AP US Government Homework
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 503-513
For Discussion: Should we be worried about interest groups?
-Due Thursday, January 12th
AND
Study Sheet for Test 5
Find it here.
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 492-497
For Discussion: Why do you hold the political views that you do?
-Due Wednesday, January 11th
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 475-479
For Discussion: In the United Kingdom, political advertisements are forbidden--except for those on billboards. Do you think we should have a similar system in the United States?
-Due Tuesday, January 10th
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 464-470
For Discussion: Many people have criticized party primaries by noting that they tend to be won by the most extreme candidates--thus polarizing the nation. Do you agree with this critique? Should we go back to nominating conventions? What do you think?
-Due Monday, January 9th
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 458-462
For Discussion: What do you think the future holds for political parties in the United States? Will they grow stronger? Weaker? Will either of the two major parties disappear? What do you think?
-Due Friday, January 6th
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 453-57.
For Discussion: Are political parties good or bad for the United States? What do you think?
-Due Thursday, January 5th
Homework 13 (to be completed by Periods 4 and 10)
If you are in my period 4 or 10 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 7 or 8, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 437-443.
Do criminals have too many rights under our system of criminal law?
-Due Wednesday, January 4th
Homework 12 (to be completed by Periods 7 and 8)
If you are in my period 7 or 8 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 4 or 10, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 430-435. Also, check out this article from the Economist in 2005 on tort reform.
Should tort law be modified in the United States?
-Due Tuesday, January 3rd
Thesis Statement Submission
Please submit your thesis statement HERE before 11:59pm, December 23. The sooner you submit, the sooner you can start reading and/or writing.
ALSO: Here's an article from David Brooks about the college process. Maybe it will make some of you feel better?
Go here to see my response to your submission.
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 423-428
Evaluate the major legal principles of the American legal system. Do you agree with them? If not, what might work better?
The study sheet for Test Four is up. Please note that (contrary to the schedule), you will be tested only on Chapters 13 and 14.
-Due Wednesday, December 15th
Homework 12 (to be completed by Periods 4 and 10)
If you are in my period 4 or 10 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 7 or 8, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 412-418
Do you agree with the Court's ruling in the Bakke case? Why or why not?
For those interested--here is a debate/discussion between Justices Stephen Breyer and Antonin Scalia. It's about an hour and a half, but it is quite fascinating. This is Dahlia Lithwick of Slate.com's take on the goings-on.
ALSO: To check your grades, click here.
-Due Monday, December 13th
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 398-405.
Have we gone too far in the creation of protections for the rights of the accused?
Also, if you are interested in learning more about the diversity lottery, check out this Dan Baum piece from December 5th, 2005 New Yorker (PDF).
-Due Friday, December 9th
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp.391-397.
For Discussion: Many have criticized the doctrine of jus soli and claim that it is subject to abuse. Should jus soli be abolished?
-Due Thursday, December 8th
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp.387-390
For Discussion: Are our current immigration laws too harsh? Or should we have a less permissive policy? Why?
-Due Thursday, December 2nd
Homework (No Number)
There is no written work, but do the reading and be prepared to discuss the question below
Read Remy, pp. 376-382
Do you agree with the outcome of the case of the Nazi march in Skokie? Why or why not?
-Due Wednesday, December 1st
Homework (No Number)
There is no written work, but do the reading and be prepared to discuss the question below
Read Remy, pp. 371-375.
Are shield laws a good idea?
-Due Wednesday, November 30th
Homework (No Number)
There is no written work, but do the reading and be prepared to discuss the question below..
Read Remy, pp. 366-370. Also please read this interview with Justice Black from 1962.
For Discussion: Is "clear and present" danger the proper test for legal free speech? Or are you inclined to agree with Justice Black?
-Due Tuesday, November 29th
Homework 11 (to be completed by Periods 7 and 8)
If you are in my period 7 or 8 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 4 or 10, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 358-364. Also check out this piece on the attempt to abolish "under God" from the pledge of allegiance.
And here's a very short piece from Dissent, which talks a bit about "In God We Trust" as our national motto.
Should religion be totally banished from the public sphere? Should "In God We Trust" be expunged from our currency, for example? Use the info in the reading to answer this question.
-Due Wednesday, November 23rd
Homework 11 (to be completed by Periods 4 and 10)
If you are in my period 4 or 10 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 7 or 8, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 355-357
Justice Hugo Black believed in total incorporation--he thought that all of the rights in the bill of rights should apply to the states. In the end, we now use selective incorporation. Do you agree or disagree with Black? Why or why not?
-Due Tuesday, November 22nd
Homework (No Number)
There is no written work, but do the reading and be prepared to discuss the question below.
Read Remy, pp. 336-341
Does the Supreme Court have too much power in shaping public policy?
-Due Wednesday, November 17th
Homework (No Number)
There is no written work, but do the reading and be prepared to discuss the question below.
Read Remy, pp. 331-335. Also read this article by Howard Bashman.
For Discussion: What is Bashman's argument? Do you agree or disagree?
ALSO: Here's the link to the study sheet for Test 3.
-Due Tuesday, November 15th
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 320-326
Is it right that Supreme Court Justices serve a life term? Why or why not? What alternatives might there be? .
ALSO: Check out this article from The Atlantic magazine on law clerks. It's a short and interesting piece.
-Due Monday, November 14th
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 312-317
For Discussion: Evaluate the process for the selection of federal judges.
-Due Thursday, November 10th
Homework 10 (to be completed by Periods 7 and 8)
If you are in my period 7 or 8 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 4 or 10, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 305-310.
Almost no one in American history has had anything bad to say about judicial review--that's why this 1825 opinion by Pennsylvania judge John Gibson is so notable. Please read it in Eakin v. Raub
Was John Marshall right to grab the power of judicial review? Do you agree with Gibson’s critique?
-Due Wednesday, November 9th
Homework (No Number).
Read Remy, pp. 291-298
For Discussion: As you can see from the reading, bureaucrats have a great deal of power--yet they are totally unelected. Should our bureaucracy be more democratic? Should we introduce some sort of election system?
-Due Friday, November 5th
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 284-289
For Discussion: Given how hard it is to fire incompetent federal employees, was the move towards civil service reform such a good thing?
-Due Thursday, November 4th
Homework (No Number)
Please note that we are skipping the beginning of Chapter 9, Section 3, but read Remy, pp. 266-7--just the section on Executive Privilege. and Chapter 10, Section 1: pp. 275-283
For Discussion: Has America's bureaucracy grown too large?
-Due Wednesday, November 3rd
Homework 10 (to be completed by Periods 4 and 10)
If you are in my period 4 or 10 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 7 or 8, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 252-259. Also, check out this editorial about the Senate's treaty powers.
Do executive orders and executive agreements undermine the powers of Congress?
-Due Wednesday, November 2nd
ALSO:
Check out this great "attack ad" from 1800--most all words here are historically accurate!
Homework 9 (to be completed by Periods 7 and 8)
If you are in my period 7 or 8 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 4 or 10, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 245-250.
Do presidents take too much power during times of emergency?
-Due Tuesday, November 1st
Homework 9 (to be completed by Periods 4 and 10)
If you are in my period 4 or 10 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 7 or 8, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 234-239
Has the President consolidated too much power for himself through the growth of the Executive Office of the President?
ALSO:
Bring your letters to your member of Congress if you want credit!
-Due Monday, October 31st
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 228-232
For Discussion: Is there anything that can be done to make the cabinet more effective?
-Due Friday, October 28th
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 220-226.
For Discussion: Also, check out this 2004 defense of the Electoral College by Walter Dellinger.
Should the Electoral College be scrapped? Why or why not? If so, what should be put in its place?
-Due Thursday, October 27th
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 198-203 and pp. 213-219 (please note that we are reading TWO sections)
For Discussion: Evaluate the constitutional requirements for becoming president. Are they a good idea? Why or why not?
-Due Monday, October 24th
ALSO
Here is a really fantastic interactive budget, though it is based on the 2010 fiscal year. It focuses on how small a percentage of the budget is discretionary non-defense spending.
FINALLY
Please bring in a check for $31 made out to Stuyvesant High School to pay for the Economist. Thanks!
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 189-198 (please note that we are reading TWO sections)
For Discussion: Does the federal government spend too much money?
-Due Friday, October 21st
Bonus Graphic
A great graphic design visualization of how a bill becomes a law.
ALSO
Here is a great article about the way that the Senate circumvents the requirement that the House pass tax legislation first.
FINALLY
Please bring in a check for $31 made out to Stuyvesant High School to pay for the Economist. Thanks!
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 172-188
For Discussion: Have the founders created an overly cumbersome legislative process? Or should it be easier to make a bill into a law?
Also, the study sheet for next Wednesday's test is now up.
-Due Thursday, October 20th
Please bring in a check for $31 made out to Stuyvesant High School to pay for the Economist. Thanks!
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 167-176. Please note that this is TWO sections.
The reading spoke about the practice of legislative oversight, and also how limited it is. Scholars Matthew McCubbins and Thomas Schwartz published a very influential defense of Congress in their 1984 piece "Congressional Oversight Overlooked: Police Patrols versus Fire Alarms." (PDF) Please check it out.
Questions to Consider: Should steps be taken to help Congress work more smoothly with the President and the Supreme Court? and do you agree with McCubbins and Schwartz?
-Due Wednesday, October 19th
ALSO
So it turns out that we can't have the test next Friday, therefore I am proposing to move it to Wednesday, October 26th.
Please bring in a check for $31 made out to Stuyvesant High School to pay for the Economist. Thanks!
Homework 8 (to be completed by Periods 7 and 8)
If you are in my period 7 or 8 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 4 or 10, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 157-165.
Read the opinion of the Supreme Court in the 1942 case Wickard v. Filburn.
Has Congress overstepped its bounds when interpreting the commerce clause?
-Due Tuesday, October 18th
ALSO
We are a bit too far behind the schedule for us to catch up with the test day, which was supposed to be this Friday. Therefore, I am moving Test 2 from October 21st to October 28th. I hope to still be able to give Test 3 on November 18th as originally scheduled.
ALSO
Please bring in a check for $31 made out to Stuyvesant High School to pay for the Economist. Thanks!
Homework 8 (to be completed by Periods 4 and 10)
If you are in my period 4 or 10 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 7 or 8, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 146-150
Check out this article on the powers and responsibilities of Congressional Staffs.
Are members of Congress over-reliant on their staffs? Why or why not? Explain.
-Due Monday, October 15th
Homework 7 (to be completed by Periods 7 and 8)
If you are in my period 7 or 8 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 4 or 10, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 141-145
Also, check out this article from the New York Times about the struggle for control of the House Energy and Commerce Committee between auto industry advocate John Dingell and environmental activist Henry Waxman. Also look at this piece about the Senate finance committee.
Do committee chairs have too much power? Why or why not? Explain.
- Due Friday, October 14th
Optional Multimedia
Fascinating audio piece that asks: Why do we blink?
Homework 7 (to be completed by Periods 4 and 10)
If you are in my period 4 or 10 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 7 or 8, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 138-140
Also, please read this blog entry by enormously prolific Judge Richard Posner on the filibuster.
Should the filibuster be abolished?
-Due Thursday, October 13th
Optional Reading
Interesting piece on procrastination from the New Yorker.
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 132-137
Also, click on this link to the web site of the radio program "This American Life." If you want to save it, you can right click on the link and download the mp3 to play on your iPod or whatever.
For Discussion: I want you to listen to a segment about life in the minority in the House of Representatives called "Bully's Pulpit"--it comes 42 minutes into the show and is about 13 minutes long. (Note: it might take a couple of minutes for the program to load in its entirety)
Do you think that the House is too dominated by the majority party? Should anything be done to change this?
-Due Thursday, October 6th
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 123-130
1. Read this article by Jeffrey Toobin about the increasingly sophisticated techniques behind gerrymandering.
2. For fun, check out this website that lets you create your own gerrymandered districts. Wow!
For Discussion: Has gerrymandering made a mockery of the House of Representatives? What realistic solutions are there to the problems that Toobin explains?
-Due Wednesday, October 5th
Homework (No Number)
Read Remy, pp. 110-116. Also, check out this article from the New York Times from a couple of years ago.
For Discussion: Given the tremendously low turnout in local elections, should we be worried about our federalist system?
-Due Thursday, September 29th
Homework (No Number)
I am assigning no written work until next Friday so that you can study for the first exam.
Read Remy, pp. 106-110
For Discussion: Do you agree more with the nationalist position or that of states' rights? Explain your answer.
AND, check out the review sheet for next Friday's test.
-Due Wednesday, September 28th
Homework 6 (to be completed by Periods 7 and 8)
If you are in my period 7 or 8 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 4 or 10, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 103-105
Question
What do you think of the phenomenon of extradition?
-Due Tuesday, September 27th
Optional Reading
What is it really like to be a baby?
Homework 6 (to be completed by Periods 4 and 10)
If you are in my period 4 or 10 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 7 or 8, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
So... I accidentally skipped a section in the textbook and I want to make it right. So please go BACK and read Remy, pp. 84-90.
Question
The textbook spotlights some of the 27 Amendments in this chapter. What do you think of them? Are there any amendments that should exist that do not? Amendments that should be gotten rid of? Explain.
Due Monday, September 26th
Homework 5 (to be completed by Periods 7 and 8)
If you are in my period 7 or 8 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 4 or 10, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
The Constitution! Check it out! Remy, pp. 775-799. Or you can find it online.
Also: Read Remy, pp. 95-102
Question
Is our system with its overlapping state and federal law a good idea? Or should we be more like a unitary government in which the states have no real power and all law comes from the federal government? Explain.
-Due Friday, September 23rd
Homework 5 (to be completed by Periods 4 and 10)
If you are in my period 4 or 10 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 7 or 8, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 76-81. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE SKIPPING A SECTION. Also take a look at these failed amendments and these proposed amendments.
Question
Did the Founding Fathers make the Constitution too difficult to amend? What do you think of the amendment process in general? Did seeing the failed or proposed amendments change your mind? Explain.
Also: for those who are curious to see James Madison's notes of the Philadelphia Convention, they can be found here.
-Due Thursday, September 22nd
Optional Reading
Here's an interesting new map of the United States with 50 new states--all with more or less equal population.
Homework 4 (to be completed by Periods 7 and 8)
If you are in my period 7 or 8 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 4 or 10, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 63-67. Also check out this review of Robert Dahl's book "How Democratic Is the American Constitution?", written by Hendrick Hertzberg (the editorial editor at The New Yorker magazine).
Is the American Constitution truly democratic? Why or why not? Try to reference the article as well as Remy.
-Due Wednesday, September 22nd
Optional Reading
Drilling. It kills your desire to learn... doesn't it?
Why are some languages faster than others?
Homework 4 (to be completed by Periods 4 and 10)
If you are in my period 4 or 10 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 7 or 8, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 53-58. Also read this article about the Constitutional Convention.
"The Three-Fifths Compromise and the Connecticut Compromise may have seemed necessary, but ultimately they gave too much power to the small states and allowed slavery to continue unmolested. As a result, they are serious flaws in the foundation of the United States."
Written Work: Do you agree or disagree with the above quote? If you do agree, were there any alternatives? What do you think?
-Due Tuesday, September 20th
Optional Reading
In Praise of Fast Food: A provocative piece in this age of locavore worship.
Homework 3 (to be completed by Periods 7 and 8)
If you are in my period 7 or 8 class, complete this written assignment. If you are in period 4 or 10, only do the reading but be prepared to discuss.
Read Remy, pp. 48-52. Also read the Articles of Confederation. These also can be found in the back of our textbook (pp. 808-811)
It's been said that the Articles of Confederation were totally unworkable as a blueprint for the new nation. Do you agree? Whether you do or not, I expect you to analyze at least one article in the Articles for HW. Show why it's a good or bad idea.
-Due Friday, September 16th
Optional Reading
The next Mark Zuckerberg?
Homework 3 (for Periods 4 and 10)
If you are in my period 7 or 8 class, do the reading, but submit no written work.
IMPORTANT NOTE: I have decided to change the homework format. From now on, please submit homework (if your name were John Smith) not as smithj3.pdf, but rather as John Smith, HW 3.pdf. This will make things much easier for me
Read Remy, pp. 42-7 and pp. 770-773 (The Declaration of Independence)
Was the Declaration of Independence nothing more than just sweeping rhetoric? And if not, has America remained true to its spirit?
-Due Thursday, September 15th
Optional Reading
Here we go--one step closer to being ruled by an army of machines.
Also: have you heard of microchimerism? Crazy.
Homework 2
We are beginning to use the textbook, henceforth known as "Remy." Read pp. 35-40. Also, take a look at these excerpts from John Locke's Second Treatise of Government.
Written work: What do you think of Locke's work? What are his hypotheses and do you agree with them? Why?
-Due Wednesday, September 14th
Optional Reading
Here is a short George Orwell essay about good writing: "Politics and the English Language." Let it be your guide.
Homework 1
I want you to take the IDEAlog test, which will help you place yourself on a scale of political orientation. To get access the test, click here. When you get there, first click "English." Next click on "Take Quiz." Go through the intro, tutorial and self-test.
It might ask you for your e-mail, but there is no need to enter it. Please note that you will need Flash to take the test.
Written work: What do you think of the test and the four categories it sets up? Do you agree with its assessment of you? Write a critique and analysis of the process.
DROPBOX INFO:
You should do the following:
1) Make sure you have a Dropbox account.
2) Share a folder with me. The format should be as follows: If your name were Laurent Gbagbo and you were in my 4th period AP US Gov class, the folder would be entitled: Laurent Gbagbo, 4. My e-mail address for sharing is mpolazzo@gmail.com
3) Upload Homework 1 in the following format gbagbol1.pdf (where you replace your name for that of Laurent Gbagbo). Homework 2 would be gbagbol2.pdf. Please note that I want all homework in PDF form! You should be able to save documents as PDFs in Microsoft Word, but if you are having trouble, this web-based converter should do the trick.
4) Upload a headshot of yourself that (a) is not too large and (b) actually looks like you. Place it in the shared folder. Name it gbagbol.jpg (substitute your last name for gbagbo). Please note that all headshots should be in JPEG form!
5) All uploaded data is due by the start of the period that I teach you on Tuesday!
-Due Tuesday, September 13th
Optional Stuff
Here are some fascinating charts. Curious about where the federal budget goes? This chart by Death and Taxes is a nice graphical representation here.
Also: want to engage in a bit of military procurement through the Department of Defense? No problem! Simply master this organizational chart.
Homework
Read the article "Al-Qaeda is Winning" by Daveed Gartenstein-Ross. Be prepared to discuss it in class.
-Due Monday, September 12th
