Analyzing Presidential Decisions
Directions: In this activity, your team will discuss the hypothetical scenarios below, and evaluate the president’s
decision in each of the cases below. You should draw upon your knowledge of the formal powers of the president
outlined in Article II of the Constitution as well as the informal powers and roles enjoyed by modern presidents.
Scenario #1
The president issues an order that women in the armed forces may now serve in a direct combat capacity during
wartime.
a) Identify and explain which formal
Command Armed Forces
Constitutional powers apply to this scenario.
b) What informal powers and/or roles of the
president apply? Explain.
The president is using executive order because they are
ordering that women are to do direct combat
c) Are the president’s actions constitutional? Why Yes, it is in his powers to command the armed forces. He also
uses his informal power executive agreement.
or why not? Justify your answer.
d) Do you agree with the president’s decision?
Why or why not?
I Disagree with the president's decision because women and
men play different roles in society. We need them both for
different things.
I a-fricken-gree - D
TBH I wouldn’t want to be in direct combat so i kinda don't
agree especially since like in theory if there was a draft and i
got drafted, then i would have to be in direct combat and
that's not the place for me to be-j
Scenario #2
The president and the Secretary of State negotiate an agreement with North Korea to end its designs on building a
nuclear weapon. In exchange, the U.S. will commit $15 billion in humanitarian aid to the North Korean people
suffering from mass starvation, and forgive up to $25 billion in loans by the North Korean government to U.S. banks.
The president consulted Congress, but did not request a treaty.
a) Identify and explain which formal
Constitutional powers apply to this scenario.
None
Analyzing Presidential Decisions
b) What informal powers and/or roles of the
Executive agreement
president apply? Explain.
c) Are the president’s actions constitutional? Why No because congress didn’t create a treaty and with a country
that is kinda bad like this, a treaty from congress is very
or why not? Justify your answer.
important
d) Do you agree with the president’s decision?
Why or why not?
I disagree with the president because the US doesn't have 15
billion dollars. We are already in trillions of debt right now, we
don't need more. - B and J and D
Scenario #3
A major earthquake hits 80 miles south of San Francisco incurring enormous damage with hundreds feared dead or
missing, and billions of dollars in property damage. The president mobilizes the National Guard as well as regular
army units to assist in the rescue effort and to help maintain order. He instructs agencies of the federal government
(ex: FEMA, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security) to send aid. After visiting the “Quake Zone,” the president
addresses a joint session of Congress and requests short and long term financial assistance for the affected areas.
a) Identify and explain which formal
Call out troops to protect our nation against an attack.
Constitutional powers apply to this scenario.
b) What informal powers and/or roles of the
president apply? Explain.
The president is showcasing his informal role of good citizen
(forget the official word) because he is showing that he cares
for the citizens of his country and wants to help them out.
c) Are the president’s actions constitutional? Why Yes, he is acting lawfully. It is in his power to call a session of
congress and request stuff.
or why not? Justify your answer.
d) Do you agree with the president’s decision?
Why or why not?
We agree with the president’s decision because The president
is serving his people which is what the government is about.
Scenario #4
In his State of the Union Address, the president outlines a comprehensive plan to overhaul the Social Security system
including an option to privatize Social Security accounts. He expects Congress to pass his plan in its entirety.
Analyzing Presidential Decisions
Constitutional powers apply to this scenario.
Giving a state of the union because that is what he is doing
and it's in the constitution
b) What informal powers and/or roles of the
None apply
a) Identify and explain which formal
president apply? Explain.
c) Are the president’s actions constitutional? Why Yes, he is acting lawfully. It is in his power to call a session of
congress and request stuff.
or why not? Justify your answer.
d) Do you agree with the president’s decision?
Why or why not?
We did not come to a clear decision on if we agree or disagree
with the president’s choice. We don't know much about the
social security system, so we don't have much to say about
this topic.
Scenario #5
In a 7-2 decision, U.S. Supreme Court strikes down an Oklahoma state law requiring the teaching of intelligent design
in public schools. As an act of defiance of the decision, the governor of Oklahoma orders the closing of several public
schools which had heretofore refused to teach the intelligent design curriculum. The president of the United States
commits National Guard troops to forcibly open the public schools and restore order.
a) Identify and explain which formal
Constitutional powers apply to this scenario.
b) What informal powers and/or roles of the
president apply? Explain.
Commander in chief because he is ordering the national guard
to do something
Executive order. He ordered those National Guard troops to
open those schools.
c) Are the president’s actions constitutional? Why Yes, through his informal power executive order, he can force
these schools to open.
or why not? Justify your answer.
d) Do you agree with the president’s decision?
Why or why not?
We agree because we don't need to be taught an intelligent
design curriculum. Individuals can do that on their own free
time, not school learning time.
Scenario #6
For several months there have been credible reports that there is mass genocide being carried out on the part of the
government against ethnic minorities in a small African nation. Amnesty International estimates that more than
500,000 have been murdered thus far. In a speech to a joint session of Congress, the president of the United States
Analyzing Presidential Decisions
declares that he will commit 25,000 American troops to assist the United Nations in an effort to stop the violence
against civilians and restore peace to the country. In his speech, the president contends “as the last remaining
Superpower, the United States has a moral obligation and the means to stop the murders of countless innocent men,
women and children.”
a) Identify and explain which formal
Constitutional powers apply to this scenario.
b) What informal powers and/or roles of the
president apply? Explain.
Commander in chief because he is directing American troops
to different places in the world to assist in humanitarian aid
Executive Order. He can force the deployment of troops
overseas.
c) Are the president’s actions constitutional? Why Yes, what he did is backed by his powers listed above.
or why not? Justify your answer.
d) Do you agree with the president’s decision?
Why or why not?
We agree with the president’s decision because it keeps
peace and shows humility.