Mr.Recchini-­‐ AP US Government Summer Assignment 2014 AP Government and Politics
10th grade
2014 Summer Reading
Assignment
Mr.Recchini-­‐ AP US Government Summer Assignment 2014 In order to prepare for the AP US Government class, you will be required to complete the following summer assignment. There are multiple components, so please take care to read through the directions carefully. The summer assignment is due the first day of class. Failure to hand in a summer assignment is grounds for dismissal from the course. I would highly recommend creating a collegeboard account if you have not done so already. https://www.collegeboard.org/ 1. Vocabulary – Define each of the vocabulary words. Don’t just write down a dictionary definition. Understand the term in its political context, and use your own words to explain it. 2. Current Events – You are required to collect 3 articles pertaining to United States government and politics. It is important that you are informed and up to date on the major events occurring in the U.S. (as a student in AP Government and as a conscientious citizen). For each article, include a short summary and your views on the issue. AP US Government Vocabulary Affordable Care Act
Americans with Disabilities Act Amicus Curiae brief Appellate courts Bill of attainder Block grants Brown v. Board of Education Bureaucracy Caucus Cloture De facto segregation De jure segregation Deficit Delegated Powers Détente Electoral College Enumerated powers Establishment Clause Ex post facto Exclusionary rule Executive order Expressed power Federalism Federalists and Anti-­‐Federalists Filibuster Fiscal Policy Franking privileges Gatekeeper role Gender gap Gerrymandering Mr.Recchini-­‐ AP US Government Summer Assignment 2014 Great Society Gross Domestic Product Habeas Corpus Inflation Interest groups Iron Triangle Issue ads Judicial activism Judicial restraint Keynesian Economics Line item veto Logrolling Majoritarianism Mandates McCain-­‐Feingold Act Medicaid Medicare Motor Voter Act Necessary and proper clause Pardon Patronage Pendleton Act Plurality Pocket veto Political Action Committee (PAC) Pork barrel Primary Realignment Reserved Powers Selective incorporation Social Security Soft money Stare decisis Supremacy Clause War Powers Act Weberian Model Whistleblower Writ of Certiorari Mr.Recchini-­‐ AP US Government Summer Assignment 2014 For this course, it’s important that you understand the basics of our government. Who better to learn the basics from than the men who wrote and argued in favor of the federal constitution proposed at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention? The Federalist Papers were meant to be persuasive essays in support of the new constitution. Print and read each document from the websites below. Answer the questions below. Primary Sources: Federalist 10: http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa10.htm Questions on Federalist Number 10: 1. What are factions, according to Madison and where does he write of them? 2. What are the causes of faction, according to Madison? 3. What is the most common and durable source of faction, according to Madison? 4. How could we cure the "mischiefs of faction," according to Madison? Why are these remedies worse than the disease, according to Madison? 5. What is Madison's solution for controlling the effects of factions? 6. What is a republic, what is a pure democracy, and how do they differ? 7. How does a republic inhibit the effects of factions, according to Madison? Federalist 51: http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa51.htm Questions on Federalist Number 51: 1. Which branch of government did Madison think would be the weakest? 2. Which methods does Madison suggest to check the powers of government? 3. How is the separation of powers between the three branches assured? 4. Which branch appears as an exception to the separation of powers norm? Why is this exception not dangerous? 5. What are the two great advantages of federalism, according to Madison? 6. What is the "end" (supreme goal) of government, according to Madison? 7. What is Madison's view of human nature and how does it affect his prescriptions for the republic? Federalist 78: http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa78.htm Questions on Federalist Number 78: 1. What is important about the new role of the federal judiciary? 2. Why does the judiciary need to be independent in a republic, according to Hamilton? 3. Why do judges need life appointments, according to Hamilton? Do you agree? 4. According to the author, why are the courts vital to a limited constitution? 5. Why does the author believe that judges have permanent tenure? 6. What is the author’s attitude toward the proposed Supreme Court of the United States? Mr.Recchini-­‐ AP US Government Summer Assignment 2014 Free Response Question I am looking for in-­‐depth, well written responses to each of these writing prompts. On the AP Gov’t exam, you will have free response questions similar to these topics. This should go in order of each question and write down the sources that you used on a separate paper. 1) Compare the positions of Federalists and Anti-­‐Federalists regarding the power of the national government. 2) Trace the history of political parties in America dating back to the federalists and anti-­‐federalists. How have the parties grown and changed throughout American political history. 3) What are the characteristics of the modern-­‐day Democrat and Republic parties? (What is their stance on major issues/topics) 4) How do the two major political parties (Democrats and Republicans) differ from the green party, libertarians and tea partiers? 5) If you had to choose a political party, which one would you be affiliated with and why? If you have any questions, you can contact me at [email protected] The summer assignment is due the first day of class. Failure to hand in a summer assignment is grounds for dismissal from the course.