A.P. U.S. Government and Politics

Assignment #2: September 17, 2007

"The Constitution"

1. Read: Read chapter two in American Government: Continuity and Change. Annotate your book, marking central ideas in each section, circling key words and definitions, and signifying ideas that you find interesting or controversial. Make one or two pages of study notes in a form useful to you for review.

*Write definitions and explanations of the terms listed on page 64. Be prepared for a quiz on the terms on Monday, September 24.

2. Additional Reading: Read Federalist 10 and The Declaration of Independence. Outline the points included in each of these documents and summarize the central issues and conclusions.

3. Wait--One More Thing!!! Download and print a copy of the Articles of Confederation. Read through and annotate the document, noting its possible strengths and weaknesses. Be prepared to discuss what makes it so very different from the Constitution and why some people, even today, might consider it a more acceptable and perhaps less dangerous system of government.