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AP UNITED STATES

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS2014 Summer Assignment

#1 Join the Summer 2014 AP Government & Politics Facebook Group if you’re on FB…it will help with reminders from me over the summer & if you have any questions, HOWEVER if you don’t have an account you can always email me.

#2 Chapter 2 & 3 Vocabulary – given to you as a way to get ahead but NOT a summer requirement (Ch. 2 Vocabulary Quiz given on Aug 20th / Jan 8th and Ch. 3 Vocabulary Quiz given on Aug 27th / Jan 15th )– USE QUIZLET.COM

#3 Ch. 2 Packet of Questions – given to you as a way to get ahead & see what types of questions will appear throughout AP Gov’t but NOT a summer requirement (We will go over the correct answers on Day 2 of class)

#4 State Midterm Election Current Events – DUE AUG 18 th - Everyone Hand in

***Each student is assigned a specific state that you will be responsible for…you CANNOT change which state you follow without getting permission from me first***

#5 Political Ideology Quizzes – DUE AUG 18 th – EVERYONE Hand in, in person – present to class

#6 Federalist Papers & Questions – DUE AUG 18 th – EVERYONE Hand in, in person

#7 Constitution Review Packet – DUE AUG 18 th – EVERYONE Hand in, in person

AP U.S. Government & Politics Summer AssignmentWhy does AP U.S. Government & Politics have a summer assignment?

Advanced Placement courses are designed to enable the student to successfully master the College Board Advanced Placement Exam given in the spring. Upon successful completion of the exam, the student should receive college credit (depending on the college’s score requirements). A summer assignment allows more time to master the required topics.

The AP U.S. Government & Politics Summer Assignment has been designed to give students:

1. A head start on the required course content, specifically the Constitution & Current Events,2. A chance to enrich their background knowledge of course concepts, and3. A preview of assignments they will be expected to do throughout the course.

The student’s task will be to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts covered in their summer assignment prior to the opening of school. The summer assignment will be graded and counted as a significant part of each student’s first marking period grade.

I am dedicated to giving my students the best opportunity to receive college credit. My AP course is a highly structured, very demanding college level course. Thus it is imperative that a high level, rigorous academic environment exist in my AP classes and that my AP students are dedicated to learning, highly motivated, and willing to put forth the time and effort, both in and outside of the classroom, required for a course of this intensity.

Contact Information:

Email Ms. Randle: [email protected]

Summer Facebook Group Page:

Summer 2014 EHS AP Government & Politics

Please click to add to the group page and/or email me if you are having trouble as I will be putting some important in formation on the page as well as reminders as the summer goes on.

How to turn in your Summer Assignment?

REGARDLESS OF FALL OR SUMMER AP GOVERNMENT STATUS - All portions of the Summer Assignment must be HAND WRITTEN AND HANDED IN TO ME BY YOU on August 18, 2014 BY 7:40AM UNLESS YOU HAVE LATE ARRIVAL THEN BY 9:30AM (I WILL LOOK AT YOUR SCHEDULE), in hard copy only, NO EMAILS. Any summer assignment submitted incomplete will receive a 10% PER DAY reduction (so that means that if I don’t receive it by 7:40am it is LATE and marked down 10% each day.

mailto:[email protected]

Part II: Unit Vocabulary

Ch. 2 Constitution Vocabulary Anti-Federalist Articles of Confederation Bill of Rights Checks & Balances Committee of Correspondence Confederation Constitution Declaration of Independence Enumerated Powers Federal System The Federalist Papers Federalists First Continental Congress Great Compromise Implied Powers Mercantilism Necessary & Proper Clause New Jersey Plan Second Continental Congress Separation of Powers Shay’s Rebellion Stamp Act Congress Supremacy Clause Three-Fifths Compromise Virginia Plan

Ch. 3 Federalism Vocabulary Bill of Attainder Block Grants Categorical grants Competitive Federalism Commercial Clause Creative Federalism Contract with America Cooperative Federalism Dual Federalism Devolution Enumerated powers Ex Post Facto Law Fiscal Federalism

Federalism Funded Mandates Gibbons v Ogden

Implied power Intergovernmental lobby Interstate compacts Layer Cake Federalism McCulloch v Maryland Marble Cake Federalism Necessary and Proper clause New Federalism Preemption Reserve (or police) powers Seventeenth Amendment Sixteenth Amendment Sovereign immunity Supremacy Clause Tenth Amendment Unfunded Mandates

Part III - Ch. 2 The Constitutional Underpinnings Questions

THESE QUESTIONS WILL NOT BE GRADED!!! THE BENEFIT OF COMPLETING THESE TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY WILL HELP YOU GOING INTO THE CONSTITUTION TEST AND ULTIMATELY PREPARE YOU FOR THIS SECTION OF THE AP EXAM. WE WILL GO OVER ANSWERS IN CLASS ON DAY 2.

1. Shay’s Rebellion is significant because it:A. led to the overthrow of British ruleB. scared American elites, leading to the adoption of the ConstitutionC. caused the American colonies to join together in the face of a threat from the FrenchD. led to the enactment of slavery in the SouthE. narrowly avoided overthrowing the government of Vermont

2. Which of the following was NOT a problem with the Articles of Confederation?A. There was no strong federal army to prevent revolutionsB. The Articles were almost impossible to amendC. Each state was taxing trade with other statesD. States were establishing ties with foreign powersE. The articles did not adequately protect the freedom of the states

3. The issue of the representation of slaves was decided by the:A. 3/5ths CompromiseB. Connecticut CompromiseC. Commerce & Slave-Trade CompromiseD. Bill of RightsE. Articles of Confederation

4. Which of the following describes a difference between the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation?A. The Constitution prevents Congress from creating lawsB. The Constitution promotes the sovereignty of states more than the Articles of Confederation didC. The Constitution created a system of federal courts while the Articles of Confederation did notD. The approval of all states is required in order to amend the Constitution, but the Articles of Confederation could not be amended by 3/4ths of the statesE. The Constitution distributes money equally to all states

5. The Virginia Plan would have created a:A. legislature dominated by the small statesB. legislature dominated by the big statesC. legislature controlled by the slave statesD. legislature that balanced control between the large and small statesE. constitutional monarchy

6. The Constitution as ratified in 1788 most clearly reflects the framers’ commitment to:A. the idea of direct democracyB. the principle of limited governmentC. the abolition of slaveryD. protecting the rights of the accusedE. maintaining the primacy of the states

7. Which of the following most accurately describes The Federalist Papers?A. The Federalist party platform during the presidency of John Adams, the first Federalist presidentB. A popular anti-British booklet of the pre-Revolutionary eraC. A collection of essay arguing the merits of the ConstitutionD. A series of congressional acts defining the relationship between the federal and state governmentsE. The laws under which the South was governed during Reconstruction

8. All of the following are specifically mentioned in the Constitution EXCEPT:A. judicial reviewB. the national censusC. rules of impeachmentD. the States of the Union AddressE. length of term of federal judgeships

9. Which of the following best illustrates a use of the elastic clause?A. The Supreme Court allows a lower court ruling to stand by refusing to hear an appealB. A congressional committee prevents the full chamber from voting on legislation by delaying its reportC. Congress passes legislation establishing a national speed limitD. A member of the House of Representatives introduces a bill to increase federal income tax ratesE. A governor issues an executive order requiring all state employees to submit to drug testing

10. According to the Federalist Papers, federalism has which of the following effects on political factions?A. It provides a structured environment in which factions may flourishB. It limits the dangers of factionalism by diluting political powerC. It allows factions to dominate on the national level while limiting their influence on state governmentsD. It eliminates any opportunity for factions to formE. It prevents factions by declaring them illegal

11. The Constitution, as originally ratified, addressed all of the following weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation EXCEPT the:

A. lack of a chief executive officeB. national government’s inability to levy taxes effectively C. absence of a central authority to regulate interstate tradeD. insufficiency of the government’s power to raise an armyE. omission of a universal suffrage clause

12. A constitutional amendment would be required to ban flag burning because that activity is currently protected by the right to:

A. due processB. assemblyC. free exercise of religionD. protection against confiscation of private propertyE. free speech

13. Which of the following most accurately describes the right of American citizens to privacy?A. The right to privacy is determined entirely by the states on a case-by-case basisB. The right to privacy is explicitly granted in the Preamble to the ConstitutionC. The Supreme Court has ruled that the right to privacy is implied by the Bill of RightsD. Common law requires the government to respect citizens’ right to privacyE. Americans have no right to privacy, but the government rarely violates individuals’ privacy because

All students must be honest and forthright in their academic studies. To falsify the results of one’s research, to steal the words or ideas of another, to cheat on an assignment, or to allow or assist another to commit these acts corrupts the educational process. Students are expected to do their own work and neither give nor receive unauthorized assistance. Any violation of this may result in a grade of zero points.

to do so is not in the government’s interest14. The supremacy clause of the Constitution does which of the following?

A. Favors federal laws when conflict arises between federal and state lawsB. Overturns federal laws that conflict with state lawsC. Gives precedence to state laws when disagreement occurs between federal and state lawsD. Provides the president with the supreme power to overturn state laws that conflict with federal lawsE. Grants the Supreme Court the authority to decide whether or not to nullify federal laws

15. Which of the following is a purpose of providing Supreme Court justices with tenure?A. Tenure forces justices to remain loyal to political affiliationsB. It is difficult to find qualified individuals to become Supreme Court justicesC. Tenure removes direct political pressuresD. Tenure ensures lifelong cooperation between the executive, legislative, and judicial branchesE. Tenure ensures that justices will make decisions that reflect the will of the American people

16. Which of the following events showed that a strong, constitutionally designed national government was necessary to safeguard property and maintain order?

A. The US joining the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)B. Wesberry v SandersC. The Great CompromiseD. Shay’s RebellionE. The Virginia Plan

17. Which of the following powers is granted to the president by the Constitution?A. The capacity to make warB. The ability to influence policyC. The power to remove Supreme Court justices D. The authority to communicate with both Congress and the American peopleE. The ability to declare war

18. All of the following are concurrent powers under the federalist system of the Constitution EXCEPT the power to:

A. Collect taxesB. Build roadsC. Operate courts of lawD. Borrow moneyE. Coin money

19. All of the following statements about the Commerce Clause are true EXCEPT:A. The Commerce Clause does not give Congress the power to regular guns near state-operated schoolsB. The Commerce Clause is one of the most fundamental powers the founders provided to CongressC. The Constitution states that Congress shall have power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, states, and Indians tribesD. The Commerce clause provides wide-ranging to the United States over navigable watersE. The Court has held, since Gibbons v Ogden, that Congress can regulate both commercial and non- commercial transactions that involve interstate commerce

20. The congressional power to regulate interstate commerce:A. was decreased with the ruling in Gibbons v Ogden (1824)B. does not include the power to regulate interstate navigationC. never included the ability to regulate recreational facilitiesD. includes the power to regulate non-commercial transactions


E. is the power most often challenged in federal courts21. The line-item veto:

A. grants senators the right to veto individual sections of state legislationB. was declared unconstitutional as it violated the separation of powersC. occurs if the president does nothing with a bill for 10 daysD. was last used by President Obama in the Patient Protection & Affordable Care ActE. grants the president the power to veto state legislation

22. The Constitution and its amendments mandate all of the following EXCEPT:A. Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomesB. A well-regulated militia and the right of the people to bear arms shall not be infringedC. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable search and seizures, shall not be violatedD. The right of US citizens to vote shall not be denied based on genderE. In times of heightened national security, soldiers may be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner

23. All of the following statements about the national government under the Articles of Confederation are true EXCEPT:

A. There was no national currencyB. There was no effective control over interstate tradeC. No Supreme Court existed to interpret lawD. A majority rule was needed to amend the Articles of ConfederationE. The government could not draft soldiers

24. Which of the following statements regarding voting is false?A. The Fifteenth Amendment banned laws that would prevent African Americans from voting based on raceB. Jim Crow laws were passed in the post-Reconstruction Era South to enforce racial segregation and restrict the rights of African Americans C. The Twenty-Fourth Amendment imposed poll taxes to prevent blacks and poor whites from votingD. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 allowed the federal government to register voters in states in which less than 50% of the population was registered to voteE. The Nineteenth Amendment granted women the right to vote

25. The document that advocates for a large republic and warns of the dangers of democracy is the:A. Federalist No. 10B. Necessary and Proper ClauseC. Bill of RightsD. Great CompromiseE. New Jersey Plan

26. The section of the Constitution that allows Congress to pass laws that are “necessary and proper” is referred to as:

A. the exclusionary ruleB. the privileges and immunities clauseC. the elastic clauseD. prior restraintE. eminent domain


27. Which of the following events can occur during the amendment process?A. 2/3rds of the state legislatures must ratify an amendmentB. 3/4ths of the state legislatures can petition Congress to call a constitutional conventionC. The president can amend the constitution in times of war without congressional approvalD. A proposed amendment can be approved by 2/3rds of both houses of CongressE. 2/3rds of special state ratifying conventions can approve an amendment

28. Which of the following statements about the “wall of separation” is FALSE?A. The “wall of separation” relates to the separation of Church and StateB. Thomas Jefferson used the phrase to describe the 1st Amendment’s restriction on the legislative branch.C. The “wall of separation” is explicitly stated in the ConstitutionD. The phrase played a major role in the ruling of Everson v Board of Education (1947)E. In Engel v Vitale, the Court ruled prayer in public school unconstitutional as it breaches the “wall of separation”.

29. Which of the following amendments did not impact voting rights in the US?A. 9th AmendmentB. 15th AmendmentC. 19th AmendmentD. 24th AmendmentE. 26th Amendment

30. Which of the following was not an accomplishment of the US government under the Articles of Confederation?

A. The negotiation of the treaty that ended the Revolutionary WarB. Establishing the precedent of federalismC. Establishing the Northwest OrdinanceD. Satisfactory resolution of Shay’s RebellionE. Victory in the Revolutionary War

31. Which amendment mandates that American citizens cannot be denied the right to vote based on race, color or prior servitude?

A. 6th AmendmentB. 11th AmendmentC. 13th AmendmentD. 15th AmendmentE. 19th Amendment

32. When an individual tries to interpret the meaning of a constitutional Amendment, he or she is:A. attempting to understand the original intent of the framers of the ConstitutionB. enacting the power of judicial reviewC. enacting the power of original jurisdictionD. using the power of eminent domainE. practicing due process


33. The Constitution does NOT grant to the federal government to the power to:A. levy taxesB. coin moneyC. negotiate treatiesD. declare warE. create political parties

34. Shay’s Rebellion exposed the weaknesses of the:A. Articles of ConfederationB. ConstitutionC. Bill of RightsD. Great CompromiseE. Three-Fifths Compromise

35. Which of the following is a power of the presidency that does NOT require congressional approval?A. The appointment and installment of Supreme Court justicesB. The power to force Congress into sessionC. The ability to use money from the Treasury to wage warD. The power to make and declare warE. The capacity to negotiate treaties and establish treaties

36. Which of the following would lead to the end of a Supreme Court justice’s tenure?I. Removal following impeachmentII. Presidential removalIII. Voluntary retirementIV. Resignation

A. I onlyB. I and III only C. II and IV only D. II, III and IV only E. I, III and IV only

37. Which of the following was NOT a weakness of the federal government under the Articles of Confederation?

A. The lack of a national currencyB. The lack of a Supreme Court to interpret the lawsC. The requirement that all 13 states approve new legislationD. Dependence on state legislatures for revenueE. The inability to control import and export taxes imposed between states

38. Which of the following is NOT true of the 1st Amendment’s establishment clause?A. It forbids the government to establish a national religionB. It bars the use of secular governmental programs that impede the observance of a religionC. It is one of the least contentious of all clauses found in the ConstitutionD. In conjunction with the free exercise clause, it bans government involvement in religious mattersE. It prohibits the government from taking actions that favor one religion over another


39. In the United States, voting rights cannot be denied or abridged EXCEPT:A. on account of genderB. to a citizen who is 18 years of age or olderC. to a citizen who is an imprisoned, or released felonD. to an individual born or naturalized in the USE. to a citizen on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude

40. All of the following are prohibited by US legislation EXCEPT:A. gender discrimination by institutions of higher education that receive federal fundsB. the execution of individuals who are mentally retardedC. basing an employee’s salary on race, gender, religion, or national originD. the formation of political action committees by unionsE. the use of a line-item veto

41. The full faith and credit clause refers to the:A. ability of Congress to pass laws “necessary and proper” to the performance of its dutiesB. requirements that marriages, licenses, and other acts of state courts in one state are honored in all statesC. prohibition of the government from designating an official religion of America D. system that prevents any branch of government from becoming too powerfulE. concept that a state many not refuse police protection or access to its courts to American citizens because they live in a different state

42. Reserved powers refer to constitutional powers that:A. are shared by both state and national governments B. are granted solely to the federal governmentC. are specifically enumerated in the 10th AmendmentD. belong solely to the statesE. are provided to the states when deemed necessary by the Supreme Court

43. What was the primary point of contention between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists?A. The power of the state governments relative to the federal governmentB. Women’s suffrageC. The power of the president relative to CongressD. Free speech and the exercise thereofE. The continuation of slavery

44. Which of the following is an important principle of the United States Constitution?A. Free health careB. A president with the power of a monarchC. Separation of powersD. Truth in advertisingE. The establishment of the Internal Revenue Service

45. The US Constitution leaves creation of voter eligibility requirements to which of the following?A. The presidentB. Individual statesC. The chief justice of the Supreme CourtD. Civil rights organizationsE. The Speaker of the House


Part IV: State Midterm Election Current Events (JUNE – AUGUST) – Due August 18thDirections: Each of you has been assigned a state to research the following regarding the upcoming Midterm Elections: - IF YOU FORGOT WHICH STATE YOU SIGNED UP FOR OR DID NOT SEE ME TO SIGN UP FOR A STATE BEFORE SUMMER BEGAN YOU MUST EMAIL ME TO SEE WHICH STATES ARE STILL AVAILABLE TO GET CREDIT FOR THIS PORTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT – IF YOU DON’T CONTACT ME YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE POINTS FOR THIS PART AS WELL AS LOSE POINTS FOR THE PRESENTATION PORTION ON DAY1!

1. What are/were the primary elections date in your state? __________________________________________________

2. Which way does your state lean…Left (Liberal) or Right (Conservative)? ___________________________________

3. How many Representatives does your state have?______________

4. For seats that are up for reelection in November of 2014 ONLY - Who holds the current Senate seats (Name/Party)?

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5. For seats that are up for reelection in November of 2014 ONLY - Who holds the current Representative seats (Name/Party)?

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If you need more room for available seats, write it on a separate sheet of paper & attach


6. What are the political hot topics in your state? _________________________________________________________

7. Focus on ONE key race in your state and follow it by watching MSNBC, FOX News, CNN, & the following Sunday morning shows: ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX etc…List which race you are following from June through August and then give me a TMZ version of what’s going on…include dates, speech topics, commercial angles, press conference topics, sound bite topics, scandals, affairs, political differences between candidates and anything else that would be interesting to note. Bullet point a minimum of 100 words describing/explaining the above content…if LIST YOUR SOURCES!!!!!!!! If you need more room write it on an additional page and attach.

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Part V: Your Political Ideology (DUE AUGUST 18TH)Directions: Go to the following 3 websites listed below and take the political ideology quizzes (PRINT THEM OUT AFTER TAKING THEM and attach them to your this sheet!!!!) Take the quiz as honestly & seriously as possible & then answer the following:

Pew Research: http://www.people-press.org/typology/quiz/

1. What is your typology?____________________________________

2. What percentage of the population shares your ideological type?________________

3. Do you agree with “What They Believe”? Explain. _________

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4. How do you compare with the “Who Are They” list? Explain.

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5. Select TWO other “types” and briefly describe them. One of your selections should be a type that is very different from yours.Other type #1:________________________________________________________________________

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Other type #2:________________________________________________________________________

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IDEAlog: https://www.idealog.org/en/quizRead the “introduction”. For now, you can skip the tutorial (Step 2 – do NOT click) and go straight to Step 3 by clicking on the number 3.1. Record your results. ______________________________________________________________________

2. Do you agree or disagree? Why? ____________________________________________________________

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World’s Smallest Political Quiz: http://www.theadvocates.org/tag/worlds-smallest-political-quiz/

1. Record your results. ______________________________________________________________________

2. After reading the description, do you agree with the results? Explain. ______________________________

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3. What is your “Personal Issues” score? _______________________________________

4. What is your “Economic Issues” score? ________________________________________

Youth Leadership Quiz: http://www.youthleadership.net/econgress/political_ideology_survey

1. Which Congressional leaders does it say you would most identify with?

http://www.youthleadership.net/econgress/political_ideology_survey

https://www.idealog.org/en/quiz

http://www.people-press.org/typology/quiz/

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Part VI: The Federalist Papers (DUE AUGUST 18th)Directions: Read the entire content of this assignment carefully, before you begin. Then answer the questions after each Federalist Paper cited. If you feel you need more than just the quote given to answer the questions, the entire federalist papers can be found at: http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/

Introduction:

A nation without a national government is, in my view, an awful spectacle.

-Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers, No. 85

After the Revolutionary War, many Americans realized that the government established by the Articles of Confederation was not working. America needed a new form of government. It had to be strong enough to maintain national unity over a large geographic area, but not so strong as to become tyrannical.

In the absence of any model in history to fit America’s unique situation, delegates met in Philadelphia in 1787 to create their own solutions to the problems they were facing. Their creation was the United States Constitution.

Before the Constitution could become “the supreme law of the land,” it had to be ratified or approved by at least nine of the thirteen states. When the delegates to the Philadelphia Convention signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787, they knew ratification would not be easy. Many people were bitterly opposed to the proposed new system of government. A public debate soon erupted in each of the states over whether the new Constitution should be accepted. More important, it was a crucial debate on the future of the United States.

The Federalist Papers:

Nowhere was the fervor over the proposed Constitution more intense than in the state of New York. Within days after it was signed, the Constitution became the subject of widespread criticism in the New York newspapers. Many commentators charged that the Constitution diminished the rights Americans had won in the Revolution.

Fearful that the cause for the Constitution might be lost in his home state, Alexander Hamilton devised a plan to write a series of letters or essays rebutting the critics. It is not surprising that Hamilton, a brilliant lawyer, came forward at this moment to defend the new Constitution. The other New York delegates had angrily left the Convention convinced that the rights of the people were abandoned.

Hamilton himself was very much in favor of strengthening the central government. Hamilton’s Constitution would have called for a president elected for life with the power to appoint state governors. Hamilton soon backed away from these ideas, and decided that the Constitution, as written, was the best one possible.

Hamilton published his first essay in the New York Independent Journal on October 27, 1787. He signed the articles with the Roman name “Publius.” (The use of pseudonyms by writers on public affairs was a common practice.) Hamilton soon recruited two others, James Madison and John Jay, to contribute essays to the series. They also used the pseudonym “Publius.”

James Madison, sometimes called the Father of the Constitution, had played a major role during the Philadelphia Convention. As a delegate from Virginia, he participated actively in the debates. He also kept detailed notes of the proceedings and drafted much of the Constitution.

Unlike Hamilton and Madison, John Jay of New York had not been a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. A judge and diplomat, he was serving a secretary of foreign affairs in the national government.

http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/

Between October 1787 and August 1788, “Publius” wrote 85 essays in several New York newspapers. Hamilton wrote over 60 percent of these essays and helped with the writing of others. Madison probably wrote about a third of them with Jay composing the rest.

The essays had an immediate impact on the ratification debate in New York and in the other states. The demand for reprints was so great that one New York newspaper publisher printed essays together in two volumes entitled, The Federalist, A Collection of Essays, written in favor of the New Constitution, By a Citizen of New York. By this time the identity of “Publius,” never a well-kept secret, was pretty well known.

The Federalist, also called The Federalist Papers, has served two very different purposes in American history. The 85 essays succeeded by helping to persuade doubtful New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution. Today, The Federalist Papers helps us to more clearly understand what the writers of the Constitution had in mind when they drafted that amazing document 200 years ago. What follow are quotations from several essays in The Federalist Papers. After each are questions. Use the Internet to view the full copy of each of the Federalist Papers. There are many sites to choose from:

Federalist Paper 10 —James Madison

“Liberty is to faction, what air is to fire, an ailment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be a less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.”

Questions:

1. What is a “faction” and why is it a problem in government?___________________________________________________________________________________________

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2. What are the two methods for curing the “mischiefs of factions”?___________________________________________________________________________________________

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3. According to Madison, what are the causes of factions and why are they impossible to remove?___________________________________________________________________________________________

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4. Is Madison against majority rule? Why or why not?___________________________________________________________________________________________

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5. What is a republic and why is it better for controlling the effects factions than a pure democracy?___________________________________________________________________________________________

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6. How does Madison's argument about the problems created by factions relate to political problems in the US today? Do we have factions active in our political system today? How do they affect our government? Explain your answer in about 100 words or 6 to 10 sentences.___________________________________________________________________________________________

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Federalist Paper 51 –James Madison

If men were angels, no government would be necessary, If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.

Questions:

1. Which of the following statements would Madison agree with based on his views in the above excerpt?a. Government is necessary.b. The people should elect government leaders who act like angels.c. Elected government officials should be controlled by a system of “checks and balances.” (Research this

term if you are not familiar with it.)2. What would you say was Madison’s general opinion of people in government: angels, devils, or something else?

Explain. ___________________________________

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3. Find and describe five examples of “checks and balances” in the Constitution to support your answer in question 2. I have given you a copy of the Constitution in this Summer packet.

Example #1: ________________________________________________________________________________

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Example #2: ________________________________________________________________________________

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Part VII: The Constitution (DUE AUGUST 18th)Directions: Read the U.S. Constitution and complete the following questions directly on this handout. We will discuss this the first day of class and you will be responsible for this information on the US Constitution Test which will be given on August 21 st (1 st semester students ) & January 9 th (2 nd Semester students) .

PART ONE: THE STRUCTURE OF THE CONSTITUTION

1. Read each article of the Constitution. Summarize the general purpose or subject of each article in one sentence in the chart below.

Article I

Article II

Article III

Article IV

Article V

Article VI

Article VII

2. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for members of the House?___________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for members of the Senate?___________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for the President? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

5. The powers of the Constitution that are specifically granted to the branches of government or to office holders are called express powers.

a. Identify two express powers of the President.

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b. What are the express powers of the Vice President?

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c. Identify two express powers of Congress.

_______________________________________ _______________________________________

6. According to the principle of checks and balances, each branch of government must have control over the other branches. Look at the first three articles of the Constitution and identify one of each type of check and balance. Indicate where each power is listed in the Constitution.

a. A power that the executive branch has over the legislative branch: __________________________________

i. This can be found in what Article and Section of the Constitution? ___________________________

b. A power that the executive branch has over the judicial branch:____________________________________

i. This can be found in what Article and Section of the Constitution?____________________________

c. A power that the legislative branch holds over the executive branch?________________________________


d. A power that the legislative branch has over the judicial branch:____________________________________


e. A power that the judicial branch has over the executive branch: ____________________________________


f. A power that the judicial branch has over the legislative branch: ____________________________________


7. According to Article I of the Constitution, who has the power to declare war?________________________________

8. What power does the Constitution give the President in the area of war?___________________________________

PART TWO: 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 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 majority9. Veto Power

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? (Article and Section)__________________________

10. Ratification

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? (Article and Section)_____________________

11. Impeachment Power

a. What body has the power to impeach the president?_____________________________________________

b. Where in the Constitution is the impeachment power described? (Article and Section)__________________

12. Conviction

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 margin is required to convict and remove a president?_______________________________________

c. Where in the Constitution is the impeachment power described? (Article and Section)__________________

13. Nomination Process

a. What body has the power to accept or reject a president’s nominations to the Supreme Court?

______________________________________

b. What margin is required to elevate a president’s nominee to a seat on the Court?______________________

c. Where in the Constitution are judicial nominations described?______________________________________

14. Elections

a. If no candidate for the presidency wins a simple majority of the total 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? (Article and Section)(There are two parts)

___________________________________________ ______________________________________

15. The Constitution specifies a three-fourths majority for just one process. What is that process?

____________________________________

16. See Article VI, Explain the supremacy clause in your own

words._________________________________________________________________________________________

17. What are two ways that amendments to the Constitution can be proposed?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

18. What are two ways that amendments to the Constitution can be ratified?

______________________________________________ _________________________________________________

PART THREE: THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Some parts of the Constitution require a simple majority, others a supermajority, while 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 vote could take these rights away. Read each amendment to the Constitution and answer the questions below.

19. For each amendment in the Bill of Rights (1st – 10th), identify the right(s) protected.

1st Amendment - _____________________________________________________________________________

2nd Amendment - _____________________________________________________________________________

3rd Amendment - _____________________________________________________________________________

4th Amendment - _____________________________________________________________________________

5th Amendment - _____________________________________________________________________________

6th Amendment - _____________________________________________________________________________

7th Amendment - _____________________________________________________________________________

8th Amendment - _____________________________________________________________________________

9th Amendment - _____________________________________________________________________________

10th Amendment - ____________________________________________________________________________

20. Which amendment(s) to the Constitution protect the rights of women? ____________________________________

21. Summarize what this amendment(s) to the Constitution says:_____________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

22. Which amendment(s) to the Constitution protect the rights of minorities?___________________________________

23. How were U.S. Senators chosen prior to the 17th Amendment?____________________________________________

24. The 25th 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. _________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

25. How many times is the word privacy mentioned in the Constitution? (Articles and Amendments) ________________

PART FOUR: GRAB BAG OF ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS26. The court of original jurisdiction is the first court that hears a case. Although the Supreme Court mostly hears cases

on appeal from a lower court, what kinds of cases does it have original jurisdiction? _____________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

27. 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?______________________________________________________________________

28. How many electoral votes does one need to become president? _______________

29. Where in the Constitution is the Electoral College described (Hint: There are 2 parts)

__________________________________ _____________________________________

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