AP GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Course Preparation Assignment
AP 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 three parts to this assignment:



U.S. Constitution
Development of comparative concepts and terminology
Understand of core structures of world governments
These assignments will be due in their entirety no later than Wednesday, September 2 or Thursday,
September 3 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. Assignments 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@lcps.org. 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 briefly 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 presidential primary 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!
PART I: UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
Available at: www.constitutioncenter.org
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
1. Identify two powers denied from Congress in the Constitution.
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. How does the House of Representatives determine the rules of proceedings (the ability to
have debates, riders, etc)
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. Identify two powers the Constitution prohibits from the States.
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for members of the House?
_________________________________________________________________________________
5. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for members of the Senate?
_________________________________________________________________________________
6. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for the President?
_________________________________________________________________________________
7.
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.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
b. What are the express powers of the vice president?
____________________________________________________________
c. Identify two express powers of Congress.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
8. 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. A power that the executive branch has over the legislative branch:
__________________________________________________
b. A power that the executive branch holds over the judicial branch.
________________________________________________________________
c. A power that the legislative branch holds over the executive branch.
_________________________________________________________________
d. A power that the legislative branch holds over the judicial branch.
________________________________________________________________
e. A power that the judicial branch holds over the executive branch.
________________________________________________________________
f.
A power that the judicial branch holds over the legislative branch.
________________________________________________________________
9. 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? ___________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
10. According to Article I of the Constitution, who has the power to declare war?
______________________________________________________________________________
11. What power does the Constitution give the President in the area of war?
______________________________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT CLAUSES
1. Where is the “Commerce Clause” and what does it say?
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Where is the “Necessary and Proper Clause” and what does it say?
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Where is the “Supremacy Clause” and what does it say?
______________________________________________________________________________
4. What is habeas corpus?
_______________________________________________________
5. What is a bill of attainder?
________________________________________________________
6. What is an ex post facto law?
______________________________________________________________________________
7. Where is the full faith and credit clause and what does it say?
________________________________________________________________
8. There are two “due process” clauses. Where are they? What does “due process” of law
imply?
____________________________________________________________________________
9. Where is the “equal protection clause”? What does this imply?
___________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
10. Find the “takings clause” of the 5th Amendment. What does this mean?
______________________________________________________________________________
MAJORITY AND SUPERMAJORITY
The 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.
1. a. What bodies have the power to override a presidential veto?
______________________________
b. What margin is required to override a presidential veto?
_________________________________
2. a. What body has the power to ratify treaties?
____________________________________________
b. What margin is required to ratify treaties?
_____________________________________________
3. To impeach means “to bring charges against” or “to indict”.
a. What body has the power to impeach the president?
___________________________________
b. 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?
_________________________________
5. a. What body has the power to accept or reject a president’s nominations to the Supreme
Court?
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. What margins is required to elevate a president’s nominee to a seat on the Court?
___________
c. Where in the Constitution are judicial nominations described?
___________________________
d. 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?
_______________________________________
7. What are two ways that amendments to the Constitution can be proposed?
___________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
8.
What are two ways that amendments to the Constitution can be ratified?
_____________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Parts 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 1
Amendment 2
Amendment 3
Amendment 4
Amendment 5
Amendment 6
Amendment 7
Amendment 8
Amendment 9
Amendment 10
Amendment 11
Amendment 12
Amendment 13
Amendment 14
Amendment 15
Amendment 16
Amendment 17
Amendment 18
Amendment 19
Amendment 20
Amendment 21
Amendment 22
Amendment 23
Amendment 24
Amendment 25
Amendment 26
Amendment 27
Answer the following questions based upon your knowledge of history and the constitution.
1. Compare the American Revolution and French Revolutions of the same era with respect
to the ideals that motivated them.
2. List and discuss the shortcomings of government under the Articles of Confederation.
3. Compare and contrast the Virginia and New Jersey plans, and show how they led to the
Great Compromise.
4. Review Madison’s argument that liberty could be protected better in an “extended
republic” than in a series of small democracies. Is his argument persuasive? Why?
5. Explain why separation of powers and federalism became key parts of the Constitution.
(Hint: The Framers’ intention was not to make the system more democratic, nor was it to
make it more efficient.
6. Explain why the Founders failed to address the question of slavery in a definitive way.
7. Discuss whether “women were left out of the Constitution.”
8. List and explain the two major types of constitutional reform advocated today, along
with specific reform measures.
PART II: COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT TERMINOLOGY
Studying 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. Do not simply copy the definition
Autocratic rule
Liberal democracy
Civil society
Coalition
Middle level theory
Mixed economy
Collective identity
Nationalization
Consolidated democracy
Democratization
Nation-state
Neoliberalism
Developing country
Newly Industrialized Country (NIC)
Economic development
Federal state / country
Normative questions
Political Cleavage(s)
Free-market economy
Political Culture
GDP
Political development
Gini Index / Coefficient
Private Enterprise
Globalization
Public Policy
GNP
Rational choice theory
Regime
Human development index
Import substitution
Social development
Income distribution
Sovereignty
Industrialization
Structural Adjustment
Industrialized Democracy
Supernational organizations
Interest Group
International Political Economy
Sustainable development
Theocracy
Keynesianism
Totalitarianism
Laissez-faire
Legitimacy
Transitional democracy
Less Developed Nation
PART III: COMPARATIVE COUNTRIES SURVEY
Students in AP Government and Politics will be studying the United States as well as the
countries of China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the European Union.
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.
Leader
Type of government
Size (area mi2)
Capital city
Border nations or border bodies of
water
Population
Population growth rate
Infant mortality rate
Life expectancy
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate
Primary ethnic and racial groups
Major language spoken
Major religions practiced
Major political parties
Population below poverty line
Unemployment rate
Military expenditures
Military Alliances
Major industries
Major natural resources
GDP & GNP per capita
Inflation rate
Education expenditure
Major problems facing nation