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Chapter 8 – Socratic Seminar Discussion Questions

The Presidency, Qualifications, and Terms of Office: Pages 272–280

Discussion Date:Jan. 13/14

  1. Prior to the establishment of the U.S. Constitution, describe the feelings of many colonists in regard to an executive branch of government? Discuss how the Framers’ feelings were reflected as they designed Article II of the Constitution.

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  1. What are three qualifications which must be satisfied in order to become President of the United States? How do these qualifications compare to those of members of the House and the Senate?

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  1. Which president was elected to the most terms in U.S. history? How many times was he successfully elected? Furthermore, how did the 22nd Amendment affect term limits for U.S. presidents?

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  1. In a perfect scenario, what is the longest time that a president could serve following the passage of the 22nd Amendment? Explain the circumstances under which this would occur.

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  1. What responsibility does the Constitution assign to the vice president? Within that responsibility, what is the only substantial role held by the vice president?

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  1. Why did Ben Franklin argue that an impeachment provision needed to be included in Article II of the Constitution? Furthermore, describe this two–step procedure and identify the two U.S. presidents have been impeached.

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  1. What is executive privilege? Do presidents always hold a guaranteed right to exercise executive privilege? Furthermore, describe the Supreme Court’s ruling inUnited States v. Nixon and explain how the result altered the power of the presidency.

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  1. Who becomes president if the vice president cannot serve? Also, what two important provisions relating to the vice presidency were established by the 25th Amendment?

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Chapter 8 – Socratic Seminar Discussion Questions

Powers of the President: Pages 280–287

Discussion Date:Jan 15/19

  1. Which three types of presidential appointments must be approved by the Senate? (These are important but are not clearly defined in the reading) Describe them below.

a.) Group 1 – ______

b.) Group 2 – ______

c.) Group 3 – ______

  1. Many presidential appointees serve “at the pleasure of the president.” What do you think this means? (This isn’t in your book, think critically and prepare to share)

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  1. Describe the president’s power to convene Congress. How often has this power been used in recent history? Why?

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  1. What is the president’s role in creating treaties with foreign nations? What must happen before the treaties officially take affect? Explain Woodrow Wilson’s involvement in the Treaty of Versailles and the failure of the United States to join the League of Nations.

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  1. What is an executive agreement? Why do presidents prefer executive agreements rather than treaties?

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  1. Describe the president’s veto power as it laid out in the Constitution. Furthermore, what is a line–item veto and why is it unconstitutional? What constitutional principle was the line–item veto thought to be in violation of?

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  1. How does the president’s authority as commander in chief conflict with the authority of Congress to vote for a declaration of war? Furthermore, explain the purpose of the War Powers Act and describe its intentions and provisions.

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  1. Define the following judicial powers of the president: Pardon, Reprieve, and Amnesty. How do presidents use these powers to influence outcomes in the criminal justice system?

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Chapter 8 – Socratic Seminar Discussion Questions

The Expansion of Presidential Power and the Presidential Establishment: Pages 288–295

Discussion Date:Jan. 20/21

  1. Describe the roles of Presidents Washington, Adams, and Jefferson in establishing the powers associated with the presidency. Identify specific ways in which they developed presidential power (formal constitutional methods and informal precedents):

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  1. Identifysignificant presidencies which occurred between the years of 1809–1933. Explain major contributions made by presidents during that time period. What generally happens to presidential power during times of crisis? Provide examples.

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  1. Describe the growth of the modern presidency during the 1930s. In what unprecedented ways did FDR expand the presidency through his New Deal programs of the Great Depression?

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  1. Describe the different categories of the presidential establishment. Describe components of each category (where applicable) and explain how each influences the president and the executive branch.

a.)The Vice Presidency– ______

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b.) The Cabinet – ______

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c.) The First Lady – ______

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d.) The Executive Office of the President (EOP) – ______

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e.) The White House Staff – ______

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Chapter 8 – Socratic Seminar Discussion Questions

Presidential Leadership and Public Opinion: Pages 295–303

Discussion Date:Jan. 22/25

  1. How does presidential leadership play a key factor in his presidency? Provide examples.

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  1. What does “going public” mean in terms of a president delivering his message to the American people? How has the use of technology changed the use of this power during the 20th and 21st centuries?

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  1. How do presidential influential ratings affect decisions and actions of presidents? Identify trends in presidential approval ratings which generally occur during a president’s term.

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  1. Describe the role of presidents in proposing and facilitating legislation through Congress. You may use specific examples relating to LBJ (President Lyndon Johnson) and the role which he played in the passage of civil rights legislation during the 1960s.

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  1. Explain the budgetary process involving the executive branch and the legislative branch. What is the role which each branch plays in this process? Furthermore, what role does the Office of Management Budget play in this process?

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  1. Define executive orders and explain why presidents may issue them. Explain the relationship between executive orders and the legislative and judicial branches.

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