The major legislative powers that Congress has, and
examples of the ways that they have used them in the past
The major non-legislative powers of congress and
example of the ways that they have been used in the past
10/4
pp.#172-176
The major ways that the Constitution places Congress
and the President at odds with each other
The steps Presidents can take to rein in Congress and
the role Congress has in limiting the Emergency powers of the President
This
unit
focuses
on two major aspects of the AP exam: Constitutional
Underpinnings and Congress. Here are the big picture topics for
each that are critical to understand:
Constitutional
Underpinnings:
Philosophers: Locke, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau,
etc.
Background of the Constitution (Causes, Convention,
Ratification, Federalists, etc.)
Federalism (types, types of powers, etc.)
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Theories of Democracy
Congress:
Requirements for service, makeup of each house, etc.
Describe the ways in
which the ideas of enlightenment thinkers are closely connected to our
national government. How did these ideas, in combination with the
conditions of British colonial rule and the failures of the Articles of
Confederation, shape the creation of the U.S. Constitution?
Discuss the separation
of powers between the three branches of our federal government. Use
specific historical examples to illustrate how our system of checks and
balances functions. Be sure to discuss the importance of
federalism in its various forms.
Group B (you will answer this question, no choices
here...)
Describe the
organization of the United States congress. Be sure to include
requirements of service, leadership roles, the importance of committee
work, the reelection process, and the process required for a bill to
become a law.