AP GOV Summer Assignment 2025

1st amendment

Free speech, press, petition, exercise of religion

2nd amendment

Right to bear arms

3rd amendment

No quartering of soldiers

4th

No unreasonable searches and seizures

5th

Cannot be forced to incriminate yourself/no double jeopardy/eminent domain

6th

Right to a lawyer/fair trial/speedy trial/right to confront witnesses against you

7th

Citizens have the right to a jury trial in federal non-criminal cases

8th

No cruel and unusual punishment/unreasonable bail

9th

Just because it is not mentioned in the constitution does not mean we don’t have that right

10th

All powers not given to the national government go to the states

11th

Citizens cannot sue a state in federal court without the states permission

12th

Separate electoral college ballots for president and vice president

13th

Abolished slavery

14th

Reiterated citizenship for freed slaves/Privileges and immunities clause/Due process clause/Equal protection clause

15th

All males could vote

16th

Congress can levy an income tax

17th

Senators now, elected by the people of the state not legislators

18th

Prohibition of alcohol

19th

Women’s suffrage

20th

Moved up the time national office holders take office/If something happens to the president, the VP takes over

21st

Repealed prohibition

22nd

Limited the president’s term to two four year terms

23rd

Gave DC three electoral votes

24th

Abolished poll taxes

25th

Procedures for if the president becomes unfit for duty

26th

18-year-olds can vote

27th

Congress cannot increase the pay in the same term

Legislative Branch Checks the Executive Branch

• Overrides a presidential veto with 2/3 vote in each house of Congress

• Oversight hearings

• Can reduce or increase the budget proposed by the president

• House of Representatives can impeach the president

• Senate is the jury for the impeachment trial and convicts or acquits the president

• Senate ratifies treaties by 2/3 majority

• Senate approves presidential appointments by simple majority vote

Legislative Branch Checks the Judicial Branch

• Can change the number and jurisdiction of federal courts

• Sets lower Federal court jurisdiction

• Can change the number of justices on the Supreme Court

• Senate approves federal judge appointees

• House of Representatives can impeach a federal judge

• Senate is the jury for the impeachment trial and convicts or acquits a federal judge

• Can initiate a constitutional amendment

Executive Branch Checks the Legislative Branch

• Can veto a bill

• President can decide not to enforce the law

• Executive orders

• Executive agreement agreements

• Bully pulpit

• Can convene Congress

Executive Branch Checks the Judicial Branch

• Appoints federal judges

• Can choose not to enforce a court decision

• Pardon power

Judicial Branch Checks the Legislative Branch

• Judicial review

Judicial Branch Checks the Executive Branch

• Judicial review

Bureaucratic discretion

The power given to agencies by Congress to implement laws using their expert judgment

Bureaucratic rule making

The process by which agencies create the regulations necessary to carry out the laws that Congress makes. These regulations have the same effect as laws.

Executive Branch Checks on the Bureaucracy

• Appoint and remove agency heads

• Re-organize the bureaucracy (with congressional approval)

• Change an agency’s budget

• Adjust policies that would alter the bureaucracy’s activities

• Issue executive orders

Legislative Branch Checks on the Bureaucracy

• Pass legislation that alters the bureaucracy’s activities

• Abolish existing programs

• Reduce funding to bureaucracy

• Congressional oversight (hearings requiring bureaucrats to testify)

• Senate approves bureaucrat appointments

Judicial Branch Checks on the Bureaucracy

• Judicial review

What is the margin required to override a presidential veto?

2/3 majority in the house and 2/3 majority in the Senate

What is the margin required to ratify a treaty?

2/3 majority in the Senate

What is the margin required to impeach a president?

A simple majority (half plus one) in the House

What is the margin required to convict a president that has been impeached?

2/3 majority in the Senate

What is the margin required to elevate a president’s nominee to a seat on a federal court?

A simple majority

What is the margin required to elect the president?

A simple majority (270 Electoral votes)

What is the margin required to pass a law?

A simple majority in both houses of Congress

What is the margin required to propose an amendment in both houses of Congress if state legislators request a convention?

2/3 majority in both houses of Congress

What is the marginal part to ratify an amendment?

¾ of states