AP Exam: Monday, May 11th @3:00pm AP Exam 2020 Testing Guide:Details all the changes and how online testing at home will work. You need to go over this and be familiar with what exam day will look like, including you AP ID, how to upload your response, etc. Review material resources--Remember that this test is only over units 1-3 and will consist of just 2 FRQ questions. (Concept Application and Argumentative Essay) McGraw Hill is allowing their study guide, 5 Steps to a 5 free of charge due to the unique situation. To access their material please follow these directions:
This year's AP exam is only covering units 1-3. Today's post contains review material (study guides, slides, videos, etc) to help prepare for information on unit 1 Constitutional Foundations. If you are taking the AP exam, I would begin by using the first study guide and filling out what you can on your own. Then watch the video and go through the slideshow to help fill in the gaps. Also, use our blog archive on the right hand side to revisit past relevant posts.
AP Exam: Monday, May 11th @3:00pm AP Exam 2020 Testing Guide:Details all the changes and how online testing at home will work. You need to go over this and be familiar with what exam day will look like, including you AP ID, how to upload your response, etc. Review material resources--Remember that this test is only over units 1-3 and will consist of just 2 FRQ questions. (Concept Application and Argumentative Essay) McGraw Hill is allowing their study guide, 5 Steps to a 5 free of charge due to the unique situation. To access their material please follow these directions:
The Concept Application FRQ Today we are going to look at how to write an effective Concept Application FRQ and maximize your points on this question. You will have 15 minutes to answer the questions and 5 minutes to upload your response. The Concept Application FRQ will provide you with a scenario and three prompts to answer. It is worth 3 points and will count this year as 40% of your overall score (the Argumentative Essay is 60%). Here is a general rubric, followed by a sample question and rubric.
Sample Question:
Rubric for Sample Question
This slide presentation also covers the Concept Application FRQ, but I would recommend watching the YouTube video with narration/explanation posted in the video section (2nd one).
Watch these videos to see how to best approach and answer the Concept Application FRQ. Remember, this test is only over Units 1-3, so focus on those units, specifically Unit 2 (Interactions among the Branches).
Just watch the first 7 minutes of the video below for the concept application FRQ.
Today's Essential Question: How has the Supreme Court interpreted the Constitution in policy areas like affirmative action?
Learning Standards:
CON-6.A.2: The debate on affirmative action includes justices who insist that the Constitution is colorblind and those who maintain that it forbids only racial classifications designed to harm minorities, not help them.
Affirmative Action
Beginning in the 1960s, the government promoted the use of affirmative action as an way to promote and improve opportunities for disadvantaged and underrepresented minority groups, primarily in the workplace and education.
This Khan Academy video will help explain how affirmative action works and the constitutional debate over its role in promoting equality.
The first major case on affirmative action is University of California Regents v. Bakke (1978). Here's a Bill of Rights Institute video summarizing this case:
A more recent case is Grutter v. Bollinger (2003) that revisits the issue of affirmative action.
Let's take a look at several different perspectives on affirmative action in this article by The Atlantic. Read each of the seven opinions and decide which one you agree with the most.
Today's Essential Question: How did non-violent protests affect the civil rights movement?
Learning Standards:
PRD-1.A.2: The leadership and events associated with civil, women’s, and LGBTQ rights are evidence of how the equal protection clause can support and motivate social movements, as represented by:
Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and the civil rights movement of the 1960s
The National Organization for Women and the women’s rights movement
The pro-life (anti-abortion) movement
Letter from Birmingham Jail
One of the most notable documents of the 20th century is Dr. Martin Luther King's Letter from Birmingham Jail, a response to criticisms from local clergymen.
Read the initial letter (linked above) addressed to Dr. King. What is their concern/criticism? Do you think it is a valid criticism?
Read Letter from Birmingham Jail. Make a copy for yourself and annotate as you read. Select three quotes that you think are most significant and highlight them. Also, be prepared to discuss the questions listed below:
1. Briefly, what is the argument of the "Statement by Alabama Clergymen"? 2. What reasons does King provide for his decision to support direct action or demonstrations against segregation in Alabama? 3. What are justice and injustice according to King? 4. What kinds of law does King speak about in this letter, and what is their applicability in terms of political life? 5. What kind of moderation is King criticizing, and what kind of extremism is he praising? 6. According to King, what is the role of the church and organized religion in contemporary society? 7. What did King mean when he wrote, "But now I must affirm that it is just as wrong, or perhaps even more so, to use moral means to preserve immoral ends"? 8. Is King's argument sound? Explain your answer.
AP Exam: Monday, May 11th @3:00pm Review material resources--Remember that this test is only over units 1-3 and will consist of just 2 FRQ questions. (Concept Application and Argumentative Essay) McGraw Hill is allowing their study guide, 5 Steps to a 5 free of charge due to the unique situation. To access their material please follow these directions:
The Argumentative Essay FRQ Today we are going to look at how to write an effective Argumentative FRQ and maximize your points on this question. The rubric has slightly changed for the 2020 exam. Knowing how you will be scored on the essay is essential to writing an effective response. Take a few minutes and read through the revised FRQ4 rubrics released by the College Board.
Here are a few videos that explain how to write the Argumentative Essay FRQ. The first two are specific for the 2020 exam. Watch these! We will begin practicing writing these questions next week.
Today's Question: How has Congress impacted civil rights and the push for equality?
Learning Standards:
PMI-3.A: Explain how the government has responded to social movements.
PMI-3.A.1: The government can respond to social movements through court rulings and/or policies, as in:
Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which declared that race-based school segregation violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
CON-6.A: Explain how the Supreme Court has at times allowed the restriction of the civil rights of minority groups and at other times has protected those rights.
CON-6.A.1: Decisions demonstrating that minority rights have been restricted at times and protected at other times include:
State laws and Supreme Court holdings restricting African American access to the same restaurants, hotels, schools, etc., as the majority white population based on the “separate but equal” doctrine
Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which declared that race-based school segregation violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause
The Supreme Court upholding the rights of the majority in cases that limit and prohibit majority-minority districting
Civil Rights & Congress
In addition to finding remedy in the courts, civil rights legislation has also helped promote equality. Today, we will examine several of the more important acts and look at the impact they have had.
Perhaps the most significant piece of civil rights legislation passed by Congress is the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Read this CNN article on the 50th anniversary of the bill's passage.
Major Provisions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act:
1.Banned discrimination in places of public accommodation based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
2. Banned discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
3. Tied federal funding for public schools to compliance with Brown v. Board.
4. Created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to help investigate and file lawsuits based on discrimination.
5. Banned federal funds to any government assisted program that discriminates.
As important and comprehensive as the 1964 Civil Rights Act was, it did not go far enough to protect voting rights for African Americans. This was remedied a year later with passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Major Provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act:
1. Prohibits any form of literacy tests.
2. Allows federal examiners (government officials) to help with voter registration and monitor elections
3. A "pre-clearance" from the Justice Department on any changes that might discriminate against voters (weakened in Shelby County v. Holder, 2013)
Was the 1965 Voting Rights Act successful?
In Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court limited Section V of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
What impact did the 1964 CRA and 1965 VRA have on political parties?
Title IX of the Educational Act of 1972: prohibits any form of sexual discrimination or sexual harassment in education; most common controversy involves athletics and gender equity
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990: modeled after the 1964 CRA, the ADA prohibits discrimination based on mental or physical disabilities and promotes equality of opportunity. Criticized as an unfunded mandate and a source of excessive litigation.
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996: prohibits federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages performed at the state level; struck down in US v. Windsor, 2013.
Today's Question: How has the Supreme Court impacted civil rights and the push for equality?
Learning Standards:
PMI-3.A: Explain how the government has responded to social movements.
PMI-3.A.1: The government can respond to social movements through court rulings and/or policies, as in:
Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which declared that race-based school segregation violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
CON-6.A: Explain how the Supreme Court has at times allowed the restriction of the civil rights of minority groups and at other times has protected those rights.
CON-6.A.1: Decisions demonstrating that minority rights have been restricted at times and protected at other times include:
State laws and Supreme Court holdings restricting African American access to the same restaurants, hotels, schools, etc., as the majority white population based on the “separate but equal” doctrine
Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which declared that race-based school segregation violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause
The Supreme Court upholding the rights of the majority in cases that limit and prohibit majority-minority districting
Review:
What is the difference between civil liberties and civil rights?
What is incorporation? How does it work?
What is the difference between the Free Exercise Clause and the Establishment Clause? Provide an example of each.
What is meant by the "clear and present danger" doctrine?
What is the significance of Mapp v. Ohio?
What two court cases helped incorporate provisions of the 5th & 6th Amendments?
How does the right to privacy illustrate judicial activism?
Civil Rights and the Courts
The courts have played a vital role in the promotion of civil rights, especially in the latter 20th century and 21st century. Interest groups, like the NAACP, have successfully litigated in support of civil rights with landmark decisions like Brown v. Board of Education. The Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause ("no state shall deny to any person under its jurisdiction equal protection under the law") is most commonly used as the legal justification for these civil rights cases.
Today's Question: How does the government effectively balance the right to privacy with the need to maintain order?
Learning Standards:
LOR-3.B.5: While a right to privacy is not explicitly named in the Constitution, the Supreme Court has interpreted the due process clause to protect the right of privacy from state infringement. This interpretation of the due process clause has been the subject of controversy, such as has resulted from:
Roe v. Wade (1973), which extended the right of privacy to a woman’s decision to have an abortion while recognizing compelling state interests in potential life and maternal health
Right to Privacy
Does the right to privacy exist? What amendment guarantees your right to privacy?
There are several important cases related to the issue of privacy rights and individual liberties. One of the most important cases is Griswold v. Connecticut (1965). In this case, Estelle Griswold of Planned Parenthood was prosecuted for distributing birth control pills, prohibited by Connecticut law, even to married couples. Click on the above link to read about the case. What is meant by penumbra?
Griswold is considered a landmark decision by establishing a right to privacy. This serves as a springboard to other privacy cases, most notably the case Roe v. Wade(1973) and other court decisions involving abortion rights and attempts to limit and regulate abortions. Read this summary of Roe v. Wade. Why is Roe v. Wade so significant? What did it specifically do?
Roe v. Wade was just the beginning of legal challenges concerning abortion. Since 1973, states have repeatedly passed legislation to limit abortions. The Court has maintained the right to an abortion, but has gradually upheld state and federal restrictions during the last forty years. Some of the restrictions include:
Today's Essential Question: Does the death penalty violate the 8th Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment?
Learning Standards:
LOR-2.D: Explain how the Supreme Court has attempted to balance claims of individual freedom with laws and enforcement procedures that promote public order and safety.
LOR-2.D.1: Court decisions defining cruel and unusual punishment involve interpretation of the Eighth Amendment and its application to state death penalty statutes over time.
Eighth Amendment
Two main provisions:
No cruel & unusual punishment
No excessive fines or bail
Most relevant issues involve use of the death penalty.
Furman v. Georgia, 1972: Death penalty was being unfairly applied (too random/arbitrary); puts a temporary moratorium on it
Review your civil liberties: Play the game Do I Have a Rightby iCivics. Pretend to be a lawyer and build up your law firm helping people with their complaints. Review Videos:
