AP AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS SUMMER ASSIGNMENT
2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR……………….MR. LIPMAN
If you are reading this that means you will be taking the Advance Placement American Government and Politics course in September. This course is coordinated with MonmouthUniversity as a dual credit course and all students who maintain at least an 82 average will be permitted to obtain 3 college credits, good at almost all universities in America, upon successful completion of this course. While the course will be interesting, and we will have some lively discussions and a field trip or two, there will also be work to do. It is my goal to have as many of you as possible score high marks on the AP exam while at the same time improve your research and writing skills so that you will be able to do well in your college careers. In order to accomplish these goals you have the great pleasure of receiving a reading and writing assignment that will be due on or before Tuesday, September 10th, 2013. As always, all submitted work must be typed, double spaced, and use a 12 font.I can be reached all summer, by e-mail at . Any assignment handed in late will lose 50% of its grade. No assignments will be accepted after Friday, September 13th.
You are to read the book American Politics, A Very Short Introduction, which was written by Richard M. Valelly. The ISBN for the book is 978-0-19-537385-1. This bookis readily available in paperback at a cheap price. After readingthe book, which is only 112 pages long, you are to answer the following questions. {The questions follow in order of the chapters to make it easy for you.}
Chapter 1: Identify and describe the 6 key principles, criterions, or benchmarks of American
politics.
Chapter 2: How did President Wilson change the role of the president? Describe how
subsequent presidents have expanded on this role.
Identify and describe the ways in which the field of political science has changed
and shaped the office of the president.
Chapter 3: Identify and describe the various ways in which the Constitution requires
“interconnection” between the two houses of a bi-cameral congress.
Describe how the Senate filibuster (both old and new version) works and why the
house does not have a similar rule. How has it elevated the role of the Senate
minority leader?
Chapter 4: How has a “divided government” created “gridlock” in Washington and what
“innovations” has Congress created to allow it to continue to make new policy?
Identify and explain budget reconciliation.
Chapter 5: Explain the concept of judicial review and how the Supreme Court controls
its “docket”.
How does the concept of judicial review lead to the Supreme Court “making policy?
Chapter 6: Provide specific examples of how the bureaucracy can help to strengthen the
Constitution and/or increase the role of the federal government in the lives
of individuals.
Chapter 7: Identify and describe how the use of surveys and political opinion polls have increasedthe role played by individuals in American politics.
Chapters 8&9: Summarize the changing role of political parties (“factions”) from
Washington’s presidency to today.
Chapter 10: Explain how the wealth divide in America has impacted politics today.