78.
Congressional courtesy
79. logrolling
The Executive Branch (The Presidency)
1. Divided government
2. Unified Government
3. Representative
democracy
4. Direct democracy
5. Electoral college
6. Faithless electors
7. Pyramid structure
8. Circular structure
.
9. Ad hoc structure
10 Cabinet
11 Executive Office of the
President
12 Office of Management
.
and Budget (OMB)
13. National Security
Council (NSC)
14. Council of Economic
Advisers (CEA)
15. Executive Agencies
16. Independent Agencies
17. Acting appointments
18. Presidential
honeymoon
19. Veto message and
pocket veto
20. Line-item veto
.
21. Clinton v. New York
City (1998)
22. Executive privilege
23. United States v. Nixon (1973) 45. Laissez-faire economics
24. Congressional Budget and
46. 16th Amendment
Impoundment Act (1974)
25. Impoundment
47. Discretionary authority
26. War Powers Act (1973)
27. Trustee approach and
Delegate model
28. Independent Counsel law
29. Lame duck
30. Presidential Succession Act
of 1947
31. 12th Amendment
32. 22nd Amendment
53.
54.
33. 25th Amendment
55.
Competitive service
Office of Personnel
Management
Excepted service
Merit system
Civil Service Reform Act of
1978
Hatch Act (1933 and 1993)
Whistle Blower Protection
Act (1989)
Issues network
34. Impeachment
56.
Authorization legislation
35. Bully Pulpit
57.
Appropriations
36. Inherent power
58.
Committee clearance
37.
38.
39.
40.
59.
60.
61.
62.
Executive orders
Approval ratings
Imperial presidency
Rule of propinquity
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
41. bureaucracy
Legislative veto
INS v. Chadha 1983)
Red tape
National Performance
Review
63. Going native
42. patronage
64.
43. spoils system
44. Pendleton Act (1883)
Freedom of Information Act
(1966)
65. National Environmental
Policy Act (1969)
The Federal Judiciary (Supreme Court & Federal Courts)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Judicial review
Strict constructionist
Judicial activist
Federalist No. 78
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
John Marshall
McCulloch v. Maryland
(1819)
8. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
9. Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
10. Roger B. Taney
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
Robert Bork
Antonin Scalia
Clarence Thomas
David Souter
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Warren Court
Burger Court
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
Sovereign immunity
Class action suit
Law clerks
Briefs
Amicus curiae
Solicitor General
per curiam opinion
28.
29.
30.
47.
48.
49.
Opinion of the Court
Concurring opinion
Dissenting opinion
Stare decisis
Political question
Remedy
Court order
Impeachment
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Court packing plan
Constitutional court
District court
Courts of Appeals
Legislative courts
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
Rehnquist Court
Dual Court System
Federal-question
cases
Civil law
Criminal law
Dual sovereignty
Writ of certiorari
In forma pauperis
16.
17.
Senatorial courtesy
Blue Slips
36.
37.
Fee shifting
Plaintiff
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
18.
19.
20.
Litmus test
Gang of 14
William Rehnquist
38.
39.
Defendant
Standing
57.
58.
Appellate jurisdiction
Concurrent
jurisdiction
Exclusive jurisdiction
Original jurisdiction
QUESTIONS TO WHICH YOU SHOULD KNOW THE ANSWERS
1. List four sources that influence people’s political ideology.
2. List four methods of political participation.
3. Explain four factors that may explain decreases in voter turnout.
4. Explain four reasons why parties have been in decline.
5. List five functions of political parties
6. Explain six reasons why political parties are weak today.
7. Explain four reasons why it is disadvantageous to have a weak party system.
8. List three reasons why minor parties have so much trouble winning elections today.
9. List four differences between presidential and Congressional campaigns.
10. List six ways that the media has contributed to candidate-centered campaigns
11. List four methods that interest groups use to influence policy makers.
12. List six ways that election campaigns have changed as the result of changes in the
media in the past 5-10 years.
13. What were five weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and how did the
Constitution improve on these weaknesses?
14. What were four criticisms that Anti-federalists had against the Constitution?
15. What were four arguments that Federalists had in favor of the Constitution?
16. What were four major keys to the ratification of the Constitution.
17. What are three parts of the Constitution that have been used to expand federal power?
18. Describe four models of federalism.
19. Explain four advantages of federalism
20. Explain four disadvantages of federalism.