Presidential Powers

Day 1:
Opening question: What Article of the Constitution gives the President the power?

If you have Google Classroom, you can assess these questions as they come in and give feedback. If not have the student share out information after about 3 or 4 minutes

U.S. Constitution Article 2, Section 3 “he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed”

Using the notes review and explore the Powers and Roles of the President

Great time to introduce a wide range of topics on Presidential power and the office of the President

1)The president’s main job is to execute the laws passed by Congress

2) The other Constitutional Powers are: −Veto Bill −Call Congress into special session −Commander and Chief of the armed forces −Make treaties −Appoint Judges, ambassadors, and officials −Power of the pardon

3) Chief Executive, Commander Chief, Chief Diplomat, Legislative Leaders, Head of state, Party Leader


Questions for discussion

Does the President have a lot of power?

How are these Roles reflective of the powers the President has?

Is the power unlimited?

Why is there a limit on power?

Does the amount of power of a President change?

Do different Presidents have different levels of power?

Extra Activities

Here is a Copy of the text and Eisenhower speaking before the American people and why he is enforcing the decision to desegregate the Little Rock High School. I might use these to get the kids thinking about Presidential power and he explains why they are doing it and that his goal is to simply enforce the laws that have been enacted.

Video: Eisenhower address Nation about school desegregation 


Also addition reading on Executive Orders if students are struggling with the idea

Executive Order information

Day 2:

Opening question: Which power do you think is the most powerful?

If you have Google Classroom, you can assess these questions as they come in and give feedback. If not have the student share out information after about 3 or 4 minutes

Divide the class into three groups (5 or 6 people per group)

I would print these documents out for the kids
But if you feel having them with digital copies here you go. have the students read one of the below documents

FDR speech to Congress

Key points for the students to get
President has to ask for Declaration of war. While he is the Commander and Chief, he can’t just bomb who he wants.


Truman Executive Order 9981

Key point for students to get
African American rights and their roles in society were not changing. Life was bad, the President had limited means to effect change. The President attempting to make one effect change and create a positive force in the USA used the power of Executive Order (Chief Executive) and is Power as Commander in Chief of the Military to desegregate the Armed forces Congress was not passing laws to effect change and the American people seemed stuck on what to do.


Emaciation Proclamation
Key Point for students to get
The US was in a state of rebellion, the South has succeeded from the Union and to press the attack and end the rebellion used his powers as Commander in Chief to free the slaves in the Rebellious South. Lincoln felt he lacked the power to free all the slaves, but he did have the power to end slavery where there was rebellion by using an Executive Order. This is key in Lincoln pushing for the 13th Amendment to end slavey when the war ended, cause he power to keep slavery out of the Union might end with the ending of the Conflict.


A) They are to answer these three questions ( Give them about 15 minutes to read and answer the questions below. And about 10 minutes to talk with the group about the questions) Have them turn this in either as a physical paper or on google classroom.

What did your document do?
Why did the President do it this way? (Use the internet to explore this subject)
Which Power/Role was the President doing with each document?

Sharing time: As a teacher ask these two questions (10 minutes)

What did each document do? If information need to be fixed or cleaned up this your opportunity

Why was it done this way? If information need to be fixed or cleaned up this your opportunity

B) After sharing out and answering the above questions, their job is to use the internet (10 minutes). When they have found a good example and primary source, they need to share the link with you. Along with the two questions from below.

Your mission now is to find another Example of the President using his Presidential Power/Role? It must be a Primary Source and it must show the President using another Power/Role of the President.

Briefly explain what the President was doing in the document?

C) Teacher starts a list on the board of the Presidential Roles (Chief Executive, Commander Chief, Chief Diplomat, Legislative Leaders, Head of state, Party Leader)
As students share out place the idea/Name/Action or order below the Role on the board to help students organize where it goes.

Day 3
 

Opening Question: Does the President have a lot of power? How do we know?

If you have Google Classroom, you can assess these questions as they come in and give feedback. If not have the student share out information after about 3 or 4 minutes

Final day and assessment.

Push out the below link and have the students pick at least 3 different Presidents to watch the section (sheet, copy at the end of the lesson plan) The President History Channel TV Series (Playlist)

The students will have a complete list the Presidents to watch, they are to pick three segments to watch and create a list the President using their power and the role that they are using.

I like to use this video, but you could use any of the episodes of the History Channel’s video series “The Presidents”


Of the Presidents you watched using Presidential power/role, which of Power/Role would you think would have the most effect on American and its society? (No more than page)

Pick one Power/Role (Bold it)

Of the examples you’ve listed made use at least two examples of Presidential powers to include in your response (underline those facts)

Use outsided knowledge (at least 4 facts) of American Society as a whole and support your statement that it affected American society (italicize outside knowledge)