INTRO TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: Homework
Homework assigned Tuesday September 2, 2014. Due Friday September 19th, 2014 HOMEWORK TIPS:
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set your intention to learn and absorb the material as you formulate your answers. Keep in mind that the more thorough and focused
you are as you complete this assignment, the more material you’ll absorb (and the better you’ll do on the exam)
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Read the section FIRST, then answer the questions. Don’t just look up the answers.
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Remember to answer all parts of each question
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Work at your own pace, but don’t procrastinate! Break the assignment down into manageable parts. (by section, number of
questions, pages—whatever works for you) It’s not that much work if you tackle it in chunks- the only difference is between this and
what you may be used to is that I’m giving you all the homework in advance so you can work at your own pace.
GOVHW 1: Read Chapter 8 section 1: Goals and Principles of the Constitution
1. How does the PREAMBLE define the goals of the Constitution? List the six goals of the Constitution
listed in preamble and give an example of how you think the government fulfills each.
2. How many articles are there in the Constitution? Briefly identify what each article deals with.
3. What are the founding principles of the Constitution? According to your textbook, there are seven. Briefly
define each.
1 INTRO TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: Homework
Homework assigned Tuesday September 2, 2014. Due Friday September 19th, 2014 GOVHW 2: Chapter 8 Section 2: How the Federal Government Works
1. What is the STATE OF THE UNION address?
2. How many members are there in the House of Representatives? What is representation in the House of
Representatives based on? (define PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION as part of your answer)
3. Who is the "leader" of the House? (define SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE as part of your answer) Who
currently has this position? (...you can visit the House of Reps website at http://www.house.gov/ for more
info!...)
4. How many members are there in the Senate? What is representation in the Senate based on? (define
EQUAL REPRESENTATION as part of your answer)
5. How did the SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT change how Senators are chosen?
6.What is the role of the Vice President in the Senate?
7. What is a BILL? Where can a bill be introduced? What has to happen to a bill in order for it to become a
law?
2 INTRO TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: Homework
Homework assigned Tuesday September 2, 2014. Due Friday September 19th, 2014 8. Name five non-legislative (non law-making) powers of Congress.
9. What is the ELASTIC CLAUSE?
10. Why does Congress use committees? Name three public policies (your textbook calls them
"topics") that Congressional committees work on.
GOVHW 3: Chapter 8 Section 2: How the Federal Government Works (continued)
1. Read the "Roles of the President" section on pages 254-255 and name six powers/roles of the President
2. How is the President Elected? Define ELECTORAL COLLEGE as part of your answer.
3. How did the TWENTY SECOND AMENDMENT change how many terms a president can serve?
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Homework assigned Tuesday September 2, 2014. Due Friday September 19th, 2014 4. How does a case reach the Supreme Court? Define APPEAL as part of your answer.
5. What are judges on the Supreme Court known as? How many of them are there?
6. define UNCONSTITUTIONAL. What can the Supreme Court do if a law is
unconstitutional?
7. Why did the writers of the Constitution create a system of checks and balances?
8. What is a VETO? How can Congress OVERRIDE a veto?
9. Define IMPEACHMENT. What role does the House of Reps play in impeachment? The Senate?
Look at the chart on page 250 and answer the following questions:
10. What checks does the President have on Congress? On the Judicial Branch?
11. What checks does Congress have on the President? On the Judicial Branch?
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Homework assigned Tuesday September 2, 2014. Due Friday September 19th, 2014 12. What check does the Supreme Court have on the President? On Congress?
GOVHW 4: Read Chapter 8 section 3: CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION and answer the following
questions;
1. What are the two ways Constitutional amendments can be proposed?
2. What are the two ways Constitutional amendments can be ratified (approved)?
3. What liberties does the First Amendment protect?
4. What right (or rights) does the second amendment protect?
5. What does the Fourth Amendment protect you from? (Define WARRANT as part of your answer)
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Homework assigned Tuesday September 2, 2014. Due Friday September 19th, 2014 6. How do Amendments 5-8 protect the rights of the accused and your right to a fair trial? Name three ways.
7. Why were the NINTH and TENTH AMENDMENTS added to the Constitution?
8. What are the CIVIL WAR AMENDMENTS? Briefly describe each.
9. Who did the NINETEENTH AMENDMENT give voting rights to?
10. What did the TWENTY-SIXTH amendment do to the voting age?
GOVHW #5: Read Chapter 8 section 4: STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS and answer the following:
1. How are state constitutions and the U.S. Constitution similar? How are they different?
2. What are some of the services state governments provide? Define INFRASTRUCTURE as part of your
answer.
3. What is a LOCAL GOVERNMENT? What do local governments spend the most money on? What are
some other services local governments provide? 6