Name ____________________________________ Date ___________________ Block ___________
AP GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Course Preparation Assignment
AP Government and Politics is an intensive study designed to introduce you to the structure and function
of our government and the governments of selected countries throughout the world. From the beginning,
this course requires a basic understanding of the inner-workings of government, as well as an
understanding of current issues that give us examples of government in action and show how well the
government is functioning. These assignments are designed to prepare you for the rigors of this course as
well as familiarize you with Unit 1 Vocabulary and the U.S Constitution.
These assignments will be due in their entirety no later than Tuesday, September 13 or Wednesday,
September 14 depending on the day you have class. These assignments are to be handwritten.
Please do not wait until school begins to complete the assignments. Homework is given on a daily
basis for this course and it will be difficult to get a good start if you are simultaneously working on this
preparation assignment and keeping up with the work that is being assigned in class. If you have any
questions over the summer please feel free to contact Mrs. Weatherholtz at [email protected]
or Ms. Gibson at [email protected]
**You will be using this assignment to complete a quiz on the U.S. Constitution and Unit 1 Vocabulary.
Your summer assignment will consist of two parts:
Part One: Terms
Below you will find a list of terms that relate to the first Unit of AP U.S. Government. You will need to
choose two terms from each column (total of 6 terms). For each term you should complete the following:
1. Define the Term
2. Article Citation
3. Connect a current event news article to the term and describe how that term is still of importance
today.
For example:
Term: Checks and Balances
Definition: Counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is regulated, typically
those ensuring that political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals or groups.
Article: David Nakamura, “Appeals court rules against Obama on immigration program,”
Washington Post, May 27, 2015. <http://wapo.st/1dvBDpq>
Relation to Article: One of President Obama’s immigration proposals was denied approval by a
federal appeals court. Obama’s administration wanted to “lift a lower court’s injunction on an
initiative to defer deportations of illegal immigrants and grant them work permits.” Obama
announced the program through executive action after House Republicans obstructed an effort to
pass the inclusive immigration bill. The launch of the program was put on hold until the issue could
be resolved which then led to the rejection of the program. By denying President Obama, the US
Appeals Court in New Orleans exercised their right to check the president’s executive power on this
immigration law.
Name ____________________________________ Date ___________________ Block ___________
Column 1 (pick 2)
Democracy
Constitution
Federal System
Federalist
Anti-Federalist
Federalist #10
Federalist #51
Bill of Rights
Bicameral
Federalism
New Jersey Plan
Elitism
Unitary System
Great Compromise
Rule of Law
Virginia Plan
Suggested Sources:
www.nytimes.com
www.washingtonpost.com
www.washingtontimes.com
www.chicagotribune.com
www.cnn.com
www.usnews.com
www.msnbc.com
www.foxnews.com
www.abcnews.go.com
www.cbsnews.com
www.latimes.com
www.usatoday.com
Column 2 (pick 2)
Delegated Powers
Reserved Powers
Concurrent Powers
Separation of Powers
Limited Power
Hyperpluralism
Confederal System
Pluralism
Shay’s Rebellion (equality)
Column 3 (pick 2)
Gibbons v. Ogden
Marbury v. Madison
McCulloch v. Maryland
Judicial Review
Name ____________________________________ Date ___________________ Block ___________
Part Two: Complete the U.S. Constitution “Scavenger Hunt”. You can find a copy of the U.S.
Constitution online. Make sure you know all the terminology used and look up words if you don’t know
their meaning.
Have a great summer and we look forward to meeting you in the fall!
Name____________________________________________ Block__________ Date______________
THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
(Scavenger Hunt)
Available at www.constitutioncenter.org
Directions: Read the US Constitution and complete the following questions directly on this handout.
PART I: THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF THE CONSTITUTION
Read each article of the Constitution. Summarize the general purpose or subject of each article, in your own
words, using only one sentence.
Article I
Article II
Article III
Article IV
Article V
Article VI
Article VII
1. Compare Article I with Article II. Which article is longer and more detailed?
Name ____________________________________ Date ___________________ Block ___________
2. What are 2 things the Constitution says the Congress cannot do?
1.
2.
3. What are 2 things the Constitution says the States cannot do?
1.
2.
4. What are the requirements, outlined in the Constitution, for someone interested in being part of the
House of Representatives?
5. What are the requirements, outlined in the Constitution, for someone interested in being part of the
Senate?
6. What are the requirements, outlined in the Constitution, for someone interested in being President?
When the Constitution actually states, in writing, that a branch of government or a person in government has
some power, it is called an “expressed power.”
7. What are two “expressed powers” of the President? (actually written into the Constitution)
1.
2.
8. What are two “expressed powers” of the Vice President? (actually written into the Constitution)
1.
2.
9. What are two “expressed powers” of Congress? (actually written into the Constitution)
1.
2.
Name ____________________________________ Date ___________________ Block ___________
10. According to Article I of the Constitution, who has the power to declare war?
11. What power or powers does the Constitution give the President in the area of war?
According to the principle of checks and balances, each branch of the government must have some control
over the other branches. Look at ARTICLE I, ARTICLE II, and ARTICLE III of the Constitution.
Identify type of check or balance for each branch of government. Note where each is listed in the
Constitution.
12. What is one power that the Executive Branch has over the Legislative Branch?
______________________________

Place found? (article # ) ____________________________
13. What is one power that the Executive Branch has over the Judicial Branch?
______________________________

Place found? (article # ) ____________________________
14. What is one power that the Legislative Branch has over the Executive Branch?
______________________________

Place found? (article # ) ____________________________
15. What is one power that the Legislative Branch has over the Judicial Branch?
______________________________

Place found? (article # ) ____________________________
16. What is one power that the Judicial Branch has over the Executive Branch?
______________________________

Place found? (article # ) ____________________________
17. What is one power that the Judicial Branch has over the Legislative Branch?
______________________________

Place found? (article # ) ____________________________
Name ____________________________________ Date ___________________ Block ___________
PART II: MAJORITY AND SUPERMAJORITY
A “majority” or “simple majority” means that more than half (50%) vote in a certain way. A “supermajority” means that either 2/3rds (66%) or 3/4ths (75%) vote in a certain way. In the Constitution, some
things require a majority, while others require a super-majority.
18. Who has the power to override a Presidential Veto?
_________________________________________________
a.
What vote is required to override a Presidential Veto?
__________________________________________
b. Where does the Constitution describe the veto power? (article # )
________________________
19. Who has the power to ratify (approve) treaties?
____________________________________________________
a.
What vote is required to ratify (approve) treaties?
______________________________________________
b. Where does the Constitution describe the power to ratify (approve) treaties?
(article # ) ________________________
20. To “impeach” means “to bring charges against” or “accuse”
Who has the power to “impeach” the President?
_____________________________________________________
a.
Where does the Constitution describe impeachment? (article # )
__________________________
21. Who has the power to remove the President from office?
_____________________________________________
a.
What vote is required to remove the President from office?
______________________________________
22. Who has the power to reject the President’s nominations for the Supreme Court?
____________________________
a.
What vote is required to approve a President’s nomination to the Supreme Court?
_____________________
b. Where does the Constitution describe judicial nominations? (article # )
_____________________
Name ____________________________________ Date ___________________ Block ___________
c. What is the Senate’s role in Supreme Court nominations?
________________________________________
23. In a Presidential election, if no candidate wins a simple majority of electoral votes, who has the
power to choose who the President will be? ____________________________
a.
What vote is required to select a President in this scenario? _____________________
b. Where does the Constitution describe the Electoral College? (article # )
____________________
24. The Constitution requires a 3/4ths super-majority for just one thing. What is it?
______________________________________________________________________________
25. List all things in the Constitution that require a super-majority (2/3rds or 3/4ths).
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
26. Why do you think these things require a super-majority (66%-75%) instead of a simple-majority
(50%)?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
27. Read Article VI. To the best of your ability, and in your own words, describe what this is trying to
say.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
PART III: THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Some parts of the Constitution are meant to protect citizens from potential abuses of power by the elected
majority. This is what makes us a Republic; Laws that project citizens from potentially harmful majority
decisions. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, ensure that no majority could
vote to take away the rights of citizens.
28. The Constitution describes 2 ways to propose Amendments. What are they?
1.
2.
Name ____________________________________ Date ___________________ Block ___________
29. There are 2 ways that Amendments can be ratified (approved). What are they?
1.
2.
Briefly describe the general purpose of all 27 Amendments
Amendment 1
Amendment 2
Amendment 3
Amendment 4
Amendment 5
Amendment 6
Amendment 7
Amendment 8
Amendment 9
Amendment 10
Amendment 11
Amendment 12
Amendment 13
Amendment 14
Name ____________________________________ Date ___________________ Block ___________
Amendment 15
Amendment 16
Amendment 17
Amendment 18
Amendment 19
Amendment 20
Amendment 21
Amendment 22
Amendment 23
Amendment 24
Amendment 25
Amendment 26
Amendment 27
30. Which amendment or amendments of the Constitution protect the rights of women?
_________________________
31. Summarize what this / these amendments say about the rights of women.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Name ____________________________________ Date ___________________ Block ___________
32. Which amendment or amendments of the Constitution protect the rights of African Americans?
________________
33. Summarize what this / these amendments say about the rights of African Americans.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
34. How were U.S. Senators chosen before the 17th Amendment?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
35. The 25th Amendment explains how the Vice President could become the acting President of the
United States. Explain how this could happen (the steps described by the amendment)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
36. How many times is the word “privacy” mentioned in the Constitution (articles and amendments)?
______________
37. What are 2 terms you saw in the Constitution that you do not understand? List them below and look
up their definition.
1.
2.
THE END
YOU DID IT!