THE US CONSTITUTION STUDY GUIDE - Loudoun County …



AP GOVERNMENT AND POLITICSCourse Preparation AssignmentAP 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. This assignment is designed to prepare you for the rigors of this course, familiarize you with the Constitution and arm you with knowledge of current issues in American government. It is also designed to introduce to the governments of China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia. Additionally, students will learn about the economic and political framework of the European Union. Comparisons will be made in terms of power structures, political institutions, citizen participation, political and economic change and public policy. Students will be exposed to different theoretical and practical frameworks that are the foundations for a variety of political systems. At the end of this assignment you will be able to discuss basic features of each country. AP Government and Politics requires different thinking and writing skills than you used in U.S. History. Writing for government requires the understanding and analysis of abstract concepts and principles. You will depend less on recitation of facts and more on your interpretation of those facts. This preparation assignment is designed to help you to transition from thinking historically to thinking and writing from a political perspective. There are four parts to this assignment:A survey of the U.S. Constitution Development of comparative concepts and terminologyUnderstand of core structures of world governmentsThese assignments will be due in their entirety no later than Thursday, September 5 or Friday, September 6 depending on the day you have class. This assignment is to be handwritten. Students may print out and fill in charts if they choose. Typed assignments will receive a score of 0. Please do not wait until school begins to complete this assignment. 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 Mr. Adams at calvin.adams@. If you need another copy of this assignment, you can find it on the Social Science page on the Freedom High School website.Students will be tested on the information that is provided in the assignment within the first month of school. This information will not be taught, but it will be reviewed in school. Students should be able to discuss the basic features of the US Constitution and Comparative Countries beginning on the first day of school. Have a wonderful summer! Watch the news, read the paper, discuss the things you learn with your parents. Students should follow the campaign and be prepared to discuss important political events that occur over the summer. Government is something that is part of your life everyday...start to notice it! THE US CONSTITUTION STUDY GUIDE Available at: Directions: Read the US Constitution and complete the following questions directly on this handout. PART I: THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF THE CONSTITUTIONRead each article of the Constitution. Summarize the general purpose or subject of each article in one sentence in the chart below.Article IArticle IIArticle IIIArticle IVArticle VArticle VIArticle VIICompare Article I with Article II. Which article is longer and more detailed? ____________________Identify two powers denied from Congress in the Constitution. ______________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________How does the House of Representatives determine the rules of proceedings (the ability to have debates, riders, etc) __________________________________________________________________________________Identify two powers the Constitution prohibits from the States. __________________________________________________________________________________What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for members of the House? __________________________________________________________________________________What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for members of the Senate? __________________________________________________________________________________What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for the President? __________________________________________________________________________________ The powers of the Constitution that are specifically granted to the branches of government or to office holders are called express powers.Identify two express powers of the president. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What are the express powers of the vice president? ____________________________________________________________Identify two express powers of Congress. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________According to the principle of checks and balances, each branch of the government must have control over 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 power that the executive branch has over the legislative branch: _________________This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________A power that the executive branch holds over the judicial branch. _______________ This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________A power that the legislative branch holds over the executive branch. ________________This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________A power that the legislative branch holds over the judicial branch. __________________This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________A power that the judicial branch holds over the executive branch. __________________This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________A power that the judicial branch holds over the legislative branch. __________________This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________The court of original jurisdiction is the first court that hears a case. Appellate courts hear cases on appeal from lower courts. Although the Supreme Court functions primarily as an appellate court, it is the courts of original jurisdiction in certain kinds of cases. What are those? ________________________________________________________________________________________________According to Article I of the Constitution, who has the power to declare war?______________________________________________________________________________What power does the Constitution give the President in the area of war?______________________________________________________________________________PART II IMPORTANT CLAUSESWhere is the “Commerce Clause” and what does it say? _________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________Where is the “Necessary and Proper Clause” and what does it say? ________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________Where is the “Supremacy Clause” and what does it say? ________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________How might these clauses above have impacted the power of the federal government? ________ ______________________________________________________________________________Where is the habeas corpus clause and what does it say? ________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________What is habeas corpus?___________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________Where are bills of attainders discussed and what does it say? ____________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________What is a bill of attainder? ________________________________________________________Where are ex post facto laws discussed and what does it say? ____________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________What is an ex post facto law? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________Where is the full faith and credit clause and what does it say? ____________________________There are two “due process” clauses. Where are they? What does “due process” of law imply? ______________________________________________________________________________Where is the “equal protection clause”? What does this imply? ___________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________Find the “takings clause” of the 5th Amendment. What does this mean? ____________________ ______________________________________________________________________________PART III. MAJORITY AND SUPERMAJORITYThe 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 a 2/3 majority or a 3/4 majority. Most elections in the United States require a plurality, or the most votes, but not necessarily a majority. 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? __________________________________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? _____________________________ 3. To impeach means “to bring charges against” or “to indict”.What body has the power to impeach the president? ___________________________________What vote is required to impeach? __________________________________________________c. What is the standard for impeachment? _______________________________________________4. a. What body has the power to convict the president of charges brought against him in the impeachment process and thereby remove him from the presidency? _______________________ b. What vote is required to convict and remove a president? _________________________________c. Where in the Constitution is the impeachment power described? __________________________a. What body has the power to accept or reject a president’s nominations to the Supreme Court? __________________________________________________________________________________What margins is required to elevate a president’s nominee to a seat on the Court? ___________Where in the Constitution are judicial nominations described? ___________________________What language is used to describe the roll of the Senate in Supreme Court nominations? ______________________________________________________________________________6. a. If no candidate for the presidency wins a simple majority of the total number of electoral votes, what body has the power to choose the president? ______________________________________b. What margin is required to choose the president? _______________________________________c. Where in the Constitution is the Electoral College described? (Hint: there are two parts)The Constitution specifies a three-fourths majority for just one process. What? __________________________________________________________________________________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. (The Constitution does specify these two basic aspects of structure and composition for the other two branches). _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________List all parts of the Constitution that require a supermajority. For each, explain why you believe there is a supermajority requirement. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are two ways that amendments to the Constitution can be proposed? ___________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ What are two ways that amendments to the Constitution can be ratified? _____________________ __________________________________________________________________________________Part IV. THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTIONParts of the Constitution require a simple majority, others a supermajority, still others protect citizens from the will of the majority. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights protect citizens from the will of the majority. In other words, no majority could vote to take these rights away. Read the amendments and answer the questions below.1. Outline the general purpose of all 27 Amendments.Amendment 1Amendment 2Amendment 3Amendment 4Amendment 5Amendment 6Amendment 7Amendment 8Amendment 9Amendment 10Amendment 11Amendment 12Amendment 13Amendment 14Amendment 15Amendment 16Amendment 17Amendment 18Amendment 19Amendment 20Amendment 21Amendment 22Amendment 23Amendment 24Amendment 25Amendment 26Amendment 272. Which amendment(s) of the Constitution protect the rights of women? ____________ 3. Summarize what this amendment(s) of the Constitution says_________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________4. Which amendment (s) of the Constitution protect the rights of African Americans? _______5. How were US Senators chosen before the Seventeenth Amendment? __________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________6. The Twenty-Fifth Amendment describes the sequence of events that would install the vice president as acting president against the will of the president. Outline that sequence of events. _______________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________7. How many times is the word privacy mentioned in the Constitution (articles and amendments) _____?COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT TERMINOLOGYStudying countries from around the world, it is important to have a basic understanding of key terms and concepts that will be used throughout the course. Define the following terms in your own words and discuss why it is important to the study of government. (In other words, what does the word mean? Why is it important?) Definitions should be thorough and not a superficial explanation.Autocratic ruleLegitimacyBureaucracyLess Developed NationCoalitionMixed economyCommunismNationalizationDemocratizationNeoliberalismDeveloping countryNewly Industrialized Country (NIC)Economic developmentPolitical Cleavage(s)Federal state / countryPolitical CultureFree-market economyPolitical developmentGDPPolitical Party (two-party; one-party; mulit-party)Gini Index / CoefficientPrivate EnterpriseGlobalizationPublic PolicyGNPSocial developmentImperialismSovereigntyImport substitutionStructural AdjustmentIncome distributionTheocracyIndustrializationThird World countryIndustrialized DemocracyTotalitarianismInterest GroupUnitary state / countryInternational Political EconomyCOMPARATIVE COUNTRIES SURVEYStudents in AP Government and Politics will be studying the United States as well as the countries of China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia. Students will create a chart that explains each of the following characteristics for each country. Each Country should have its own page(s) so that students can reference the sheet when discussing particular countries. The chart may be created using a computer, but the information in the chart must be handwritten. Students should be thorough in their analysis of the countries. Students should read and be able to explain in their own words what is happening in each of the countries. Simply copying information from the internet will not help students synthesize the material. LeaderMajor religions practicedType of governmentMajor political partiesSize (area mi2)Population below poverty lineCapital cityUnemployment rateBorder nations or border bodies of waterMilitary expendituresPopulationMilitary AlliancesPopulation growth rateMajor industriesInfant mortality rateMajor natural resourcesLife expectancyGDP & GNP per capitaHIV/AIDS adult prevalence rateInflation ratePrimary ethnic and racial groupsEducation expenditureMajor language spokenMajor problems facing nation ................
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