Sun 5/13

- Here is Cram for AP Exam episode taped yesterday.

- Here is another amazing review from the above two teachers that they prepared for the website politico.com.  Please make sure you review ALL 10 lessons here!

Thu 5/10

I posted several more essay prompts for you to review.  Go to “AP Essays” tab above and download item #11.

Wed 5/9

1. Some stunning developments in American politics in the last few days.  Yesterday, long time Senator Richard Lugar (R-Indiana) was defeated in his primary bid for re-election by an upcoming Republican challenger.  Senator Lugar is a well-known statesman of the U.S. Senate, having served in this body for 30 years!  You can read his goodbye letter here and learn more about the moving forces (partisanship, anti-incumbency, PACs, Super PACs, etc.) shaping American politics today.
2. A valuable lesson on direct democracy — voters (not the state legislature or judges) in North Carolina overwhelmingly approved a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in that state!  You have learned that an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution becomes the supreme law of that state (same as an amendment to the U.S. Constitution), thus effectively taking the issue of gay marriage out of the hand of the courts and the state legislature.
3. A note about Open Primary, Closed Primary and Blanket Primary:

• In classic closed primary, a Democratic voter receives a Democratic ballot, a Republican voter receives a Republican ballot, and so forth.  In an open primary, a voter may request a ballot from any political party, regardless as to his or her personal party affiliation. In a blanket primary, a voter receives a general “blanket” ballot which allows him or her to vote for any candidate from any party. This would allow a voter to support a Libertarian candidate for President while simultaneously voicing preference for a Peace and Freedom Gubernatorial candidate, for example.
• The blanket primary is a natural extension of the open primary system, but very few states use it.There are some distinct disadvantages to an open primary. It is not uncommon for voters from one party to request the ballot of an opposing party and vote for the weakest candidate, in the hopes of nominating that weaker candidate to the race for office. An open primary also allows voters to easily defect from their stated party affiliation. However, independents and people who have no party affiliation appreciate the open primary, as it allows them to participate in the democratic process without allying themselves to a particular political party.

1. Can you answer this AP Essay question?    Supreme Court decisions often generate considerable controversy and disagreement between Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals, those who favor judicial restraint and those who favor judicial activism, etc.

a. Supreme Court justices are expected not to decide cases based on their own political opinions. Name three things on which judicial decisions are supposed to be based. Briefly describe each of these and explain how it guides decisions.

b. Explain the difference between judicial activism and judicial restraint.

c. Describe one Supreme Court decision that is an example of judicial activism and explain why it is an example of judicial activism. Explain the legal basis upon which the Court based its decision.

d. Describe one Supreme Court decision that is an example of judicial restraint and explain why it is an example of judicial restraint. Explain the legal basis upon which the Court based its decision.

 

Mon 5/7

1. Review the Quizlets for 11-13
2. Essay #23, #24 due today
3. The 2011 episode of Cram for the AP Government Exam is here as well as the 2010 episode and the 2009 episode.

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Fri 5/4

AP Mock Exam #2 – 60 Mulitple Choice Questions ONLY!

Thu 5/3

Quizlet review packet for Chapters 9-11

Wed 5/2

Quizlet review packet for Chapters 4-7

Tue 5/1

Quizlet review packet for Chapters 2-3

Mon 4/30

1. MAKE SURE YOU DO THE QUIZLETS AT HOME. They are on the “AP REVIEW” tab.
2. Essay #19 is due tomorrow TUE 5/1 (it’s the AP2006-Q1).  You can download this by going to item #7 on the “AP Essay” tab.
3. Essay #20 is due WED 5/2 (it’s the AP2006-Q2.  You can download this by going to item #7 on the “AP Essay” tab.
4. Essay #21 is due THU 5/3.  You can download this by going to item #8 on the “AP Essay” tab.
5. Essay #22 is due FRI 5/4.  You can download this by going to item #8 on the “AP Essay” tab.
6. Essays #23 and #24 are due MON 5/7.  You can download this by going to item #8 on the “AP Essay” tab.

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Fri 4/27

- Mock AP Exam tomorrow.  Exam starts at 8:30.  Plan to be here until 12:00 PM.

- Here is the link to the 2011 Cram for Exam episode.

Wed 4/25

-  Make sure you reviewed Chapter 17 – Economic Policymaking

- Download AP Essay Prompts 17-20 here (or see item #7 on “AP Essays” tab above).

Mon 4/23

- We will be discussing 3 AP Essays in class.  Click on “AP Essays” tab and refer to item #6.

- Make sure you have watched the videos on the Judiciary Branch and the Bureaucracy

- Make sure that you continue to review your vocab words at 10-15 a day!

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Fri 4/20

- We will be brainstorming several AP Essays in class.

- Review your vocabulary

- Review the Chapter on the Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy for Monday.  Watch all videos posted on these two chapters in the “AP Review” tab.

Thu 4/19

- The Executive Branch and Bureaucracy

Wed 4/18

- Review Chapter 12 – The Legislative Branch

Tue 4/17

1.  Review Chapter 11 – Interest Groups
2. Take a look at the countdown clock!  There is now less than 30 days LEFT to your AP Exam.

Mon 4/16

1. Review Chapter 7 – Mass Media
2. Starting from today, review sessions will be based on discussion of AP Essays and Topics.  You are responsible for reviewing up to the chapter indicated each day of the week on this website.
3. On some days of the week, there may be an in-class essay and this may not be announced in advance.  So, always be prepared and keep up with your review.
4. Make sure that you use all the resources available on this website for your study.
5. The AP Mock Exam will be on Saturday, APRIL 28.  This test is worth 30% of your grade.  If you cannot make it, your parens must give me a note with a good explanation.  If excused, you must take this test after school on Monday, Tue, Wed (4/30 – 5/2).  There will be no other make-up dates.

Fri 4/13

1. You will write two in-class AP Essays #6 and #7 that cover the materials we reviewed this week.
2. Last Thursday, you wrote 2 AP Essays in class. The guideline to the 2009-Question 1 is here.  The guideline to the 2010-Question 4 is here.  Download and see what you must say.  Also read the sample essays and see their scores.
3. Did you review at least 50 vocabulary terms this week?

Thu 4/12

1. Review of Chapter 10 – Voting Behaviors & Elections
2. “The Problem with Election”.  Great article. Read it here. (Disclosure: I received my Master Degree from Tufts University)
3. Everything you always wanted to know about the electoral college but were afraid to ask? Afraid no more!
4. Watch Arizona’s electoral college voted for Sen. McCain as president in 2008 here.
5. Please come to my Student Support Hour today at 3:30 PM!

Wed 4/11

1. Review of Chapter 9: Nominations, Campaigns
2. What happens at the Iowa’s Caucus? Watch here:

Tue 4/10

1. Review of Chapters 6 & 8: Political Culture & Political Parties.
2. You may download the review pack here. This is the last review pack that I will give you.  You may either purchase an AP Review book or download the chapter summaries/outlines in the “DOCUMENTS” tab above.
3. We will be discussing 3 new AP Essays during Student Supports THURSDAY 4/12.
4. The guidelines for answering all AP Essays that I assigned will be posted.  I will notify you as each is posted on this website.
5. It’s your responsibility to schedule your missed assignments during your excused absence.  You have the same number of days as your absence to make up your work.  For example, with one-day absence you must make up your work the next day, 10% grade will be deducted if you make-up in two days, 15% deduction on the third-day.  After that, no make-up allowed and you’ll get a zero.

Mon 4/9

1. Review of Chapters 4-5: Civil Liberties & Civil Rights.  Did you watch the HippoCampus videos?
2. We discussed in class 2008 AP Essay – Question #4.  You can see the explanation of this question and the sample essay here.
3. Make sure you are WELL-ORGANIZED and have a 3-ring binder to file away all your review materials, classroom hand-outs and AP essays — according to the chapter of each review session.
4. How many government terms have you reviewed this week?  Must do 10-15 a day! Use the online flash cards or the audio glossary found in the “AP REVIEW” tab above.

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Fri 4/5

- I created a guideline to help you understand and write the essay that I assigned on Monday.  Check it out here. Your re-write is due this Fri 4/13.  If you would like to see a sample from your classmate (who got a perfect score), take a look here.

- Make sure you review your vocabulary, at least 10 a day.  Go to the audio glossary here.

- The Constitution has many famous clauses.  These are the few that you must know: Supremacy Clause, Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause, Reserved Power Clause, Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic), Full Faith and Credit Clause, Citizenship Clause, Due Process Clause, Equal Protection Clause, Commerce Clause, Double Jeopardy Clause.

- You have two essays — both are now due this Friday 4/13.  You can download the two prompts here.  To answer the second question, you will need to know about Engel v. Vitale, Lemon v. Kurtzman, Reynolds v. United States, Employment Division of Oregon v. Smith.

- Review Pack – Civil Liberties & Civil Rights is here. Download this for Mon 4/9 (if you already have an AP Exam Review book, you can just use that instead).

Thu 4/5

- You will write 2 AP Free Response Questions #2 and #3 in class.
- At 3:30 PM, after school discussion: “How to Get a Perfect Score on Today’s Essays?”
- At 6:00 PM, AP Information Session. You and your parents are invited.

Wed 4/4

- Classroom discussion of Chapter 3 – Federalism. Remember to watch the videos on “AP Review”.

Tue 4/3

- Classroom discussion of Chapter 2 – The Constitution. Remember to watch the videos on “AP Review”.

Mon 4/2

1. We will be reviewing Chapters 2 – 5 this week. For review materials, click on the tabs “DOCUMENTS” and “AP REVIEW” above.
2. Click on the “CALENDAR” tab above to see this week’s schedule.
3. My Student Support Hours: TUE & THU 3:30 – 4:30.
4. Review Pack – Constitution & Federalism is here.

Write a short essay to answer the following prompt.  Your essay must have a brief introduction and conclusion.  Each of the “beliefs” in 1-5 should be about 5 sentences. Please type your essay using 11pt font, one inch margin and in double space.  Include as well this prompt on the top of your paper. This is due on WEDNESDAY 4/4!

Describe and explain how the U.S. structure of government supports the Founders’ beliefs in 1) nationalism, 2) limited government, 3) republicanism, 4) social contract, and 5) the protection of liberty and property.

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- Impact of 9/11 on National Security

Wed 3/28

- Read and bring to class this article on restraining U.S. Military power and an opposite piece calling for an attack on Iran.

Mon 3/19

- Check this website frequently over Spring break.

- Click on the “AP Review” tab above to begin your AP review process.  Don’t waste time.

- TEST on Chapter 5 – Tue 3/17.  Make sure you understand the followings:

1. The 13th Amendment, 19th Amendment, 24th Amendment
2. The 14th Amendment (privileges and immunity, due process, equal protection). What has been the history of the 14th Amendment over the last 100 years?
3. The 3 levels of scrutiny the Supreme Court applies to discrimination cases
4. Landmark cases: Dred Scott, Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education, Korematsu v. United States
5. Jim Crow laws (what are they?)
6. Civil Rights Act of 1964
7. Voting Rights Act of 1965
8. Title IX of the Education Act of 1972
9. Affirmative Action (what is the Supreme Court’s position on this issue?)
10. Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, Grutter v. Bollinger, Gratz v. Bollinger

- Make sure you downloaded BOTH the Chapter 20 outline and objectives.  Answer all questions on the objectives. This is due on Thu 3/29

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Fri 3/8

- Instead of essay questions on the test, I have decided to let you write the essay at home.  It will be due Thu 3/15.  Please choose one from the three prompts below and write a minimum one and a half page essay:

1) Compare the First Amendment freedoms in terms of the restrictions placed on their application.  Do you agree with these restrictions?  Support your position with examples of actual or hypothetical cases.

2) Identify the various types of speech (at least 4 types) and explain how each type is protected by the Constitution.  Cite examples of court cases that have helped to establish these protections.

3) What is meant by the “right to privacy”? Explain the controversies (over three separate issues of privacy) that have arisen over this right.

- The answers to the multiple-choice questions on your Chapter 4 Outline is here.  If you want to review the online flash cards for Chapter 4, it is available here.

- You may also watch these short videos as part of your review for Chapter 4: Unalienable Rights, Selective Incorporation, Wall of Separation, The Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause, Free Exercise Clause in Court, Significance of Free Speech, Rights and Limitations of Free Speech, Rights and Limitations of Free Press, Reasonable Search and Seizure, The Exclusionary Rule, Self-Incrimination, Right to Counsel, Capital Punishment.

Thu 3/8

- Finish reading Chapter 4

- Complete Objectives 5 & 6 in your hand-out.  This is due on Tue 3/13

- Test on Tue 3/13

Wed 3/7 – 5th,6th, 7th, 8th Amendments

- Read Chapter 4 – p. 126 -130

Tue 3/6 – The 4th Amendment – Searches & Seizures

- Test on Chapter 19

- Read Chapter 4 – p. 122 -126 (Defendant’s Rights)

-Watch AP Video on Search & Seizure here.  Don’t forget to explore the 3 SCOTUS cases on the right sidebar.

- Download Mapp v. Ohio here and bring to class. Since 1914, the Exclusionary Rule has been in existence.  But, the Court, in Mapp v. Ohio (1961) has incorporated this rule to the states?  Watch it here.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNJczuTgr1A

- Can the police secretly put a GPS on your car to monitor your movement without a search warrant? Does this even constitute a search? Watch the Supreme Court decision (Feb 2012) in United States v. Jones here.

Mon 3/5

- Read Chapter 4 – up to p. 121

Fri 3/2

- Read Chapter 4 – up to p. 122
- Complete Objectives 3 & 4 of your worksheet.

- Chapter 19 Test is now TUE 3/6 after school!

Thu 3/1

- Read Chapter 4 – up to 109

- Watch “The Story of the Bill of Rights” if you need to review.