Student of AP American Government & Politics:

Greetings and salutations! Here it is! The summer assignment! Now, I realize that it’s the summer and you probably don’t want to read anything, but this assignment will be both enjoyable and enlightening. This is a fairly comprehensive assignment, so don’t wait to do it the last week of summer…pace yourself and work on it over the summer. I look forward to meeting all of you and learning about our governmental system in the fall. Until then, have a great summer and be safe!

Assignment:

First and foremost, you will find this assignment in the MAIN OFFICE at the HIGH SCHOOL. I have placed it on the front counter in a series of colored folders. Please make your way into school, and sign out a copy. I would like you to write your e-mail address on the sign out sheet so that I may be able to contact you if needed. If you have already encountered the packet that you picked up from the school then you knoe that there are a series of essays that you are to read and critique.

You are to read the following essays in the packet:

 

 

1. Alexis De Tocqueville: excerpt from "Democracy in America"

2. James Bryce: from "The American Commonwealth"

3. Louis Hartz: from "The Liberal Tradition in America"

4. Robert Putnam: from "Bowling Alone"

5. Everett Carl Ladd: from "The Ladd Report"

6. Cornel West: from "Race Matters"

7. Michael Kammen: from "People of Paradox"

8. Robert Bellah and others: from "Habits of the Heart"

9. Alexander Hamilton, "Federalist Paper # 15"

10. James Madison, "Federalist Paper # 51"

11. Richard Hofstadter, "The American Political Tradition"

12. James Madison, "Federalist Paper #10"

13. Carl Tubbesing, "Federalism's Ups and Downs"

I. You are to read each selection. Once you have done that, I strongly suggest that you then summarize the main point(s) of each selection, or at the very least, write yourself some notes for each selection. I will not be collecting your summaries, these are for your use. When we come into class the first week, we will discuss the ideas of these articles, including how each relates to our world today. For discussion purposes, please keep in mind the primary point of the author; any examples that the author may give to support his thesis; any relevance to our society today; your personal thoughts and opinions regarding these essays.

After we have thoroughly discussed the articles, I very well might have you write an essay (hint hint) that hopefully will incorporate the very ideas from the first chapter or two, along with the selected essays from the summer. This assignment could very well end up looking something like this:

B. In a 4-6 essay, you are to expain:

1. How the Framers of the Constitution envisioned how our government would run and be operated.

2. What relationship American citizens have had with their government and society in general. This is a very broad topic; for there have been many different eras in American history and many different groups of people who have either supported or opposed actions and policies by the federal government. I would suggest that you pick eras, events, and individuals that support your thesis regarding the relationship between the American people and the government.

3. A brief summary of how the relationship between citizen and government has changed over the past 230 years, with respect to the readings.

4. In your conclusion, I would like your opinion on these changes, whether they be for the better or worse. Again, this is a very broad topic, so pick your examples carefully so that each will support your position.

Aside from the reading (and later the essay assignment), I also encourage you to become better informed on the state of affairs with our government and the political process. The appointment of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, the current debate over Finance Reform, the oil spill in the Gulf Coast... these are but a few events that are occuring this summer that will invariably come up in discussion and in the process of our class in the fall. I strongly encourage you to stay informed as to what is going on the in the state of affairs and the world in general.

Again, I apologize for any inconveniences with the summer assignment. If you still are unsure what to do, please e-mail me at either of my addresses. I will try to answer your questions as quickly as possible. Until we meet for the first time on September 8th, enjoy the remainder of your summer break! Mr. Feicht