The Executive Branch
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Learning Goal:
Students will understand the structure, function, and processes of the Executive branch of government, as well as its role in the lawmaking process at the federal level. 
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Benchmarks:
SS.7.C.3.3 Content Complexity: Level 2/Skills and Concepts Illustrate the structure and function (three branches of government established in Articles I, II, and III with corresponding powers) of government in the United States as established in the Constitution. SS.7.C.1.7 Content Complexity: Level 2/Skills and Concepts Describe how the Constitution limits the powers of government through separation of powers and checks and balances. SS.7.C.3.8 Content Complexity: Level 1: Recall and Reproduction Analyze the structure, functions, and processes of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. SS.7.C.3.9 Content Complexity: Level 1: Recall and Reproduction. Illustrate the law making process at the local, state, and federal levels. | ||
Preview: SNL Parody on Presidential Power
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1.What issue does the bill in the video deal with? 2.Which Presidential power is mentioned in the video? 3.What does the Presidential power in the video actually do? 4.Why might this particular Presidential power be controversial? (What does Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution say about who can make "laws about immigration?") |
Former President Barrack Obama made the Executive Order on immigration (parodied above) in November 2014. However, the issue was challenged and went unresolved for years.
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During the 2016 Presidential election, both candidates commented on the Supreme Court's decision to allow a lower Federal Court to overturn President Obama's Executive Order. (the court used "Judicial Review'...this is an example of Checks and Balances)
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CLICK HERE to read an article about Presidential Executive Orders and then pick one of the following tasks to complete:
1. Write a 2 paragraph response using evidence to address the following prompt: "What are your opinions on Executive Orders? In what instances should the President be able to use Executive Orders, if at all?"
2. Create a political cartoon that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on Executive Orders.
3. Create a pros and cons chart on the issue of the use of Presidential Executive Orders.
4. Create a poem/rap that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on the use of Presidential Executive Orders.
1. Write a 2 paragraph response using evidence to address the following prompt: "What are your opinions on Executive Orders? In what instances should the President be able to use Executive Orders, if at all?"
2. Create a political cartoon that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on Executive Orders.
3. Create a pros and cons chart on the issue of the use of Presidential Executive Orders.
4. Create a poem/rap that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on the use of Presidential Executive Orders.
Task 1: Executive Branch Structure
| The Structure of the Presidency |
Task 2: Executive Branch Powers/Functions
Congress passes the laws, but it's the executive branch departments that carry out these laws on a day-to-day basis. Your Senator does not deliver the mail; the United States Postal Service does! Your House member does not arrest someone for breaking a federal law; an FBI agent working for the Department of Justice does! Congress does not check your luggage at the airport; the Department of Homeland Security does!
All of the people who carry out these laws are part of the departments of the Executive branch. Remember, according to the Constitution, it’s the President’s job to see that laws get followed!
All of the people who carry out these laws are part of the departments of the Executive branch. Remember, according to the Constitution, it’s the President’s job to see that laws get followed!
Step 1
| The Powers of the Presidency |
Step 2 Directions:
In the left column below are news articles that are organized by topic. Click on the different stories to read about the topics for that number.
For numbers 1-8 below, figure out which presidential power or responsibility from the right column below matches up correctly with that number. Use evidence from at least ONE of the articles for that number to explain why the power matches.
For example, Number 1 features Articles 1 and 2. Both news articles pertain to the same topic/presidential power. Number 2 features Article 3, 4, and 5. They all pertain to the same presidential power, but will be different from the other news articles.
In the left column below are news articles that are organized by topic. Click on the different stories to read about the topics for that number.
For numbers 1-8 below, figure out which presidential power or responsibility from the right column below matches up correctly with that number. Use evidence from at least ONE of the articles for that number to explain why the power matches.
For example, Number 1 features Articles 1 and 2. Both news articles pertain to the same topic/presidential power. Number 2 features Article 3, 4, and 5. They all pertain to the same presidential power, but will be different from the other news articles.
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1. Article 1
Article 2 2. Article 3 Article 4 Article 5 3. Article 6 Article 7 Article 8 4. Article 9 Article 10 Article 11 5. Article 12 Article 13 Article 14 6. Article 15 Article 16 Article 17 7. Article 18 Article 19 8. Article 20
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8 Presidential Powers and Responsibilities below
A. Sign (approve) or veto (reject) bills from Congress B. Leader of the Armed Forces/Military C. Ask his advisers, who lead the departments of the executive branch, for their opinion on different issues D. Update Congress on how things are going in the country E. Can choose new Supreme Court justices, federal judges, ambassadors and appoint new cabinet members (with the Senate’s approval...this is Checks and Balances) F. Power to carry out (enforce/execute) the laws G. Can make treaties with other countries (with 2/3 of the Senate’s approval...this is Checks and Balances) H. Can pardon someone from a federal crime, which gets them out of jail or stops the death penalty...this CHECKS the power of the Judicial Branch. | ||
Task 3: Executive Command
Directions:
Click on the image to the left and play "Executive Command."
WRITE A PARAGRAPH SUMMARY OF THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. (and anything else you learned from the game)
Task 4: The President's Cabinet
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By now you should know that the President's cabinet is made of advisers who lead different departments of the Executive Branch. The President nominates these cabinet members and asks for their opinions on different issues.
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Step 1: Read through the file above titled "Executive Branch Departments" and write down your answers in full sentences in your writing folder.
Step 2: What other departments are found in the Executive Branch? There are 15 total. Pick THREE of the following departments in the Executive Branch and briefly summarize them: Housing and Urban Development Department Interior Department Labor Department State Department Veterans Affairs Department |
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Task 5: Pardon Me
STEP 1:
Watch the videos below, then explain the message of the political cartoon below.
Watch the videos below, then explain the message of the political cartoon below.
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STEP 2: Read through the articles below and then PICK ONE of the assessments below the articles to complete:
1. CLICK HERE to read about a current events issue when it comes to Presidential Pardons.
2. CLICK HERE to read about a historical example of a Presidential Pardon.
3. CLICK HERE to read about the perspective of a citizen pardoned by the President.
CHOOSE ONE ASSESSMENT BELOW:
1. Write a 2 paragraph response using evidence to address the following prompt: "What are your opinions about the Presidential Pardon power? Explain with evidence from the articles and prior knowledge."
2. Create a political cartoon that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on the Presidential Pardon power.
3. Create a pros and cons chart on the issue of the use of Presidential Pardons.
4. Create a poem/rap that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on the use of Presidential Pardons.
1. CLICK HERE to read about a current events issue when it comes to Presidential Pardons.
2. CLICK HERE to read about a historical example of a Presidential Pardon.
3. CLICK HERE to read about the perspective of a citizen pardoned by the President.
CHOOSE ONE ASSESSMENT BELOW:
1. Write a 2 paragraph response using evidence to address the following prompt: "What are your opinions about the Presidential Pardon power? Explain with evidence from the articles and prior knowledge."
2. Create a political cartoon that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on the Presidential Pardon power.
3. Create a pros and cons chart on the issue of the use of Presidential Pardons.
4. Create a poem/rap that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on the use of Presidential Pardons.
Task 6: Presidential Succession
Directions:
1. Read the attached article titled "Presidential Succession." CHOOSE ONE ASSESSMENT BELOW: 1. Write a 2 paragraph response using evidence to address the following prompt: "What is your opinion on the current laws of Presidential Succession? Cite at least 3 pieces of evidence from the article you read." 2. Create a political cartoon that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on the current laws of Presidential Succession. 3. Create a pros and cons chart on the current laws of Presidential Succession. 4. Create a poem/rap that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on the current laws of Presidential Succession. |
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