The document provides an overview of presidential powers in the United States according to the Constitution and how those powers have evolved over time. It discusses both the formal powers granted to the president by the Constitution as well as informal powers acquired through practice and tradition. Several examples are given of ways Congress has attempted to limit presidential power through legislation like the War Powers Act. Students are prompted to consider different perspectives on issues like the line item veto, executive privilege, and impeachment.
1. Good Day! DRAW A LINE SEPARATING TODAY & YESTERDAY 1) Write: Date: 11/23/09 , Topic: President Intro 2) On the next line, write “ Opener #47 ” and then: 1) Plot your mood, reflect in 1 sent . 2) Respond to the opener by writing at least 2 sentences about : Your opinions/thoughts OR/AND Questions sparked by the clip OR/AND Summary of the clip OR/AND Other things going on in the news. Announcements: None Intro Music: Untitled
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3. Work #47a , Title “ Opener Shareout ” Pick 1 thing from your opener to share with your partner. 1) Each of you sign your name in your partner’s workbook under 1) to verified you’ve shared.
4. Agenda 1) Wrap Up Congress Sim 2) President Intro What you will be able to do: 1) So what does the president do? Reminder 1) No HW or test this week, best wishes on your college apps!
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6. Review 1) Legislative Branch : Research laws, creates laws, and investigates if laws are being carried out by the executive branch 2) Executive Branch : President overseas the bureaucracy in executing the laws of Congress 3) Judicial Branch : Interprets the constitutional and laws for the country when people disagree to their interpretation.
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8. Work #47b , Title “ Role of Pres ” 1) Read the 2 sides, choose 1 side, and write which you choose and explain why . 2) Then write down what your partner thinks ( include their name at the end ). 1- Early America Founders View of the President President’s ONLY has the powers specifically given to it by the Constitution. Framers meant for Congress, not the President to be #1. 5- Modern Citizen View of the President President’s job is take care of the country. That will require him or her to do ANYTHING , that isn’t specifically denied. Govt needs a single direction and leadership, president provides that. Choose a side, and write an argument for it.
9. Notes #47a , Title: “ President Notes ” 1) Daily Presidential Duties a) Head of State: Speaks for US to other nations (executive agreements + treaties) b) Commander in Chief: Directly leads military c) Chief Executive: Leads bureaucracy (appoint, EO) d) Chief Legislator: “Guides” Congress (veto, SoU) e) Economic Planner: Writes 1 st budget plan (OMB) f) Party Leader: Leads and grows their party (appoints party ppl + raises money) g) Nation’s Leader: Leads the American people
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12. 2) Ways President Influences Congress a) Appeal to Media/Voters: Media covers story, ppl listen to pres IF pres is popular b) Campaign For/Against Cong Rep: Pres is a powerful campaign tool c) Access to Pres/Parties: Going to the White House is fun d) Do It Without Congress’ Permission: i) Use signing statements to change meaning of laws ii) Use executive orders to order the bureaucracy to do what you want iii) Order military operations (60 days)
13. 3 ) Ways Congress Influences President a) Won’t Pass Laws Pres Wants: Pres then can’t keep his/her promises b) Investigations on Pres: Maj. Party in Cong calls hearings on Pres and his staff c) Impeachment: House : decides if impeached, Senate : decides if kicked out (possible to be impeached and stay in office, 2 have been impeached: Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton )
14. Work #47c , “ Impeachments ” 1) Read the 2 sides, choose 1 side, and write which you choose and explain why . 2) Then write down what your partner thinks ( include their name at the end ). 1 2 3 4 5 CON: Impeach Rarely 1) Impeach only for serious crimes, otherwise leaders will only do what’s popular 2) Elections are when we get rid of politicians PRO: Impeach Often 1) Pres as Commander in Chief, like CEOs, if they fail at work fire them 2) People get fired based on performance, so why let someone ruin 4 yrs?
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16. Work #47d , “ Clinton Impeachment ” 1) Read the 2 sides, choose 1 side, and write which you choose and explain why . 2) Then write down what your partner thinks ( include their name at the end ). 1 2 3 4 5 CON: Don’t Impeach 1) Clinton lied about a personal matter, not a govt matter 2) This issue should never have been asked under oath (private lawsuits should wait until he’s out of office) PRO: Impeach Clinton 1) Clinton lied under oath about the affair 2) If pres can lie about anything under oath, we can’t trust he pres, the law is the law
17. Notes #47b , Title: “ President Notes ” 4) Former Powers (except h) , all found in Art: 2 of Constitution), pres power limited to : a) “Take care…laws be faithfully executed ” b) Commander of military + military issues c) Pick top bureaucratic officials, judges , ambassadors d) Make treaties e) Control diplomatic recognition f) Grant pardons g) Give Cong. guidance in State of Unions h) Veto bills
18. Review 4) Former Powers (except h) , all found in Art: 2 of Constitution), pres power limited to : a) “Take care…laws be faithfully executed ” b) Commander of military + military issues c) Pick top bureaucratic officials, judges , ambassadors d) Make treaties e) Control diplomatic recognition f) Grant pardons g) Give Cong. guidance in State of Unions h) Veto bills
19. "I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States...”
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27. Notes #48a , Title: “ Presidential Powers Notes ” 1) Congress has passed laws giving pres (OMB) power to draft 1 st Federal Budget: Congress need not follow, Cong can + edit change budget bill.
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29. 2) Congress tried to give pres (1996): a) Line Item Veto: Right to veto parts of a bill (riders), Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional
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31. Work #48a , “ Line Item Veto Debate ” 1) Read the 2 sides, choose 1 side, and write which you choose and explain why . 2) Then write down what your partner thinks ( include their name at the end ). 1 2 3 4 5 CON: No line item veto 1) Gives pres too much power, Congress passed laws “as they are” for a reason 2) President doesn’t know local needs PRO: Add amendment to give pres power 1) Lets president cut waste (earmarks) to make gov more efficient 2) There is too much debt, someone needs to take charge
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36. Work #48b , “ Presidential Powers ” 1) Ask your partner which former power do they think is the pres most powerful. 2) Look over the budget chart with partner and propose % cuts + increases ( include their name ).
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38. Notes #48b , Title: “ Pres Powers Notes ” 3) Informal Powers ( Art 2: “Take care…laws be faithfully executed” ) a) Signing Statements: President gives his/her opinion on how the law he/she signed should be used b) Executive Orders: Commands executive branch (bureaucracy) to do/not to do something c) Impoundment : Will not spend money congress appropriates to something d) Executive Privilege: Belief Pres can refuse to give Congress or Courts info it thinks will impead Pres’ job in executing laws/security e) Executive Agreements: Promise president makes other nations
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42. Work #48c , “ Informal Powers ” Work with a partner, and write answers to these questions ( write their name at the end ): Congress passes a law that says “ 50 million dollars will be appropriated to reduce teenage pregnancy. ” You are the President: 1) As you sign this into law, write a signing statement giving your opinion of this law. 2) Give an executive order to the Dept of Education, some specific action (Exec. Orders are supposed always be connected to laws, but Pres often orders anything, wait for ppl to complain/sue if Pres has gone too far) 3) Impound the money, say how much of $50 million will you choose not to spend.
43. Notes #48c , Title: “ POTUS Notes ” 2) Laws by Congress to Limit President a) Impoundment Act: Congress demand Pres to spend money they wrote into law b) War Powers Act: Pres must tell Cong of military action in 48 hrs AND get permission if longer than 60 days
44. Work #48d , “ War Powers Act ” 1) Read the 2 sides, choose 1 side, and write which you choose and explain why . 2) Then write down what your partner thinks ( include their name at the end ). 1 2 3 4 5 CON: WPA is good 1) WPA keeps the president from becoming too powerful 2) If the Pres ever launched an unpopular war, this is 1 of many tools to stop the pres (other being Congress shuts down war funding) PRO: Get rid of the WPA 1) WPA limits Pres job to secure our country, it’s a unconstitutional limit of commander in chief 2) WPA doesn’t even work, if Pres starts war, realistically Congress can’t easily end the war
55. Work #48e , Title “ West Wing APA Notes ” 1) Copy: Sorkin, Aaron. (1999). Shibboleth. West Wing. Burbank, CA: Warner Bros. 2-X) From show, pick out quotes , ideas , or facts that will support your response to the essay prompt. At the very end , write the in text citation format: (Sorkin, 2009). Essay Topic: How does this episode of West Wing shape what you want your government to be like?
56. On a the Essay Paper ( Fill in ID , 20 Pts) Essay Topic: How does this episode of West Wing shape what you want your government to be like? I don’t want you to think about essay format or paragraph structure, just write. What must be included: 1) Use of show references (quotes/ideas) when they will support what you say. 2) You must use cite each reference, example: (Author, Pub Year). 3) Full APA Reference at the end (copy #1 from Work 8a) under References
57. On a the Essay Paper ( Fill in ID , 20 Pts) Essay Topic: How does this episode of West Wing shape what you want your government to be like? Example: Bartlett in the Pilot Episode reminds us that the role of government is to help people. Where it gets challenging is which people do we help? Do we help Cuban refugees who risked their life to come to America (Sorkin, 2009.)? Laws must be enforced, but we must be human in our actions as well. References Sorkin, Aaron. (1999). Shibboleth. West Wing. Burbank, CA: Warner Bros.
58. On a the Essay Paper ( Fill in ID , 20 Pts) Essay Topic: How does this episode of West Wing shape what you want your government to be like? Example: Bartlett in the Pilot Episode reminds us that the government acts inconsistently and often immaturely. Bartlett throws up representatives of citizen groups because his anger over an unrelated incident (Sorkin, 2009). A president needs to be able to make decisions free of personal feelings. References Sorkin, Aaron. (1999). Shibboleth. West Wing. Burbank, CA: Warner Bros.
59. Essay Topic: How does this episode of West Wing shape what you want your government to be like? What must be included: 1) Use of show references (quotes/ideas) when they will support what you say. 2) You must use cite each reference, example: (Author, Pub Year). 3) Full APA Reference at the end (copy #1 from Work 8a) under References
60. Work #49a , Title “ Video: Presidential Power ” 1) Copy Source Title: Annenberg 2…) Discuss questions on the board with a partner. Summarize your discussion ( include their name at the end ). Remember participation points are deducted if off task. 5 Reading/Film Qs Come From These Work Sections Time Bookmark: 00:00
61. Check-in ( 10 points ) 1) By Sunday night, fill out the check-in form on the class site. 2) If you don’t have internet, do it at the library or here after class.
62. Workbook Check (100 Points): Make Sure: 1) Name + Period written on cover AND side of notebook 2) Opener #s are highlighted 3) Plastic bag inside inside cover 4) Schedule/syllabus inside cover 5) Reference sheets inside cover Staple with the staples grappling in.
63. Homework: 1) No homework, have a wonderful holiday. 2) Reminder, Workbook Check 2 after break. Workbook Check: If your name is called, drop off your workbook with Mr. Chiang ( if requested, points lost if your workbook is not turned in )