A.P. United States Government and Politics

Summer Reading Assignment

Warwick High School – S. Szwydek-Smith

Pre-IB students taking A.P. United States Government are required to complete the following assignment over the summer. This assignment is due the first day of class. This assignment will be worth a TEST GRADE! 10 points will be taken off for each DAY it is late.

DIRECTIONS:

  • Locate an official copy of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution (including all 27 amendments)
  • Electronic copies of these documents available online at the National Archives website:
  • You are to locate the answers to all the following questions.
  • Your answers must be TYPED. You may done one of two things…(1) either go on-line and save the assignment so you can type your answers directly under the question or (2) retype the question and then type your answer under the question.

If you have any questions or require assistance over the summer you may contact Mrs. Smith via email

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

  1. Quote the phrase in the first paragraph that indicates that the colonies are going to declare their independence.
  1. Look up the word “unalienable” in the dictionary and write down its definition. What three unalienable rights does the document list?
  1. According to this document, what is the purpose for which governments are instituted?
  1. From what source do governments get their power?
  1. Under what circumstances does the document say a people have a right to overthrow their government?
  1. What two-word phrase does the author of the Declaration use to describe the British government over the colonies?
  1. According to the documents, what had the colonists done to try to persuade the British to change their policies?
  1. Quote the phrase from the last paragraph in which the colonists officially declare their independence.
  1. What powers do the colonies now claim to have as a result of declaring their independence?
  1. Who is the “he” mentioned in the grievances? Give both his name and his title.
  1. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
  1. Which two signers of the Declaration of Independence later became presidents of the U.S.?

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERAITON

Article I-III

  1. What was the name of the confederacy formed under this document?
  1. In your own words, explain the guarantee of Article II.
  1. According to Article III, what were the three purposes for which the states organized into a confederation?

Article IV

  1. The “free inhabitants of each of these states” were entitled to what consideration by all of the states?
  1. Look up the words “ingress” and “regress” in a dictionary and write down their meanings.
  1. What is the right of “free ingress and regress” described here?
  1. Look up the word “extradition” and write down its meaning. Which of the paragraphs in this article provided for extradition among the states? Give a quotation from the paragraph to support your answer.
  1. The third paragraph of this article says that all states must respect what actions of the other states?

Article V

  1. Who or what body determined the method by which delegates were selected for Congress?
  1. Why would the states want to have the power to recall their delegates and send new ones to Congress?
  1. How many delegates could each state send to Congress?
  1. How many years could any one person serve as a delegate to Congress?
  1. How many votes did each state have in Congress?
  1. What two guarantees for members of Congress are included in the last paragraph of this article?

Article VI

  1. Could North Carolina send an ambassador to Holland to ask for its help in the Revolutionary War? Give a quotation from this article to support your answer.
  1. If the U.S. made a treaty with Spain saying that Spain could export goods to the U.S. without paying a tax, could Massachusetts and Pennsylvania put a tax on those goods as they entered their states? Give a quotation from this article to support your answer.
  1. Could George Washington have been made a duke by Congress as a reward for his services during the Revolutionary War? Give a quotation from this article to support your answer.
  1. Could Maryland and Virginia have formed an alliance without the consent of Congress? Give a quoatation from this article to support your answer.
  1. States were not allowed to keep standing armies during peacetime, but what group could they use to defend themselves? Give a quotation from this article to support your answer.
  1. Could Georgia go to war to defend itself against a Spanish invasion without consulting Congress? Give a quotation form this article to support your answer.

Article VIII

  1. What types of debts would the confederation pay for?
  1. On what basis was the amount of tax each state had to pay to the confederation to be figured?
  1. Who had the power to levy taxes, the confederation or the states? Give a quotation form this article to support your answer.

Article IX-XII

  1. In your own words, list the powers granted to the confederation in the first paragraph of this article.
  1. Congress was “the last resort on appeal” for what disputes mentioned in the second paragraph of this article?
  1. From whom did the commissioners or judges of the confederation have to take an oath before they could decide a case?
  1. What powers are granted to Congress in the fourth paragraph of this article?
  1. What powers are granted to Congress in the fifth paragraph of this article?
  1. According to the sixth paragraph of this article, how many states had to approve the actions of Congress before they could take effect?
  1. Suppose that the people of Florida wanted their colony to join the United States under the Articles of Confederation. According to Article XI, what would have to happen before Florida could be admitted as a state?
  1. What did the confederation pledge to do in Article XII?

Article XIII

  1. In your own words, state the main idea of the first sentence of the article.
  1. What does this article say about amending the Articles of Confederation?
  1. According to the last paragraph, what did the signers of the Articles of Confederation guarantee by their signatures?
  1. The Articles of Confederation provided for only one branch of government, while the Constitution provides for three. Which two branches of our government were left out of the Articles of Confederation?

UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

Article I

  1. The House of Representatives and the Senate are in which branch of government?
  1. What are the three qualifications a person must meet in order to become a representative?
  1. According to Section 3, who elects senators? Who elects senators now?
  1. What are the three qualifications a person must meet to become a senator?
  1. Look up the word “veto” in a dictionary and write down its definition. What section of Article I discusses veto?
  1. List five of the powers and/or duties of Congress.

Article II

  1. The president is in which branch of govnerment?
  1. What are the three qualifications a person must meet in order to be president?
  1. List two executive checks over the legislative branch.
  1. List two executive checks over the judicial branch.
  1. List three of the powers and three of the duties of the president.
  1. How are presidential electors selected?
  1. Who elects the president if no candidate receives a majority in the Electoral College vote?
  1. Who takes over the office of president if the president dies or is otherwise removed form office?
  1. What body determines the order of succession to the presidency in the event that both the president and the vice-president are removed form office?

Article III

  1. The Supreme Court is in which branch of government?
  1. In what types of cases doe the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?
  1. Who is allowed to establish courts inferior to Supreme Court?
  1. What check does the second paragraph of Section 2 give Congress over the Supreme Court?
  1. In your own words, state the main guarantee of the last paragraph of Section 2.

Article IV-VII

  1. In your own words, explain the main idea of Article IV, Section 1.
  1. Look up the word “extradition” in a dictionary and write down its definition. In what article and section is extradition discussed?
  1. What does the first paragraph of Article IV, Section 3 forbid?
  1. In your own words, describe the three main statements of Article IV, Section 4.
  1. In what two ways can amendments to the Constitution be proposed?
  1. In what two ways can amendments to the Constitution be ratified?
  1. What is each state guaranteed in Article V?
  1. In Article VI what is required of all elected officials in the United States?
  1. What does Article VI say can never be used as a requirement for public office in the United States?
  1. According to Article VII, how many states were required to ratify the Constitution

Bill of Rights (Articles I-X)

  1. Look up “eminent domain” and write down its definition. Which amendment discusses eminent domain?
  1. A list of ideas in the Bill of Rights appears below. For this question and number 86 ONLY you do NOT need to answer in complete sentences. Amendments may be used more than once.
  1. Freedom of speech
  1. The states keep all powers not given to the federal government
  1. Right to a speedy and public trial
  1. Cruel and unusual punishments are illegal
  1. Freedom of religion
  1. Indictment by grand jury
  1. Right to assemble peacefully
  1. Freedom from search and seizure except by warrant
  1. Right to trial by jury in criminal cases
  1. Right to bear arms
  1. Freedom of the press
  1. Trying someone for the same crime twice is illegal
  1. Accused persons have the right to be informed of the charges against them
  1. No quartering of troops in civilian homes
  1. Right to petition the government
  1. A person cannot be forced to testify against himself or herself
  1. A person has the right to be confronted with the witnesses against him or her in a trial
  2. A person can compel witnesses to appear in his or her favor
  1. A person cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
  1. Rights enjoyed by U.S. citizens cannot be taken away on the grounds that they do not appear in the Constitution
  1. The government cannot take private property for public use unless it pays the owner for property
  1. Right to trial by jury in civil cases
  1. No excessive bails or fines can be imposed

Amendments XI-XXVII

  1. Look up “poll tax” and write down its definition. In what amendment does this concept appear?
  1. Look up “lame duck” and write down its definition. In what amendment does this concept appear?
  1. A list of ideas from the amendments appears below. Treat this question the same as number 83.
  1. Slavery abolished
  1. Federal income tax started
  1. Alcoholic beverages prohibited
  1. Separate voting for president and vice-president in the electoral college
  1. Presidents can only be elected for two terms.
  1. Judicial power of the U.S. does not cover suits brought by the citizens of one state against another state.
  1. Former slaves granted right to vote.
  1. Washington D.C. granted presidential electors
  1. Eighteen-year-olds granted the right to vote
  1. Former slaves made citizens of the U.S.
  1. Former slaves counted as one who person for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives.
  1. Officers of the U.S. who rebelled against the government no longer allowed to hold office.
  1. Direct election of senators.
  1. Women granted the right to vote
  1. Congressional sessions begin January 3 of each year.
  1. Prohibition repealed.
  1. Neither the U.S. government nor the government of any state will pay debts incurred during a rebellion against the U.S.
  1. Poll taxes cannot be used to prevent people from voting in federal elections.
  2. The vice-president becomes acting president when the president is ill.
  1. Inauguration of the president is January 20.