United States Government: Democracy in Action

Unit 3: The Executive Branch

Big Idea Activity

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How much power should the executive branch have?

Assignment: A Study in Power
Create a visual media presentation of the formal and informal powers of a president.

Assignment Task List

Step 2: Review the federal bureaucracy that helps the president implement policy. How many departments and agencies are part of the executive branch? List the 15 Cabinet departments and at least 20 agencies.

Step 3: Select one president to highlight in a visual media presentation. Your focus will be on the president's use of formal and informal powers. Research online and print text and photos to gather information about this president's (a) personality, (b) formal powers utilized, and (c) persuasive tactics and other informal methods used to implement laws or executive orders. Take notes.

The following Web site can provide a general overview of presidents. After you select one, follow up with more specific sites and print information.
    http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/

Step 4: Focus on one law that this president pushed to have passed and implemented. In a flow chart, trace the formal and informal powers the president used and the steps the bureaucracy took to implement the law.

Step 5: Prepare an outline to guide you as you prepare your presentation. Write and merge documents and visuals in your media presentation. Then add an introductory paragraph, supporting statements for your main ideas and opinions, captions to photos, and a summary conclusion. Be sure to include a bibliography.

Step 6: Present your media "study in power." A successful presentation will demonstrate the following items:
___ detailed research that shows a deep understanding of the subject
___ multiple sources used
___ exceptionally well organized presentation
___ attractive, creative, interesting, and compelling presentation
___ ideas presented clearly and flow logically
___ excellent technical aspects
___ well-thought-out design
___ illustrations and text combine neatly and effectively

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After all of the media presentations have been displayed, discuss this question: How much power should the executive branch have?