Objective: Explain how the bureaucracy carries out the responsibilities of the federal government.
Class Notes for the Day: |
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Starter: What has happened to the ratio of government employees as a percentage of the U.S. population over the past half century?
1.How accurate was your prediction?
2.What is the big story with these charts?
3.Are these charts contradictory?
4.What are two causes of the changes displayed in the charts?
5.What are two consequences of the changes displayed in the charts?
6.Is the information contained in the chart good or bad news?
7.List three government jobs that you would like to see cut.
8.List three government jobs that you would like to see NOT cut.
9.What is one question you have about this information?
Review: Analyzing Presidential Decisions
With your group, for each scenario, determine and explain:
- whether the president is using a formal or informal power
- whether the action is constitutional
- whether you agree with the decision
Scenario #1
The president issues an order that women can be drafted into the armed forces.
Scenario #2
The president authorizes a drone strike against a known terrorist without consulting Congress.
Scenario #3
The president and the Secretary of State negotiate an agreement with North Korea to ends 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.
Scenario #4
After a state passes a law legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, the president instructs the attorney general not to enforce federal anti-drug laws in that state.
Scenario #5
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 (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 term and long term financial assistance for the affected areas.
Scenario #6
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.
Scenario #7
In a 7-2 decision, the 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.
Scenario #8
The president unilaterally delays mandates on businesses to provide health insurance to their employees from a law passed by Congress.
Scenario #9
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 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.”
Scenario #10
Research an executive order from history and do the same thing as above.
The president issues an order that women can be drafted into the armed forces.
Scenario #2
The president authorizes a drone strike against a known terrorist without consulting Congress.
Scenario #3
The president and the Secretary of State negotiate an agreement with North Korea to ends 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.
Scenario #4
After a state passes a law legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, the president instructs the attorney general not to enforce federal anti-drug laws in that state.
Scenario #5
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 (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 term and long term financial assistance for the affected areas.
Scenario #6
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.
Scenario #7
In a 7-2 decision, the 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.
Scenario #8
The president unilaterally delays mandates on businesses to provide health insurance to their employees from a law passed by Congress.
Scenario #9
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 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.”
Scenario #10
Research an executive order from history and do the same thing as above.
Brainstorming: Federal Bureaucracy
- What does the federal government do (what services do they provide)?
- Considering the above data, why and how has the role of government expanded?
Contrast: Public sector vs. Private sector
Tasks of the Bureaucracy
The last thing we'll do today is explore that main ways that the federal bureaucracy handles public policy, whether creating it or enforcing it. With your group, complete your section of the chart here!
Closer: How does the bureaucracy carry out the responsibilities of government?
- Make a claim here!
- Support your claim with TWO pieces of accurate and relevant information.
- Use reasoning to explain why your evidence supports your claim.
- Respond to an opposing or alternative perspective.