Summer Assignment

AP U.S. Government and Politics

2019-20

We are living in extraordinary times. It is perhaps truer today than ever before. A new president

has been elected and many pivotal Supreme Court decisions have already been handed down, let

alone those that will follow this summer.

Our course requires us to cover both US Government & Politics as well as introductory economics.

However, because the AP exam is in May we will begin with the economics portion of our course in

the fall and then start Government at the end of the first quarter. This way we will be well-prepared

for the May exam. This means, however, our course organization will be conducted differently than

the other senior Government/Economics courses. Therefore, it is imperative that you know what

you are getting yourself into…After the first 20 days of class you will not be able to drop to CP

without retaking econ in the spring and taking U.S. Government in extended summer school

in the spring.

For us to properly prepare for the course you have to do some work over the summer. Here it is…

1. Follow the news – GET IN THE HABIT NOW! The title of our course is US Government and

Politics…while we will be discussing theory in our class it will be most helpful if you are able

to apply theory to actual events. Application makes the material much more memorable and

interesting. Current events will also help you to do better on Free Response questions.

Here are some reputable news sources:

Check news websites frequently – (i.e. www.cnn.com/POLITICS ,

www.foxnews.com/politics , www.nytimes.com/pages/politics/index.htm ) Some

sites will allow you to subscribe for regular updates.

Local Papers – Modesto Bee, San Francisco Chronicle…look for key stories in

the national section and national opinions on the opinion pages.

Network news (not local) that concentrates on national news – NBC, CBS, ABC,

PBS (NewsHour)

Read a weekly news magazine – Time, Newsweek, The Economist, U.S. News and

World Report

Radio – NPR (National Public Radio) 91.3 FM – Morning Edition, Market Place,

All Things Considered…you can also access NPR online with feeds and podcasts

of programming

These sources are fun and interesting but less reputable because they interpret from a

bias:

For Laughs – The Daily Show, Late Night with Stephen Colbert

News Talk shows – CNN, Fox, and networks (ABC, NBC, CBS on Sunday

mornings) offer political talk shows that generally present news with a perspective

2. Constitution Worksheet- Download and print the Constitution worksheet and complete all of

the questions as you read the U.S. Constitution.

3. Who’s Who In Government? – This activity will help to familiarize you with the people in

government and the offices they hold. I have tried to focus on the notables, people/offices you

will be coming across in the news as well as our local officials. This is due on the second day of

class.

4. Economics – Since we will start our study of economics over summer, you will need to pick up

your text book before you leave for summer break. You are responsible for downloading and

printing the question sheet for Unit 1 (chapters 1-3) and completing it before school starts. You

are also responsible for taking the Unit 1 Econ Exam on Schoology the week before school

starts.

5. Enjoy your summer.

Have a great summer…Get ready for the fall! Email me if you have any questions

kopecki.z@monet.k12.ca.us

Z. Kopecki

Name_____________________________

Period _____

Economics-Unit 1 Summer Assignment

Answer the following questions from Unit 1 in at least 1-2 complete sentences. Print this document and handwrite your answers in the space provided.

There will be an exam on Unit 1 on the second day of school.

Chapter 1: What us Economics?

Section 1

1. What is the difference between a good and a service?

2. Why is the idea of scarcity a starting point for thinking economically?

3. How is scarcity different from shortages?

4. Describe the three factors of production.

5. What special advantages does physical capital offer?

6. What role do entrepreneurs play in the economy?

7. Which type of capital is represented by each of the following? a. A copy machine- b. Medical school training- c. An office building- d. 3D printer- e. Vocational training- f. Law school-

Section 2

1. Present three examples that illustrate how all decisions involve trade-offs: a.

b.

c.

2. Why must the opportunity cost of a decision always be something desirable?

3. What do economists mean when they use the phrase “guns or butter”?

4. What does it mean to think “on the margin”?

5. Determine an opportunity cost for each of the following: a. Eating pizza- b. Going to see a movie on a Friday night- c. Going to see a movie on a Wednesday afternoon- d. Watching TV-

6. Which factors would an employer consider if he or she were trying to decide whether to hire an

additional worker?

Section 3

1. How is underutilization depicted on a production possibilities curve?

2. How does the production possibilities curve illustrate how efficient an economy is?

3. How does a production possibilities curve illustrate opportunity cost?

4. Describe a specific event that would make each of the following happen to a production possibilities curve:

a. A point moves down and to the left- b. The frontier shifts to the right-

Chapter 2: Economic Systems

Section 1

1. What is an economic system?

2. How do a traditional economy, a market economy, a command economy, and a mixed economy differ?

3. Why aren’t all people paid the same amount in factor payments for the resources they provide?

4. Provide your own examples of two unequal factor payments.

5. Why do governments provide safety nets for their citizens?

6. Give at least one example of a traditional, a command, and a market economic system.

Section 2

1. How does specialization make us more efficient?

2. What is the difference between the factor market and the product market?

3. What is a profit?

4. What are the roles of households and firms in a market economy?

5. How does competition among firms benefit consumers?

6. Explain what Adam Smith mean by the “invisible hand of the marketplace.”

7. What is the connection between incentives and consumer sovereignty in a free market economy?

8. Why is free market equity difficult to achieve in a free market economy?

Section 3

1. How do socialism and communism differ?

2. What characterizes an authoritarian government?

3. Why did Soviet collectives offer little incentive to farmers?

4. In the Soviet Union, what was the opportunity cost of the emphasis on heavy industry?

5. Why do centrally planned economies have difficulty meeting consumer needs?

Section 4

1. What is laissez faire?

2. Why have some nations begun a transition to free enterprise?

3. Why are nations with centrally planned economies sometimes slow to succeed when they privatize industry?

4. Compare the U.S. free enterprise system with other economic systems you have read about in this chapter.

5. What benefits might citizens of a centrally planned economy derive from a move toward a market-based system?

Chapter 3: American Free Enterprise

Section 1

1. Explain the importance of the following terms in the U.S. free enterprise system: a. Profit motive- b. Voluntary exchange- c. Private property rights- d. Competition

2. What constitutional guarantees underlie the American free enterprise system?

3. Explain at least three benefits of the free enterprise system. a. b. c.

4. What are some opportunity costs of a greater government role in the economy?

5. Explain how the decisions you make as a consumer influence the economy.

Section 2

1. Compare macroeconomics to microeconomics, and give an example of each.

2. How does gross domestic product (GDP) provide a means to analyze economic growth?

3. What does GDP tell economists about business cycles?

4. Give one example of a new technology that has resulted in greater productivity for the U.S.

5. How do patents and copyrights promote innovation?

6. How does innovation help the economy?

7. Describe and analyze how economic stability is measured.

8. Are the macroeconomic goals of employment, growth, and stability best met by the public sector or by the private sector? Explain.

Section 3

1. Explain this sentence: Most public goods generate positive externalities.

2. Why is a free rider a type of market failure?

3. What is the difference between the public sector and the private sector? Give examples of each.

4. How does the government attempt to encourage positive externalities and limit negative externalities? Give two examples of each:

a. Positive- b. Negative-

5. Is the criminal justice system (police and the courts) a public good? Explain.

6. If a city has a shortage of parking spaces near downtown businesses, should the city build a parking garage or leave it to the private sector? Explain your reasoning.

Section 4

1. How does welfare attempt to raise poor people’s standard of living?

2. Why does poverty exist in a free market economy?

3. What is the difference between cash transfers and in-kind benefits?

4. How is Social Security an example of income redistribution?

5. Assume that the poverty threshold is $8,980 for an individual and $12,120 for a two-person household. Based on a 40-hour work week, how much would you need to earn per hour in order to be above the poverty threshold for…

a. An individual- b. A two-person household-

6. An old adage states, “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.” Do any of the government programs in this section reflect this saying? Explain your answer.

AP Government

THE US CONSTITUTION Available at: www.constitutioncenter.org

Wilson text pages A4-A20 (Appendix at the end of the book)

Directions: Read the US Constitution and complete the following questions directly on this handout.

PART I: THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF THE CONSTITUTION

1. Read each article of the Constitution. Summarize the general purpose or subject of each article in one

sentence in the chart below.

Article I

Article II

Article III

Article IV

Article V

Article VI

Article VII

2. Compare Article I with Article II. Which article is longer and more detailed?

_____________________________________________________________________

3. Identify two powers denied from Congress in the Constitution.

_____________________________________________________________________

4. How does the House of Representatives determine the rules of proceedings (the ability to have debates,

riders, etc)

_____________________________________________________________________

5. Identify two powers the Constitution prohibits from the States.

_____________________________________________________________________

6. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for members of the House?

_____________________________________________________________________

7. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for members of the Senate?

_____________________________________________________________________

8. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for the President?

_____________________________________________________________________

9. The powers of the Constitution that are specifically granted to the branches of government or to office

holders are called express powers.

a. Identify two express powers of the president.

____________________________________________________________

Name ____________________

Period _________

b. What are the express powers of the vice president?

____________________________________________________________

c. Identify two express powers of Congress.

____________________________________________________________

10. The court of original jurisdiction is the first court that hears a case. Appellate courts hear cases on appeal

from lower courts. Although the Supreme Court functions primarily as an appellate court, it is the courts of

original jurisdiction in certain kinds of cases. What are those?

___________________________________________________________________________

11. According to Article I of the Constitution, who has the power to declare war?

___________________________________________________________________________

12. What power does the Constitution give the President in the area of war?

___________________________________________________________________________

PART II IMPORTANT CLAUSES

1. Where is the “Commerce Clause” and what does it say? __________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2. Where is the “Necessary and Proper Clause” and what does it say? _________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. Where is the “Supremacy Clause” and what does it say? __________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. What is habeas corpus? Where is it found? ____________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Where are bills of attainders discussed and what are they? ______________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. Where are ex post facto laws discussed and what are they? _____________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

7. Where is the “full faith and credit clause” and what does it mean?___________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

8. There are two “due process” clauses. Where are they? What does “due process” of law imply?

_______________________________________________________________________________

9. Where is the “equal protection clause”? What does this imply? _____________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

10. Find the “takings clause” of the 5th Amendment. What does this mean? ______________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

PART III. MAJORITY AND SUPERMAJORITY

The Constitution requires a simple majority for some actions and a supermajority for others. A simple majority

means more than half, while supermajority requirements can involve a 2/3 majority or a 3/4 majority. Most

elections in the United States require a plurality, or the most votes, but not necessarily a majority.

1. a. What bodies have the power to override a presidential veto? _______________________

b. What margin is required to override a presidential veto? ___________________________

c. Where in the Constitution is the veto power described? ____________________________

2. a. What body has the power to ratify treaties? ______________________________________

b. What margin is required to ratify treaties? ______________________________________

c. Where in the Constitution is the ratification power described? ______________________

3. To impeach means “to bring charges against” or “to indict”.

a. What body has the power to impeach the president? ______________________________

b. What vote is required to impeach? ____________________

c. What is the standard for impeachment? _________________________________________

4. a. What body has the power to convict the president of charges brought against him in the

impeachment process and thereby remove him from the presidency? _________________

b. What vote is required to convict and remove a president? __________________________

c. Where in the Constitution is the impeachment power described? _____________________

5. a. What body has the power to accept or reject a president’s nominations to the Supreme

Court? __________________________________________________________________

b. What margin is required to elevate a president’s nominee to a seat on the Court? ______

c. Where in the Constitution are judicial nominations described? _____________________

6. a. If no candidate for the presidency wins a simple majority of the total number of electoral

votes, what body has the power to choose the president? __________________________

b. What margin is required to choose the president? _______________________________

c. Where in the Constitution is the Electoral College described? (Hint: there are two parts)

___________________________________________________________________________

7. The Constitution specifies a three-fourths majority for just one process. What is that process?

_________________________________________________________________________

8. The Constitution has comparatively little to say about the structure and composition of the Supreme Court.

Identify two aspects of the Court’s structure and composition that the Constitution does not specify. (The

Constitution does specify these two basic aspects of structure and composition for the other two branches).

__________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

9. List 2 parts of the Constitution that require a supermajority. For each, explain why you believe there is a

supermajority requirement.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

10. What are two ways that amendments to the Constitution can be proposed? _______________

__________________________________________________________________________________

11. What are two ways that amendments to the Constitution can be ratified? ________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Part IV. THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Some parts of the Constitution require a simple majority, others a supermajority, while still others protect

citizens from the will of the majority. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights protect

citizens from the will of the majority. In other words, no majority could vote to take these rights away. Read

each amendment to the Constitution and answer the questions below.

1. Outline the general purpose of all 27 Amendments.

Amendment 1

Amendment 2

Amendment 3

Amendment 4

Amendment 5

Amendment 6

Amendment 7

Amendment 8

Amendment 9

Amendment 10

Amendment 11

Amendment 12

Amendment 13

Amendment 14

Amendment 15

Amendment 16

Amendment 17

Amendment 18

Amendment 19

Amendment 20

Amendment 21

Amendment 22

Amendment 23

Amendment 24

Amendment 25

Amendment 26

Amendment 27

2. Which amendment(s) of the Constitution protect the rights of women? ______________________

3. Summarize what this amendment(s) of the Constitution says_______________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Which amendment(s) of the Constitution protect the rights of African Americans? _____________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. How were U.S. Senators chosen before the Seventeenth Amendment? _______________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. How many times is the word privacy mentioned in the Constitution (articles and

amendments)_______________________________________________________________

Name:

Date:

Who’s Who In Government?

President's Cabinet

The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings of the Presidency itself. One of the principal

purposes of the Cabinet (drawn from Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution) is to advise the President

on any subject he may require relating to the duties of their respective offices.

The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments-the Secretaries of

Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland

Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and

Veterans Affairs, and the Attorney General. Under President George W. Bush, Cabinet-level rank also

has been accorded to the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; Director, Office of

Management and Budget; the Director, National Drug Control Policy; and the U.S. Trade

Representative.

Office Current Administration Relevant Previous Experience

Secretary of State

Secretary of the Treasury

Secretary of Defense

Attorney General

Secretary of the Interior

Secretary of Agriculture

Secretary of Commerce

Secretary of Labor

Secretary of Health and Human Services

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Secretary of Transportation

Secretary of Energy

Secretary of Education

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Secretary of Homeland Security

Cabinet-level administration offices

Six positions have cabinet-level rank, which allows these individuals to attend Cabinet meetings

without being secretaries of executive departments:

Office Current Administration Relevant Previous Experience

Vice President of the United States

White House Chief of Staff

Administrator of the Environmental

Protection Agency

Director of the Office of Management and

Budget

Director of the National Drug Control Policy

United States Trade Representative

Presidential Line of Succession

As specified by the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 and subsequent amendments to include newly

created cabinet officers.

# Office Current Administration

1 President of the United States

2 Vice President and President of the Senate

3 Speaker of the House of Representatives

4 President pro tempore of the Senate

5 Secretary of State

6 Secretary of the Treasury

7 Secretary of Defense

8 Attorney General

9 Secretary of the Interior

10 Secretary of Agriculture

11 Secretary of Commerce

12 Secretary of Labor

13 Secretary of Health and Human Services

14 Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

15 Secretary of Transportation

16 Secretary of Energy

17 Secretary of Education

18 Secretary of Veterans Affairs

19 Secretary of Homeland Security

Local Representation

You should be familiar with your local representatives...

Office Representative

Mayor of Modesto

Modesto Chief of Police

Governor of the State of California

California Legislature – Senator 5th District

California Legislature – Assembly 12th District

U.S. Senators - California

U.S. House of Representatives – 10th District