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=Welcome to AP Government!=


 * SUPREME COURT JUSTICE OPINIONS:**
 * Write 2 opinions which discuss:**
 * - the facts of the case**
 * - the Court's decision**
 * - the reasons for making that decision (refer to laws, the Constitution, and past Supreme Court decisions)**
 * [|Example: Supreme Court opinion(pdf)]**

__**You will have a FINAL EXAM on all of the branches of government on January 24.**__ Over winter break, you must:
 * 1) Get an AP Study Guide book (from the library or the bookstore) (100 points)**
 * 2) Choose a branch of government, read the corresponding chapter in your review book, and create a 10-minute visual presentation about it. (100 points)**
 * 2) Create a 20-minute review game (100 points)**

You should be ready to present on January 11, and the order in which you present will be random.
 * Congress || 1. Marco

2. Beatriz & Norma

3. Arlene & Baby ||
 * The Presidency || 1. Amor

2. Eduardo

3. Gemenis

4. Johny ||
 * The Bureaucracy || 1. Jasmine & Evelin

2.Brenda & Luis

3. Eswien ||
 * The Judicial Branch || 1. Ramon & Karen

2. Paola & Kevin

3. Nancy & Allyson ||

__What to include in your brief (Typed, 2-3 pages of actual writing):__
3) **State the facts** relevant to the brief. Facts should not be misrepresented, but can be presented in a way that is favorable to your argument. 4) **Make your argument.** This is the part of the brief where you present your case. Analyze why the law supports the relief you are requesting. Apply the law to your set of facts and cite to cases that support your position. 5) **Acknowledge the counter-argument.** It won't help your case to ignore any valid arguments that can be made by the other side. Address these arguments and explain to the court why your case is different. 6) **Conclude your brief.** Tell the court what relief you are seeking and ask for that relief.
 * 1) Title Page:** Include case number, title of the court, the name of the case, "Brief of Petitioner or Respondent", the names of the attorneys on your case. (This does NOT count as one of your typed 2-3 pages)
 * 2) The question** that the court must decide (on one page, does NOT count towards your 2-3 pages)


 * Sample Brief:** [|10-1542_petitioner.authcheckdam-1.pdf]

Extra Credit Winter Break Homework
Read //The Appeal//, by John Grisham. Check it out from the library, buy it, download it... whatever works for you! 1) Keep a double-entry journal of 10 quotes from the book that stand out to you, followed by your response. //that stands out to you."// || A response that is the length of a short paragraph, analyzing its significance and relevance to our class, our country, and our lives. || 2) Write a 2-3 page (typed, double-spaced) essay, relating the themes in the book to the material you have learned in this class. Use specific examples and quotes from the book.
 * **Quote** || **Response** ||
 * "//This would be a quote from the book//

//Politics has always been a dirty game.// //Now justice is, too.//

In a crowded courtroom in Mississippi, a jury returns a shocking verdict against a chemical company accused of dumping toxic waste into a small town’s water supply, causing the worst “cancer cluster” in history. The company appeals to the Mississippi Supreme Court, whose nine justices will one day either approve the verdict or reverse it.

Who are the nine? How will they vote? Can one be replaced before the case is ultimately decided?

The chemical company is owned by a Wall Street predator named Carl Trudeau, and Mr. Trudeau is convinced the Court is not friendly enough. With judicial elections looming, he decides to try to purchase himself a seat on the Court. The cost is a few million dollars, a drop in the bucket for a billionaire like Mr. Trudeau. Through an intricate web of conspiracy and deceit, his political operatives recruit a young, unsuspecting candidate. They finance him, manipulate him, market him, and mold him into a potential Supreme Court justice. //Their// Supreme Court justice.

//**The Appeal**// is a powerful, timely, and shocking story of political and legal intrigue, a story that will leave readers unable to think about our electoral process or judicial system in quite the same way ever again.

Check this page for access to course documents and homework assignments! You will also be able to post helpful links and resources to this site!

[|Presidency Review] [|Congress Review]
 * President & Congress Review **

__ Monday, November 7, 2011 __ 1) TYPE up your Letter to your Congressmember, making sure it is in business letter format. 2) Research 2 House committees and 2 Senate committees. 3) Study for your test by reading the .PDF file summarizing the chapter, and condensing it into **one handwritten page**, **front and back!**
 * Homework: **
 * 1) For each committee, write a paragraph (IN YOUR OWN WORDS), explaining **what type of committee it is** (joint, select, standing, conference) and **what it currently does**.


 * Congress Chapter Summary**

[|APG-Ch.11SuppReadCongresspdf.pdf]


 * Business Letter Format**

[|businessletterformat.pdf]

The address for your Councilmember is:


 * 200 N. Spring Street, Rm**


 * Los Angeles, CA 90012**

Tom La Bonge: Room 480

Jan Perry: Room 420

Herb Wesson: Room 430

Eric Garcetti: Room 475

Ed Reyes: Room 410

__ Wednesday, November 9, 2011 __ 1) STUDY for your test by completing the review packet I give you.
 * Homework: **


 * Study Guide for Congress Test: Complete by the day of the exam!!**

[|APStudyGuideChapter11BurnsPDF.pdf]

2) Make sure that you and your study group hold a **study session** for the week! 3) Post your **blog entry** for the week!

__ Monday, November 14, 2011 __
 * CONGRESS TEST!!! **
 * You should have read the entire chapter and become an EXPERT on Congress! Remember, this section accounts for almost HALF of the AP Exam, so know it well!! **