AP GOVERNMENT

Monday, August 26

TO-DO List

Don’t forget – Chapter 2 quiz tomorrow!!! We will review tomorrow before the quiz

1.) Pass out reading notes for this week – FRQ for tomorrow’s quiz is on the first page.

2.) First 15 – 20 minutes (checking reading, finishing pre-assessments, and reading in between)

3.) Practice Multiple Choice questions4.) Notes – not going over every question from

your guided reading 5.) Practice Free Response Question with a

partner

Declaration of Independence – MC

• Which of the following statements are true about the Declaration of Independence?

• I. The Declaration contains important statements about the philosophy that undergirds American Government

• II. The bulk of the Declaration of Independence is a list of grievances against King George III.

• III. The Declaration outlines the basic institutions and processes of American government.

• IV. The Declaration implores the Netherlands to aid the colonies in their revolt against the British Empire and the “merciless Indian savages”

Declaration of Independence

Similar to Locke’s philosophy Natural rights (from nature – life, liberty,

prop) Gov’t – to preserve rights All men created equal Consent of governed Limited gov’t Right to revolt

Main beliefs of our gov’tList of grievances against King George III

From Friday’s reading – Practice MC

______1.) The Seventeenth Amendment changed the nature of senatorial elections by

A.) prohibiting PACs from contributing to senatorial campaigns.

B.) establishing a group of electors from each state to nominate senators.

C.) permitting senatorial debates to be aired on television.

D.) scheduling them to be held every two years. E.) requiring senators to be elected directly by

the people.

From Friday’s reading – Practice MC

______2.) The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to

A.) clarify the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review.

B.) ensure equal voting rights. C.) protect individual liberties. D.) define all powers reserved for the

federal and state governments. E.) prevent the supremacy of one faction

of government over another.

From Friday’s reading – Practice MC

______3.) In which of the following ways does the Constitution protect the rights of individuals?

A.) It gives Congress the Power to Impeach the President.

B.) It invests the President with the powers of commander in chief.

C.) It prevents Congress from passing bills of attainder.

D.) It allows states to collect taxes. E.) It divides government into national and

state levels.

Bills of Attainder and other Individual Rights

Pre-Bill of Rights

B of A: Punish people without a judicial trialProhibits writ of habeas corpus – must

explain to a judge why someone is being held in custody

Ex post facto lawsProhibits religious qualifications to hold

officeRight to trial by jury in criminal casesNOT ENOUGH – many pushed for the

Bill of Rights

Government – Attempt #1Articles of Confederation

Weak and ineffective nat’l gov’t (more state control)

Could not solve economic issues tariffs btwn. States NO power to tax (supposed to be a main

function of any gov’t) paper $ worthless

Decided a whole NEW form of gov’t was needed…

Philadelphia Convention – What delegates could agree on….

Human nature Power and money (ppl. Self-interested)

Political conflict Factions provide instability

Order of government Preservation of individual rights

Nature of government Balance of power (checks and balances)

Issues of Equality

State representationSlaveryVoting

Turn to page 42 – how did the framers of Constitution deal with the above issues?

The Madisonian System

Madison became the architect of the Constitution’s final structure

GOALSLimiting Majority ControlSeparating Powers

All branches with their own jobsCreating Checks and BalancesEstablishing a Federal System

Thwarting the Tyranny of the Majority

How to prevent a tyranny of the majorityPlace as much of gov’t as possible beyond

direct control of majority (only the House of Reps elected by people – with short terms)

Separation of powers All branches have their own jobs

Checks and balances Each branch requires consent of the others for

many actions

Ratifying the ConstitutionFederalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Federalists: believed in a strong national gov’t

Anti-federalists: believed new gov’t was an enemy of freedoms – why wasn’t there a list of rights? Favored stronger state gov’ts

Federalists added the first 10 amendments to please the anti-federalists and to get ratification

FIRST 10 - Bill of Rights

Added specific individual libertiesConstitution would NOT restrict personal

freedoms

Voting Rights

Constitution was quiet on voting rightsWould be left to the STATES to decide

Expansion of Voting Rights over time

15th (1870) No discrimination based on race

19th (1920) Women’s suffrage

23rd (1961) DC residents can vote for president

24th (1964) No more poll taxes (discrimination on income)

26th (1971) Voting age from 21 to 18

Practice Free Response Question (FRQ)

Take a look at this week’s reading notesFRQ on the front page

Practice this question with someone

POCKET CONSTITUTIONS

• YAY!!!! They arrived!• Let’s explore them– In small groups, each will be responsible for looking

at PART of the Constitution and reporting out• What/who does it discuss?• Key aspects of each section• Article 1 – divide (sections 1 – 5 and sections 6 – 10)• Article 2• Article 3• Article 4• Article 5, 6 and 7• Bill of Rights