AP Government
Comprehensive Review Project (2011)
Total Points: 200
Due: 5/03/11
Assignment: For this assessment you have the opportunity to display your knowledge in
a creative and fun way. As a culminating project, you are tasked with creating a
scrapbook or power point that demonstrates what you have learned over the past
year about US Government.
Your grade on the assignment will be based on the following criteria:
 Use of research and proof of understanding of topics
 Creativity and Organization
 Works Cited (MLA format: see guide for details)
Topics: The following themes or topics must be covered completely and thoroughly for
maximum points on this project. Your goal is to prove that you have researched each
topic and melded it with your own style and creativity. Every topic must be covered!
1. The Constitution: Identify the major parts / provisions of the Constitution.
a. Summarize the historical argument behind the development of the
Constitution.
b. Write a summary of what each Article of the Constitution addresses.
c. Summarize the Amendments to the Constitution. (ALL 27)
2. Political Beliefs and Behaviors: Must explain how people develop their political
beliefs and factors that influence voting behavior.
a. Discuss the role family, media, interest groups, and political parties play in
influencing voter behavior.
3. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and the Media:
a. Explain the major philosophical differences between the political parties.
b. Address how interest groups influence government / politicians (lobbying).
c. What role does the media plays in influencing the governmental process?
4. Institutions: Discuss the differences between the institutions and how each checks
the power of the others.
a. How does each of the branches fit into the big picture of government?
(Congress, Executive Branch, Federal Courts, and Bureaucracy)
b. Discuss the background of the serving members of the institutions; what are
the qualifications of service, how long do they serve how are they appointed
or elected, etc.? (Line of succession for president)
5. Public Policy: Explain how the government deals with the day-to-day operations of
government. Should also address how the government determines the needs of the
nation. Topics should include:
a. The budgetary process and the problems associated with it.
b. Environmental policy Federal view vs. State view, management,
enforcement, key policies, etc.
c. Healthcare policy and the problems / solutions associated with it.
d. Social Security and the problems / solutions associated with it.
e. Welfare system (corporate and social), key legislations, problems, solutions
etc.
6. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights: Identify and summarize one major Supreme Court
Case that deals with the protection of the basic civil liberties (one case for each of
the following topics): [Summary should include a short description of the case, what
right is being addressed, and a brief summary of why the court ruled the way it did,
and the year of the case]
a. Speech
b. Petition / Assembly
c. Religion
d. Search and Seizure
e. Due Process
f. Cruel and Unusual Punishment / Death penalty
All topics should include pictures, timelines, maps, charts, and / or any other
illustrations that add depth to you project. An introduction and a table of contents will
also be included.
Requirements:
 In your own words: copying and pasting or plagiarism will result in a zero.
 Must be typed
 Show you understand…not just fact--support your argument
 The finished product should be something that could be used to help any
student cram for the test.
 Pretend that I don’t know any of this material
 If you do power point, make sure the background you choose does not interfere
with the ability to read the information.
 If you do power point save it as a 2003 version. You must turn it in on a CR Rom
(I will not accept flash drives or e-mailed versions) Labeled with your name.
 If you want to score at least a C make sure you have addressed everything on the
rubric
 You must turn in rubric paper with project!
 NO LATE PROJECTS ACCEPTED!
Student’s Name: ______________________________
Period________
1. The Constitution:
a. Historical argument
b. Summary of articles
c. Amendments
5
5
5
2. Political Beliefs and
a.
b.
c.
d.
5
5
5
5
Behaviors:
3. Political Parties,
Interest Groups,
and the Media:
4. The Institutions of
Government
Family
Media
Interest Groups
Political Parties
5
5
5
a. Philosophical differences
b. Interest Group influences
c. The role of the media
The big picture view of government
a. Congress
b. Executive Branch (Presidency)
c. Judicial Branch
d. Bureaucracy
Qualifications / Terms of service
e. Congress
f. Executive Branch (Presidency)
g. Judicial Branch
h. Bureaucracy
10
10
10
10
5
5
5
5
5. Public Policy
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Budgetary process
Environmental policy
Healthcare
Social Security
Welfare (social and corporate)
5
5
5
5
5
6. Civil Rights /
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Freedom of speech
Right of petition and assembly
Freedom of religion
Search and Seizure protections
The Due Process of law
Protection from cruel and unusual
punishment / death penalty
5
5
5
5
5
5
Liberties:
Miscellaneous Scores:
180-200 A
160-179 B
a. Organization / Creativity
b. Works Cited
c. Table of Contents, Introduction
140-159 C
120-139 D
25
5
5
Total:
119 and below F