Summer Assignment

Name: ____________________________________

AP U.S. Government & Politics

THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

Read the U.S. Constitution. Complete this worksheet using any online or print resources you require – you’ll keep it in your notebook all year.

A.    Create a Table of Contents: The Original Constitution

Read each article of the Constitution. Summarize the general purpose or subject(s) of each article, and then write down the meanings of any unfamiliar terms (look them up) or any bigger questions you have for discussion. This can be a place for creative “what-if” questions, too – now is a great time to write them down.

ARTICLE	BIG IDEA: THE SUBJECT	DETAILS: UNFAMILIAR TERMS & QUESTIONS FOR CLASS
I	The Legislative Branch
II	The Executive Branch
III	The Judicial Branch
IV	The States
V	Amendments
VI	Debts, Supremacy, Oaths
VII	Ratification

Follow-Up #1:

Which Article is longest and most detailed? Why do you think that is?

Article I is the longest and most detailed, and this is simply because it states the limitations to Congress.  

B.         Create a Table of Contents: The Amendments

            Identify the main point of each Constitutional amendment.

AMENDMENT	BIG IDEA: WHAT DID THIS AMENDMENT ACCOMPLISH?
1	Freedom of Speech, Religion, Press, Assembly, Petition
2	Right to Bear Arms
3	Quartering of Soldiers
4	Search and Seizure
5	Grand jury, Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due process
6	Rights of Accused in Criminal Prosecutions: Rights to Jury Trial, to Confront Opposing witnesses and to Counsel
7	Jury Trial
8	Protections against Excessive Bail, Cruel and Unusual Punishment
9	Non-Enumerated Rights
10	Rights Reserved to States
11	Suits Against a State
12	Election of President and Vice-President
13	Abolition of Slavery and Involuntary Servitude
14	Protects rights against state infringements, defines citizenship, prohibits states from interfering with privileges and immunities, requires due process and equal protection, punishes states for denying vote, and disqualifies Confederate officials and debts
15	Voting Rights
16	Federal Income Tax
17	Popular Election of Senators
18	Prohibition
19	Women's Right to Vote
20	Commencement of Presidential Term and Succession
21	Repeal of 18th Amendment (Prohibition)
22	Two-Term Limitation on President
23	District of Columbia Presidential Vote
24	Abolition of Poll Tax Requirement in Federal Elections
25	Presidential Vacancy, Disability and Inability
26	Right to Vote at Age 18
27	Congressional Compensation

Follow-Up #2:

If you could only keep two amendments to the Constitution, which would they be? Why?

I would keep the First Amendment as well as the Nineteenth Amendment, because the First has to do with the various freedoms and the Nineteenth has to do with women's right to vote. 

C.       The Three Branches: Powers

Enumerated powers are those listed specifically in the Constitution. Look through the first three Articles for examples.

Pay careful attention to checks and balances – how each branch of government controls the others.

Remember to answer in your own words, and to look up what you don’t understand. That method will help you the most.

                       

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Checks & Balances: What are TWO enumerated powers it has over the president? Veto, Pocket Veto, and impeach the President

Checks & Balances: What’s ONE enumerated power it has over the courts? Impeachment

What other enumerated powers does Congress have?

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Checks & Balances: What’s ONE enumerated power it has over Congress?

Checks & Balances: What’s ONE enumerated power it has over the courts?

What other enumerated powers does the president have?

JUDICIAL BRANCH

Checks & Balances: What’s ONE enumerated power it has over the president?

Checks & Balances: What’s ONE enumerated power it has over Congress?

What other enumerated powers do the courts have?

Follow-Up #3:

Identify and explain two powers that the Constitution specifically DENIES to Congress.  

 Article I, Sec 8 denies Congress the power to prohibit state-approved migration before 1808, suspend the write of Habeas Corpus outside of rebellion or invasion, pass bills of attainder of ex post facto laws. Congress is also limited by the Amendments to the Constitution, such as the first amendment which prohibits Congress from making a law respecting an establishment of religion or abridging Freedom of Speech. 

D.       Rules for Policymakers

What requirements can you find to hold political office in the United States? Fill in the table below with your findings.

	REPRESENTATIVE (U.S. HOUSE)	SENATOR  (U.S. SENATE)	PRESIDENT	SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
Age Requirement	25 years	30 years	35 years	18 years
Citizenship Requirement	7 years	Living in the US for at least 7 years	Born in the US	Born in the US
Length of Term	2 years	4 years	4 years	Lifetime
Gaining Office: How does it happen? Who is Involved?	Elected by voters in the State and district they represent	Elected by the general population	Become nominated by their party (IE: Democratic or Republican Parties)	Appointed by the President.

Follow-Up #4:

Why would the requirements vary for different offices? Come up with some theories on why the founders would make different rules for different branches.

 The requirements vary because each office does a different job. It would be too overwhelming for one branch of Government to do one job, so the Founding Fathers came up with a way to distribute the power equally enough to get the job done. 

E.       The Amendment Process

In your own words, describe TWO ways to propose an amendment, and TWO ways to ratify an amendment.

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT	RATIFYING AN AMENDMENT
Whenever 2/3 of both Houses of Congress deem it necessary	3/4 of the States agree to have the Amendment Ratified
on the Application of the Legislatures of 2/3 of the several states, Congress can call a convention for proposing Amendments	Constitutional Convention

Follow-Up #5:

Can you find which process of proposal and ratification has been used most often? Which has never been used? Any ideas why?

F.         Grab Bag: Additional Questions

1. Identify two powers the Constitution prohibits the states from having. 
 No state shall, without the consent of congress lay ant duty of tonnage, keep troops, ships of war in time of peace.
 
2. 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?

Cases affecting ambassadors and  other public ministers, as well as disputes between the States 
 
 
3. Who has the power to declare war? What powers do the other branches have during a war?
 Congress can declare war. 
 
4. The Constitution requires only a simple majority for some actions. (That means anything over half). It requires a supermajority for others. (A majority greater than merely a simple one). Find two actions that require a supermajority. Why do you think the Constitution requires this?
 Impeaching, Expelling a Member of Congress, Overriding a Veto, Suspending the Rules, Ending a Fillibuster. 
 
5. Find two ways to remove a president from office – one in the original Constitution, and one in the amendments. Describe each in your own words, and be sure to say where you found each method.
 To remove a President, they must be impeached by the House of Representatives. Basically, the House Judicial committee appoints a prosecutor who presents the case to the members of the House. If the House votes to impeach, it is sent to the Senate for trial. After the trial, if 2/3 majority find him unfit for office he is removed. 
 
6.   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? 
The House of Representatives choses the President and the Senate chooses the Vice President.  

7. How many electoral votes does one need to become president?
 270

8. Where in the Constitution is the Electoral College described? (Hint: there are two parts) 

Electoral College is not actually mentioned in the Constitution. Article II of the Constitution and the 12th Amendment refers to the electors, but not the electoral college. 

9. How were US Senators chosen before the Seventh Amendment? 
 Election or elected by State Legislatures 

10. Who creates executive branch departments?

The President