The lesson will explain how a President can issue Executive Orders, which have the binding force of law upon federal agencies, but do not require approval of the United States Congress. Executive Orders are subject to judicial review and interpretation. Furthermore, the lesson will evaluate the differences between integration and segregation. Students will evaluate one of ten executive orders that had consequential ramifications on American society by using a primary source document analysis sheet from the National Archives.
I want students to comprehend the effects of executive power and use critical thinking when analyzing sources.
The student will identify what is an Executive Order and assess the impact of Executive Orders on American society.
MO: 9-12.AH.6.GS.B Determine the lasting impact of this period on principles of government including separation of powers, executive orders, checks and balances, rule of law, judicial review, and limited government.
Ted Talk Video: Executive Orders
10 of the Most Consequential Executive Orders and Proclamations in Presidential History by David Roos.
Executive Orders 101: What are they and how do Presidents use them? by National Constitution Center Staff.
What Is The Difference Between Integration And Desegregation? by Paul Arnold.
Executive Order 8807 (Manhattan Project)
Executive Order 9066 (Mass Incarceration of Japanese Americans)
Executive Order 9981 (Desegregation of the U.S. Military)
Executive Order 10450 (LGBTQ Workers Barred From Government Jobs)
Executive Order 10730 (National Guard Deployed to Desegregate Public Schools)
Executive Order 10924 (Creation of the Peace Corps)
Executive Order 11246 (Affirmative Action in Government Contracting)
Proclamation 4311 (Pardon of Richard Nixon)
Executive Order 13228 (Creation of the Department of Homeland Security)
- Students will be download the following Google Slides presentation: “Executive Orders That Zoom or Zapped Democracy.” Students will then follow along with the teacher defining what an Executive Order is and the powers of the President in Article II of the United States Constitution.
- Students will view and analyze the Ted Talk Video: Executive Orders.
- Students will read and analyze one of the ten Executive Orders in 10 of the Most Consequential Executive Orders and Proclamations in Presidential History by David Roos. The teacher may have the students complete more than one Executive Order, work in groups, or print the Executive Orders out for students.
- Optional Extension: For students that may finish early, and you are studying Article II: The Executive Branch of the United States Constitution in class a great game to play with students from ICivics.org is Executive Command. The students get to see the inner workings of presidential decision-making and delegation to various executive bureaucracies.
- Students will download the Document Analysis sheet for a “Written Document” from the National Archives. Students will then choose (or the teacher can choose) which document(s) they will be analyzing by completing the analysis questions from the National Archives primary source sheet.
Students will complete the “Analyze a Written Document” primary source guide from the National Archives and be assessed from the following rubric for comprehension.