AP Government

Comprehensive Review Project (2015)

Total Points: 250Due: 5/4/15

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 comprehensive study book 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:

  • Demonstrated understanding of topics
  • Thoroughness of information
  • Creativity and Organization

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!

The Constitution: Identify the major parts / provisions of the Constitution.

a.Summarize the evolution of the Constitution

1.Historic events that led to the creation of the Constitution

2.The philosophical ideas/principles that the Framers used in creating the document

b.Write a summary of what each Article of the Constitution addresses.

c.Explain how the Constitution can be amended both formally and informally

d.Summarize the Amendments to the Constitution. ( ALL 27)IN YOUR OWN WORDS

Political Beliefs and Behaviors: Must explain how people develop their political beliefs and describe the factors that influence voter behavior.

  1. Discuss the role family, socio-economic background, media, interest groups, and political parties play in influencing/shaping voter behavior. This section should focus on how the various groups assist/influence how people vote and the impact they have on helping shape individual political views

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and the Media: This portion of the project should emphasize the ways in which political parties, interest groups, and the media influence the actions of our elected officials.

a. Explain the major philosophical differences between the political parties in such areas as economics, federalism, the role of government in social policy, and foreign policy. (Democrats, Republicans (talk about Tea Party too), Libertarian, Green Party)

b. Address how interest groups influence government officials (include such topics as how they shape elections, public policy, and their contributions to the democratic process)

  1. What role does the media plays in influencing the governmental process? (include such topics as how they shape elections, public policy, and their contributions to the democratic process)
  2. Summarize the rules and procedures of the federal election process. (Be sure to explain the differences between the different types of elections, and the rules governing them) *Your explanation should include a description of how the Electoral College works and the winner-takes-all aspect of it.

Institutions: Discuss the differences between the institutions and how each checks the power of the others.

  1. Discuss the roles/purpose of each branch (Congress, Executive Branch, Supreme Court, and Bureaucracy). Your descriptions should discuss the powers and areas of influence of each branch and the qualification requirements of members who serve in each branch (age, length of service, any special rules governing their election/appointment, etc.)
  2. Create a visual/graphic/chart that demonstrates the various powers and influence each branch has over the other branches and how a bill becomes law (This must be an original work of your own creation).

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 key players in deciding how to spend federal money. (Address the role interest groups, political parties, constituents, etc. play in shaping how the money should be spent). Include a visual/graphic/chart to demonstrate this process.

  1. Environmental policy Federal view vs. State view, management, enforcement, key policies, etc. (Be sure to address key acts of legislation governing environmental policy)
  2. Healthcare policy and the problems / solutions associated with it.
  3. Social Security and the problems / solutions associated with it.
  4. Welfare system, (corporate and social) (key legislations, problems, solutions etc.)

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights: Discuss the civil right/liberty in question. Identify a key Supreme Court Case that incorporated (applied its protection to the states) that right and provide a short summary of the case. Use only cases from the Key Court Case handout.

  1. Speech
  2. Petition / Assembly
  3. Religion
  4. Search and Seizure
  5. Due Process
  1. 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. Be sure to include a title page that contains all of your pertinent information (name, class period, etc.) and a works cited page that documents your reference sources. Please submit your project in a 3-ring binder with dividers between sections. This project can be VERY time consuming. Plan on it taking 4-5 weeks to complete. The better the effort you put into the review, the better prepared you will be for the actual exam. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!

Requirements:

  • In your own words: copying and pasting or plagiarism will result in a zero.
  • By the due date you must submit a copy to Class ID: 9754052 Password: APGOV15
  • 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 Microsoft version. You must turn it in on a flash drive (I will not accept CD-Rom or e-mailed versions) Labeled with your name. Please understand it will probably be returned to you but is not guaranteed.
  • You must turn in rubric paper with project!
  • NO LATE PROJECTS ACCEPTED! Under any circumstances

Unit One:

The Constitution:

/

a.Evolution of the Constitution

/

5

  1. Summary of the key articles
/

5

c.Amendment process (both formal and informal)

/

5

d.Summary of the Constitutional amendments

/

5

Unit Two:

Political Beliefs and Behaviors:

/

a.Family

/

5

  1. Media
/

5

c.Interest Groups

/

5

d.Political Parties

/

5

Unit Three:

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and the Media:

/

a.Philosophical differences between parties

/

5

  1. Interest Group influences/contributions
/

5

c.The role of the media

/

5

d.The Federal Election Process

/

5

Unit Four:

The Institutions of Government

/

Roles and Purpose of Government

  1. Congress
/

15

  1. Executive Branch (Presidency)
/

15

  1. Judicial Branch
/

15

  1. Bureaucracy
/

15

Graphic Organizer
  1. Congress
/

5

  1. Executive Branch (Presidency)
/

5

  1. Judicial Branch
/

5

  1. Bureaucracy
/

5

Unit Five:

Public Policy

/

a.Budgetary process

/

20

  1. Environmental policy
/

5

c.Healthcare

/

5

d.Social Security

/

5

e.Welfare

/

5

Unit Six:

Civil Rights / Liberties:

/

a.Freedom of speech

/

5

  1. Right of petition and assembly
/

5

c.Freedom of religion

/

5

d.Search and Seizure protections

/

5

e.The Due Process of law

/

5

f.Protection from cruel and unusual punishment / death penalty

/

5

Miscellaneous Scores:

/

a.Thoroughness / Organization (Teacher’s Discretion)

/

25

b.Works Cited

/

10

c.Table of Contents

/

5

Total:

250-225A224-200B199-175C174-150D149 and below F

Student’s Name: ______

Period : _____