AP U.S. Government and Politics

Learning Activities for Chapter Thirteen

Required Reading: Edwards, et al, Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy, 11th Edition (PearsonLongman publishers), Chapter 13: The President, pages 390-433.

  1. Lesson: The Nature of a President
  2. Open up this URL in your Web browser: Read over the outline of topics covered in this lesson, then click on the Start Lesson button at the bottom of the page.
  3. Listen to and view the presentation regarding Qualifications and Qualities (see the navigation bar at the top of the page), then read over the text that has been prepared for you.
  4. Click on the hyperlink to the “James MacGregor Burns” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Biography” and read the short biographical sketch of this important political scientist and historian.
  5. Listen to and view the presentation regarding Rules and Contingencies (see the navigation bar at the top of the page), then read over the text that has been prepared for you.
  6. Click on hyperlink to the “Twentieth Century Succession” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Timeline” to learn more about presidential successions during the 20th Century.
  7. Click on the hyperlink to the “Changing the Order of Succession” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Transcript” and read this short selection from President Truman’s speech in 1945. Answer the multiple choice question regarding succession to the presidency.
  8. Use the “roll-over”cursor function in the Glossary section to check your understanding of the terms used in this lesson.
  1. Lesson: Presidential Roles
  2. Open up this URL in your Web browser: . Read over the outline of topics covered in this lesson, then click on the Start Lesson button at the bottom of the page.
  3. Listen to and view the presentation regarding Express Roles (see the navigation bar at the top of the page), then read over the text that has been prepared for you.
  4. Click on the hyperlink to the “Truman and Reagan” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Chart” to learn about foreign policy and domestic policy during these two presidents. Answer the multiple choice question regarding these two presidents.
  5. Listen to and view the presentation regarding Traditional Roles and Special Powers (see the navigation bar at the top of the page), then read over the text that has been prepared for you.
  6. Click on the hyperlink to the “1948 Election” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Gallery,” and look over the photos and text describing this extremely close presidential election.
  7. Click on the hyperlink to the “Presidential Powers: Line Item Veto” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Text,” and read over this excerpt from the Supreme Court case Clinton v. New York City. Answer the multiple choice question regarding the Court’s ruling in this important case about presidential powers.
  8. Use the “roll-over” cursor function in the Glossary section to check your understanding of the terms used in this lesson.
  1. Lesson: The White House
  2. Open up this URL in your Web browser: . Read over the outline of topics covered in this lesson, then click on the Start Lesson button at the bottom of the page.
  3. Listen to and view the presentation regarding Executive Offices and Staff (see the navigation bar at the top of the page), then read over the text that has been prepared for you.
  4. Click on the hyperlink to the “Notable Chiefs of Staff” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Gallery,” and look over the short biographies of four well-known presidential chiefs of staff from earlier presidencies.
  5. Click on the hyperlink to the “Sherman Adams” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Biography,” and read over this short biographical sketch of one presidential chief of staff whose term in office ended with a scandal.
  6. Listen to and view the presentation regarding Presidential Management Models (see the navigation bar at the top of the page), then read over the text that has been prepared for you.
  7. Click on the hyperlink to the “Managing the White House” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Chart,” and view the principal offices within the White House. Answer the multiple choice question regarding presidents’ choices of models of managing the White House.
  8. Click on the hyperlink to the “Presidential Power” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, and decide for yourself about the impact of increasing presidential powers over the course of American history.
  9. Use the “roll-over” cursor function in the Glossary section to check your understanding of the terms used in this lesson.
  1. Lesson: Presidential Politics, Polls and the Press
  2. Open up this URL in your Web browser: . Read over the outline of topics covered in this lesson, then click on the Start Lesson button at the bottom of the page.
  3. Listen to and view the presentation regarding Approval Ratings and Public Perception (see the navigation bar at the top of the page), then read over the text that has been prepared for you.
  4. Click on the hyperlink to the “Presidential Approval” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Chart,” and click on each white box at the top of the chart to examine presidential approval ratings during times of war and economic crisis. Answer the multiple choice question regarding presidents’ approval ratings by the public.
  5. Click on the hyperlink to the “Trust in Government” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Chart,” and look over the public’s response to a poll about trusting the government. Answer the multiple choice question regarding public trust in government, according to the chart.
  6. Listen to and view the presentation regarding Polls and Polling (see the navigation bar at the top of the page), then read over the text that has been prepared for you.
  7. Click on the hyperlink to the “Dick Morris” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Biography” and read over this biographical sketch of one of American politics’ more infamous self-promoting political pollsters-turned-right-wing-pundits (see Faux News on cable TV for more details on his recent activities).
  8. Click on the hyperlink to the “Milestones in Polling” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Timeline,” and use the roll-over cursor function to learn more about major happenings in public opinion polling. Answer the multiple choice question regarding public opinion polling.
  9. Listen to and view the presentation regarding Media and Press Coverage (see the navigation bar at the top of the page), then read over the text that has been prepared for you.
  10. Click on the hyperlink to the “Corporations that Control U.S. Media” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Chart,” and check out what has happened to the number of corporations that control almost all media in the U.S., over the years. Answer the multiple choice question regarding the information in the chart.
  11. Click on the hyperlink to the “Political News Viewing Trends” short presentation in the Explore section at the right. Read the introductory paragraph, click on “View Chart,” and learn more about political interest by age group. Answer the multiple choice question regarding the differences in interest in political news over the years, among two different age groups.
  12. Use the “roll-over” cursor function in the Glossary section to check your understanding of the terms used in this lesson.
  1. Test your knowledge
  2. Open up this URL in your Web browser:
  3. Test your knowledge of the content in this chapter of the text by taking the Multiple-Choice Quiz (click the hyperlink on the navigation bar at the left). When you complete the quiz, click on Submit Answers for Grading, complete the Email Your Results box at the bottom of the page and include your instructor’s address – – and click on E-Mail Results. Each correct answer is worth one point towards your semester grade.
  4. Review the vocabulary terms online by clicking on the Flashcards link on the navigation bar on the left at the Web page, above. Click on the link called Click here to view the Flash Cards. Choose the box in StepOne for this chapter in the Government in America textbook. For Step Two, click on the radio button to view the cards by definition. Click on Go at Step Three, and build your deck of flash cards. Use these electronic flash cards to review the terms and their definitions for the Vocabulary Test in class.
  1. Take the practice tests
  2. Open up this URL in your Web browser: .
  3. Test your knowledge of the vocabulary terms and content in this chapter of the text by taking the practice tests online; taking them repeatedly until you achieve a perfect score will serve you well, later, on the real tests in class. Ask your instructor for the username and password if you have forgotten them.

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