Executive Branch of the Federal Government
Essential Question: Why is the Executive Branch a difficult and messy branch of democracy that is not easy to appreciate?
Introduction and Vocabulary
Activity 1: Vocabulary
1. Categorize the above vocabulary on the Vocabulary Chart.
2. Video: Executive Branch Government Made Easy video, and add to your Vocabulary Chart
Activity 2:
1. Read the Graphic Novel - Executive Branch (Article 2) pages 53-64 on the United States Constitution.
2. Add to you "Vocabulary Chart". Identify how each of the vocabulary words are used in the Executive Branch.
3.. Use one of the puzzle making resources to make a puzzle to share with a classmate. Make questions up using information from your Vocabulary Chart.
Executive Powers/Executive privilege
Essential question: How is the Executive Branch a difficult and messy branch of democracy that is not easy to appreciate?
Characteristics of Executive power:
-Freedom to take action to meet goals with advisors negotiating deals.
-Seeks a balance independently of other branches of government to act quickly.
-Expanded powers since George Washington.
Vocabulary to Know: Executive power Executive privilege Executive agreements
Introduction and Vocabulary
Activity 1: Vocabulary
- Bureaucracy Chief Executive administration cabinet foreign policy
1. Categorize the above vocabulary on the Vocabulary Chart.
- Dictionary Resources: Lexipedia
2. Video: Executive Branch Government Made Easy video, and add to your Vocabulary Chart
Activity 2:
1. Read the Graphic Novel - Executive Branch (Article 2) pages 53-64 on the United States Constitution.
2. Add to you "Vocabulary Chart". Identify how each of the vocabulary words are used in the Executive Branch.
3.. Use one of the puzzle making resources to make a puzzle to share with a classmate. Make questions up using information from your Vocabulary Chart.
- Puzzle Making Resources: puzzlemaker.com
Executive Powers/Executive privilege
Essential question: How is the Executive Branch a difficult and messy branch of democracy that is not easy to appreciate?
Characteristics of Executive power:
-Freedom to take action to meet goals with advisors negotiating deals.
-Seeks a balance independently of other branches of government to act quickly.
-Expanded powers since George Washington.
Vocabulary to Know: Executive power Executive privilege Executive agreements
Activity 1
When is power too much power?
1. Intro Video: 1:12 Obama on Bush using executive privilege on U.S. Attorney incident.
2. Internet Quick Search: Which Presidents used "Executive Privilege"?
Article2: Democrats blast Bush over power abuse.
Article 3: Bush and Obama compared on executive power.
Article 4: Executive privilege, constitutional power or not? See how Richard Nixon used it
Article 5: Example of executive privilege, abuse of power or protection to officials? See how Obama used it.
Article 6: Example of George Bush.
Extra Article: The modern day presidency
3. Present to class: Summarize how executive power is used. Is it too much power?
Activity 2 :How has the presidency changed over the years to what it is now?
1. State your viewpoint to the class on whether executive powers are too many powers by the evidence given in the article.
2. State your viewpoint to the class on whether any president has abused the power of the executive branch or not by evidence that was given in the article..
3. State what the authors inference is on executive powers? What is implied...?
Activity 3: Exit: Did George W. Bush abuse executive powers? yes/no? Why?
Activity 4: Cartoon Activity
1. Pull up activities on the Executive Branch Like the organizer and vocabulary from activities 1 and 2
2. Watch Jon Stewart video (8:47): Executive Privilege, Fast and Furious Incident
3. Develop a cartoon: Executive Power - "When is Power too Much Power?"
When is power too much power?
1. Intro Video: 1:12 Obama on Bush using executive privilege on U.S. Attorney incident.
2. Internet Quick Search: Which Presidents used "Executive Privilege"?
- Organizer: Your Perspective on Executive Power
Article2: Democrats blast Bush over power abuse.
Article 3: Bush and Obama compared on executive power.
Article 4: Executive privilege, constitutional power or not? See how Richard Nixon used it
Article 5: Example of executive privilege, abuse of power or protection to officials? See how Obama used it.
Article 6: Example of George Bush.
Extra Article: The modern day presidency
3. Present to class: Summarize how executive power is used. Is it too much power?
Activity 2 :How has the presidency changed over the years to what it is now?
1. State your viewpoint to the class on whether executive powers are too many powers by the evidence given in the article.
2. State your viewpoint to the class on whether any president has abused the power of the executive branch or not by evidence that was given in the article..
3. State what the authors inference is on executive powers? What is implied...?
Activity 3: Exit: Did George W. Bush abuse executive powers? yes/no? Why?
Activity 4: Cartoon Activity
1. Pull up activities on the Executive Branch Like the organizer and vocabulary from activities 1 and 2
2. Watch Jon Stewart video (8:47): Executive Privilege, Fast and Furious Incident
3. Develop a cartoon: Executive Power - "When is Power too Much Power?"
Digital Comic Strip: Toondoo
Working Bureaucracy Scenarios
Essential Question: Why is the Executive Branch a difficult and messy branch of democracy that is not easy to appreciate? Just how big is the Executive Branch?
Activity 1:
1. Below are five scenarios where you will come into contact with various departments or agencies of the Executive Branch or law executing branch of the U.S. government.
2. List the Departments, Agencies, Boards and Commissions you will come in contact with to get what you want.
3. Use the bureaucracy scenario link to record your findings.
Executive Branch Agencies and Departments
Bureaucracy Scenario Flowchart
Working Bureaucracy Scenario Question Worksheet
Scenario one: You have a baby that you want to adopt from the Ukraine. You must first help the babies Aunt and Uncle who are bringing the baby to get a work visa for a job, enroll them in a University, get them clearance to come to the country. Surf through the proper channels that you are going to have to contact to accommodate them and to adopt the baby.
Scenario two: You're going to try to get a grant for a research study on Grizzly bears. You need to kill one, capture one, and transport one to your facility. You're going to do this all in Yellowstone National Park where hunting is not allowed of the endangered Grizzly. What channels are you going to have to go through to get your research?
Scenario three: You're trying to start a vitamin business that uses the root of an Amazon jungle plant to help give you more energy. You must import the plant into the U.S. in order to study it so you have to go through what channels to get approval?
Scenario four: You want to expand your families dairy farm from 100 to 5,000 cows. You're going to make it all self sustaining with alternative energies, some hazardous materials. I know that state and local laws apply but what National channels are you going to have to go through to get the permits? What dept. or agencies will you need to deal with?
Scenario five: The Menominee Indians want to create a new casino, off reservation, at the dog racing track in Kenosha. They already have other casinos
4. Follow-up Discussion Questions
1. What is a bureaucracy? Is it a necessary or an excessive part of this countries government?
2. Discuss the five Scenarios. Some see rising to the top of the Executive Branch as the pinnacle of their career. What Dept., Agency, or commissions would you be a part
of in your career.
3. In news, current events, or on twitter, what part of the executive branch is visible the most?
4. How would you reform any part of this bureaucracy or would you change any part?
5. Is the Executive Branch an efficient branch of using time and resources?
6. What is your conclusion about executive powers that the Executive Branch uses to do its everyday jobs?
Activity 2: Facebook Page
Video - President's Cabinet 5:25
1. Transfer some of the drama from the relationships that the Executive Branch has. Include real and fictional examples to demonstrate their bureaucracy.
2. Pick one of the following Executive Branch people to profile:
Barack Obama- President
Joe Biden- Vice-President
John Kerry- Secretary of State
Jack Lew- Secretary of the Treasury
Chuck Hagel- Secretary of Defense
Eric Holder- Attorney General (DOJ)
Arne Duncan- Department of Education
Kathleen Sebelius- Department of Health and Human Services
Denis McDonough- White House Chief of Staff
Working Bureaucracy Scenarios
Essential Question: Why is the Executive Branch a difficult and messy branch of democracy that is not easy to appreciate? Just how big is the Executive Branch?
Activity 1:
1. Below are five scenarios where you will come into contact with various departments or agencies of the Executive Branch or law executing branch of the U.S. government.
2. List the Departments, Agencies, Boards and Commissions you will come in contact with to get what you want.
3. Use the bureaucracy scenario link to record your findings.
Executive Branch Agencies and Departments
Bureaucracy Scenario Flowchart
Working Bureaucracy Scenario Question Worksheet
Scenario one: You have a baby that you want to adopt from the Ukraine. You must first help the babies Aunt and Uncle who are bringing the baby to get a work visa for a job, enroll them in a University, get them clearance to come to the country. Surf through the proper channels that you are going to have to contact to accommodate them and to adopt the baby.
Scenario two: You're going to try to get a grant for a research study on Grizzly bears. You need to kill one, capture one, and transport one to your facility. You're going to do this all in Yellowstone National Park where hunting is not allowed of the endangered Grizzly. What channels are you going to have to go through to get your research?
Scenario three: You're trying to start a vitamin business that uses the root of an Amazon jungle plant to help give you more energy. You must import the plant into the U.S. in order to study it so you have to go through what channels to get approval?
Scenario four: You want to expand your families dairy farm from 100 to 5,000 cows. You're going to make it all self sustaining with alternative energies, some hazardous materials. I know that state and local laws apply but what National channels are you going to have to go through to get the permits? What dept. or agencies will you need to deal with?
Scenario five: The Menominee Indians want to create a new casino, off reservation, at the dog racing track in Kenosha. They already have other casinos
4. Follow-up Discussion Questions
1. What is a bureaucracy? Is it a necessary or an excessive part of this countries government?
2. Discuss the five Scenarios. Some see rising to the top of the Executive Branch as the pinnacle of their career. What Dept., Agency, or commissions would you be a part
of in your career.
3. In news, current events, or on twitter, what part of the executive branch is visible the most?
4. How would you reform any part of this bureaucracy or would you change any part?
5. Is the Executive Branch an efficient branch of using time and resources?
6. What is your conclusion about executive powers that the Executive Branch uses to do its everyday jobs?
Activity 2: Facebook Page
Video - President's Cabinet 5:25
1. Transfer some of the drama from the relationships that the Executive Branch has. Include real and fictional examples to demonstrate their bureaucracy.
2. Pick one of the following Executive Branch people to profile:
Barack Obama- President
Joe Biden- Vice-President
John Kerry- Secretary of State
Jack Lew- Secretary of the Treasury
Chuck Hagel- Secretary of Defense
Eric Holder- Attorney General (DOJ)
Arne Duncan- Department of Education
Kathleen Sebelius- Department of Health and Human Services
Denis McDonough- White House Chief of Staff