Assignment

Part 1: Origins of American Government

1. Describe the Enlightenment ideas of (1) separation of powers, (2) natural rights, (3) natural law, and (4) social contract. Whose ideas were they?

2. What was the purpose of these documents and what were the "big ideas" of the: (1) Magna Carta, (2) English Bill of Rights, (3) Mayflower Compact, and Thomas Paine's (4) Common Sense?

3. How did each document influence the colonists' views of government?

Part 2: Americans Declare Their Independence

1. Describe how the following led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence: French and Indian War; Proclamation of 1763; Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Tea Act, and Intolerable Acts

2. Use the following answers from question 1 to draw a timeline of when the British colonists from the French and Indian War to the Declaration of Independence.

3. What natural rights are mentioned in the Declaration of Independence?

4. People are endowed with what from their creator?

5. When governments become destructive, what is the right of the people?

6. Where do governments derive their powers from?

7. Governments are instituted among men to secure people's what?

8. What is the relationship between natural rights and the role of government?

9. What are the grievances (complaints) listed in the Declaration of Independence? What are the grievances referring to (describe what they took away from the colonists point of view)?

Part 3: The Legislative Branch

1. How's the legislative branch structured?

2. What's the main function of the legislative branch?

3. What are ALL the enumerated powers of Congress listed in Article I, section 8?

4. What are the non-legislative powers of Congress?

5. What are implied powers? What is the "Necessary and Proper" Clause (aka Elastic Clause)?

6. What are some of the limits on Congressional Power?

7. What are checks and balances? What are separation of powers?

8. What checks do the other branches have on the legislative branch?

9. Describe the leadership of the House and the Senate. (Name ALL the roles of the leaders of each chamber of Congress and what they do, e.g. the Speaker of the House)

10. What factors determine what committee a member of Congress joins?

11. How does a bill become a law? Make a diagram of the steps necessary for a bill to become a law.

12. What are ALL the requirements to be a Representative? A Senator?

Part 4: The Executive Branch

1. What's the main function of the executive branch?

2. What are ALL the powers of the president?

3. What's an executive order?

4. Name ALL the roles of the president.

5. What checks do the other branches have on the executive branch?

6. What are the 3 requirements to be president?

7. Describe the role of the Electoral College in electing the president.

8. What's the impeachment process? What does the HOR do? The Senate?

9. What is the structure of the executive branch?

Part 5: The Judicial Branch

1. How is the Supreme Court structured?

2. What is judicial review? What court case established it?

3. In what kinds of cases does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?

4. Describe the review process of the Supreme Court.

5. What checks do the other branches have on the judicial branch?

6. Describe the structure of the Federal Courts.

7. What's the function of the U.S. District Courts? U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal?

8. What is a writ of certiorari?

9. What is the purpose of trial courts?

10. What is the purpose of appellate courts?

11. Why are juries an important part of trials?