A.P. U.S. Government and Politics

Assignment #9: November 12, 2007

"The Presidency"

 

1.  Read:  Read chapter nine in your textbook.  Outline and make notes of the chapter—include details and definitions.  Be sure that your notes include definitions of all of the terms listed on page 312.  Be prepared for a quiz on the material on Monday, November 26!

 

 

2.  Current Events:

            Find three articles related to the federal bureaucracy and one that relates to your own topic.  Summarize each one and comment.

 

3.  Test:

            Expect the next test on November 26.

 

4.  Something More: 

            Choose one of the following to research.  Write a report of at least 750 words and present your information to the class.  Be prepared to defend your assertions with ample specific, documented evidence (due November 26).

&   Research the nature of war powers.  What are the presidential and congressional powers at issue and has this conflict been solved?  What has been the role of the Supreme Court in this debate?

&   Find copies of three executive orders on different topics executed by one President.  Use these documents to write a paper on the nature and impact of executive orders.

&   Research the vice-presidency of Dick Cheney.  What types of activities has he been involved in and why?  Discuss the reasons for his extraordinarily active role in Bush’s administration.

&   Visit the homepages of three presidential libraries and compare what you find.  What are the areas of focus of the three—how do they differ and why?

&   Investigate the President’s Cabinet and other advisors.  Write a paper in which you discuss the nature and functions of the different individuals.  Who are the current officeholders and how have they affected the offices they hold?

&   Choose two Presidents from history and write a paper discussing the impact they had on the office. 

&   Write a paper in which you profile the four or five “best” Presidents in history and rank them according to their achievements.