AP U.S. Government and Politics: Chapter 2: the Constitution

NAME:

CLASS BLOCK:

CHAPTER TWO ASSIGNMENT

AP U.S. Government and Politics: Chapter 2: The Constitution

Directions:

·  Answer the following questions in short-answer essay format – complete sentences, concise but articulate answers, check your spelling before you finish, and as always, DO YOUR OWN WORK IN YOUR OWN WORDS.

·  Your answers must be indented, typed in bold, blue-color, Times New Roman, 12-point font, single-spaced. Leave one blank line between your answer and the next question. Please use this format in this assignment and all similar assignments in this course.

·  Be sure to be specific, using terms and vocabulary from Chapter Two in the Government in America textbook. Through your answers, prove to your instructor and yourself that you’ve done the reading and that you understand the concepts.

·  When it is appropriate, use specific examples that are relevant to the question (using examples from contemporary news reports is most helpful, here).

1. List the major components (parts) of John Locke’s political philosophy. Next to each component, show their influence in Thomas Jefferson’s writings in the Declaration of Independence. Type in your answer using these two bulleted lists; remember to use bold, blue-color font, as the directions above ask for.

2. What was the single branch of government in the Articles of Confederation? Which two branches of government were missing? Why did the authors of the Articles create this kind of government?

The only branch of government under the Articles of Confederation was

3. List the major reasons why the government under the Articles of Confederation was a failure. Please use a bulleted list when typing your answer.

· 

4. Briefly describe the general philosophical views of the Founding Fathers on the following issues:

·  Human Nature:

·  Political Conflict:

·  Objects (purposes) of Government:

·  The Nature of Government:

There were numerous important principles and issues debated at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. Identify and describe each of the following.

5. What were the three major “equality issues” debated at the Convention, and how was each one resolved? Please use this numbered list for your answers.

1. 

2. 

3. 

6. What were the major economic problems debated at the Convention, and how were they resolved? Please use this numbered list for your answers.

1. 

2. 

3. 

7. Why did many of the Founding Fathers believe it was not necessary to address individual rights – civil liberties – issues specifically in the original Constitution, itself?

Many of the Founding Fathers believed it was necessary to address civil liberties in the original Constitution because

8. Explain how the Madisonian model of limiting the power of a national government made its way into the Constitution, using these three bulleted points:

·  It limits majority control by

·  It separated the powers of government by

·  It created checks and balances in the government by

9. Define the term “constitutional republic.”

A constitutional republic is

10. Complete the following table summarizing the major differences between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists on the issue of civil liberties, power of the states, and the economy. Please use the bulleted list to enter your answers.

There are both formal and informal processes by which the Constitution is changed in response to new items on the policy agenda. Keep that in mind when you approach the answers to the next three questions.

11. What is meant by the “unwritten Constitution”?

The term “unwritten Constitution” refers to

12. The Government in America textbook describes four ways the Constitution is changed informally. Complete the following table, listing these ways, defining them, and giving an example for each.

13. List and explain in your own words the five constitutional amendments that expanded the right to vote.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.