APGovernment/WethePeopleSummerAssignment
Objective:Wehavealotofcontenttocoveroverthecourseofayear, lessthanthatifyouconsiderourAPTestis
May10thandourWethePeoplecompetitionisDecember12,2015 .Thepurposeofthisassignmentisto
familiarizeyourselfwiththeU.S.Constitutionandhowitappliestoourdailylives.Itisthebasisforeverything
thatwewillbestudyinginAPGovernmentanditisessentialthatyouhaveaworkingknowledgeofit.Thereare
twopartstothesummerassignment.ThefirstisaConstitutionstudy.Thesecondisanalyzingcurrentevents.
 YouwillneedacopyoftheConstitutionforthisassignment.Luckilyforyou,it’sfreeonlinein
severalplaces.YoucancomeseemeandIcancheckoutacopyofittoyou.Or,ifyou’resoinclined,
therearestores andAmazon.com thatsell“pocketcopies”and,believeitornot,there’sanappfor
it, actuallyseveralandmostarefree .
 Youwillalsoneedtohaveaccesstothenews,whetheritistelevised,online,orontheradio.The
formatdoesnotmatter.
Also‐pleasejoinourclassonEdmodo,Turnitin.comandRemind.Thecodesandinstructionsarelistedbelow.You
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Followtheinstructionsthroughoutthispacketanddonothesitatetoemailmeifyouhavequestions.Icanbestbe
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LookingforwardtomeetingallofyouinAugust!!
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TheentireassignmentisdueAugust10thatthebeginningofclass.
PartOne:TheUnitedStatesConstitution
AssignmentOne:OUTLINE
TheConstitutionisdividedintothreemainsections:ThePreamble,theArticles 1‐7 ,andthe
Amendments 27 .Thisoutlineisnotmeanttobedefinitive,butitwillgetyoutoapointwhereyouarefamiliar
enoughwithittobeabletonavigatethroughit.
THEPREAMBLE:Thepreambleissimplyastatementofpurpose.TheConstitution’spreambleisofcourse,very
famous.Init,theFramersexplainedwhatthepurposeofthisnewnationalgovernmentwouldbe.Accordingtothe
Preamble,whatWASthepurposeofgovernment?Totheleftlisteachpurpose,aswritteninthepreamble,inorder.
Ontheright,trytoexplaininyourownwordswhat,exactly,theymeantbythat.
Purposeofgovernment accordingtotheConstitution
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Rewritethisinyourownwords
THEARTICLES:Articles1‐7layoutthestructureandspecificfunctionsofthenationalgovernment.
Iliketosimplyviewitasthecountry’s“rule‐book”.Inthissection,youwillbeaskedtolookthroughthe
Constitution’sarticlesonebyoneandgettoknowwhat’sineachone.Again,youwillnothavetooutlinethe
ENTIREthing…justsomeofthehighlights.
I.ARTICLEONE–LEGISLATIVEBRANCH
A.QualificationsforHouseofRepresentatives
1.
____________________________
2.
____________________________
____________________________
3.
B.QualificationsforSenate
1.____________________________
2.____________________________
3.____________________________
C.PowersdelegatedtoCongress “enumeratedpowers” :
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
D.PowersdeniedtoCongress:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
II.ARTICLETWO–EXECUTIVEBRANCH
A.PresidentialQualifications:
___________________________
1.
2.
___________________________
___________________________
3.
B.Powers/DutiesofthePresident:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
III.ARTICLETHREE–THEJUDICIALBRANCH
A.WhatarethetypesofcasesheardbytheSupremeCourt? thecourt’sjurisdiction ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
B.WhatisthetermofofficeforaFederalJudge IncludingSupremeCourtJustices ?
________________________________________________________________________
C.ExceptforcasesofImpeachment,alltrialswillbe_______________trials.
IV.ARTICLEFOUR–RelationshipsbetweentheStates
A.Namesixthingsinthisarticle:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
V.ARTICLEFIVE–AMENDINGTHECONSTITUTION
A.Describe,inyourownwords,theprocessbywhichtheConstitutionisamended:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
VI.ARTICLESIX–VERYimportant andunder‐rated Article….
A.What’sinhere?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
VII.ARTICLESEVEN–Ratification…
A.Whatwasneededforthistobecomethenewlawoftheland?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
THEAMENDMENTS:Therehavebeenonly27AmendmentsaddedtotheConstitutionsinceitsratification.Allyou
havetodohereisdefine/describethem justafewshortwords .
1stAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
2ndAmendment‐_____________________________________________________________________________________________
3rdAmendment‐________________________________________________________________________________________
4thAmendment‐________________________________________________________________________________________
5thAmendment‐_____________________________________________________________________________________________
6thAmendment‐_____________________________________________________________________________________________
7thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
8thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
9thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
10thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
11thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
12thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
13thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
14thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
15thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
16thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
17thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
18thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
19thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
20thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
21stAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
22ndAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
23rdAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
24thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
25thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
26thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
27thAmendment‐______________________________________________________________________________________________
PartTwo:CurrentEvents
Thisassignmentwillaskyoutotrackimportantpoliticalevents noentertainmentorsportsnewsordisastersor
prominent“trialoftheweek”typestories,please.Also–onlynationalandinternationalnews–notlocal overthe
summer.OfparticularconcerntoyoushouldbethepoliciesoftheObamaAdministration,the2016election,some
scandalsthatemergedlatethisspring,SupremeCourtrulingsexpectedon,etc.Justasyoumayhavebeentrained
todoinhistoryclass–tocategorizehistoryunderbroadsubjectssuchas“political”,“economic”,“social”,and
“diplomatic/foreignpolicy”.Remember–theemphasisherewillbeonnational,notlocalnews.
BelowaresomesuggestionsfornewssourcesotherthantheInternet thoughstillappropriate,broadenyour
awareness;ifyoudousewebsources,usecredible,nationally‐recognizednewspapers,magazines,sites,etc.Do
notusethingslikeBuzzfeed .
TelevisionNews
CBS,NBC,andABCnightlynewsbroadcasts 6:30PM–notthelocalversions ortheirwebsitesshouldbe
monitored.
CNN,MSNBC,andFOX.Ifyouwanttogetagoodlookattheideologicalcontrasts,viewnotjustthenews,buttheir
“pundit talkinghead ”shows that,asopposedtothenightlyandregularnewscasts,donotevenpretendtobe
unbiased whichairduringprime‐time 8PM–11PM .
*Fortheconservativeviewpoint,youcouldwatch“TheO’ReillyFactor”or“Hannity”onFox ortalkradio. *Fortheliberalviewpoint,RachelMaddoworothersduringprimetimeonMSNBC.
RadioNews
NPRisprobablytheoneofthebestnewssourcesinAmericabecauseofitsdepthofcoverageanduseofacademic
sources notjustpoliticos/pundits .Also–www.npr.orgItcanbeheardinRenoon90.5FM.
NewsTalk780AMairsconservativecommentary.
Thereareothersintowntooandyoucanstreamnationalstationsonline.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Onthefollowingpagesjustfollowtheformat.IwantyoutoWRITEaboutthemyourself.Butyoumustciteyour
sourceeverytimeforverificationpurposes.Youwillcategorizeyourstoriesbasedonthefollowingthemes:
POLITICAL–since‘everything’is“political”–inthisinstance,by‘political’,Imeanstorieshavingtodospecifically
withelections,parties,laws,leaders,etc.ThinkDemocratsv.Republicans
ECONOMIC–storieswhich whilealwayshavingapoliticalelement havetodowiththeeconomydirectly,suchas
WallSt.andJobs,Businessandthegeneralstateoftheeconomy–recession,etc.,priceofoil,taxes,ORwithsocial
classissues middlev.upperclass,etc. .
SOCIAL‐storieswhichhavetodowithcivilrightsissues race,gender,immigration,etc. ,‘cultural’andmoral
“values” issuessuchasabortion,religion,etc.,andcivillibertiesissues ‘freedom’ ,suchasfreespeechissues,
church‐state,guns,crime,states’rights…
FOREIGNPOLICY–storieshavingtodowithissuesregardingUSrelationswithothercountries…inotherwords,
covernewsfromothercountries,butonlytotheextentthatitdealswithsomeaspectofUSpolicytowardsthat
country–notjustthatsomerandomthinghashappenedinsomerandomcountry.
Toreceivecreditforthisassignment,youmustcoverONEstoryfromEACHcategory,foratotalofFOURstories
whenyoureturn.
POLITICAL NEWS:
Topic (in your own words, don’t just repeat the headline): ______________________________________________
Source (where did this info come from?): ________________________________________________________
Summary (Five “W’s”: Who-What-When-Where-Why?) Fill the whole space.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Implications (Why is this important?)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What Constitutional principles are at play here? Are they obvious? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________ Your Thoughts (Take a stance on this topic and write a solid paragraph explaining what that is.
Be sure to have a claim, support it with factual
evidence, and reason how that evidence supports your claim). _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
ECONOMIC NEWS:
Topic (in your own words, don’t just repeat the headline): ______________________________________________
Source (where did this info come from?): ________________________________________________________
Summary (Five “W’s”: Who-What-When-Where-Why?) Fill the whole space.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Implications (Why is this important?)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What Constitutional principles are at play here? Are they obvious? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________ Your Thoughts (Take a stance on this topic and write a solid paragraph explaining what that is.
Be sure to have a claim, support it with factual
evidence, and reason how that evidence supports your claim). _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
SOCIAL NEWS:
Topic (in your own words, don’t just repeat the headline): ______________________________________________
Source (where did this info come from?): ________________________________________________________
Summary (Five “W’s”: Who-What-When-Where-Why?) Fill the whole space.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Implications (Why is this important?)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What Constitutional principles are at play here? Are they obvious? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________ Your Thoughts (Take a stance on this topic and write a solid paragraph explaining what that is.
Be sure to have a claim, support it with factual
evidence, and reason how that evidence supports your claim). _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
FOREIGN POLICY/DIPLOMATIC NEWS:
Topic (in your own words, don’t just repeat the headline): ______________________________________________
Source (where did this info come from?): ________________________________________________________
Summary (Five “W’s”: Who-What-When-Where-Why?) Fill the whole space.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Implications (Why is this important?)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
What Constitutional principles are at play here? Are they obvious? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________ Your Thoughts (Take a stance on this topic and write a solid paragraph explaining what that is.
Be sure to have a claim, support it with factual
evidence, and reason how that evidence supports your claim). _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________