Tuesday 11/19 & Wednesday 11/20 Federal Bureaucracy Review

Bureaucracy Activity & Simulation

Lesson 2.13: Bureaucratic Rule Making Authority

Enduring Understanding:

The federal bureaucracy is a powerful institution implementing federal policies with sometimes questionable accountability.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the federal bureaucracy uses delegated discretionary authority for rule making and implementation.

Essential Knowledge:

Discretionary and rule-making authority to implement policy are given to bureaucratic departments, agencies, and commissions, such as:

• Department of Homeland Security
• Department of Transportation 
• Department of Veterans Affairs 
• Department of Education 
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Federal Elections Commission (FEC) 
• Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Activity # 1:

The AP Government curriculum requires that students become familiar with seven of the agencies within the federal bureaucracy.  This is great news! Instead of guessing which of the agencies might show up on the exam, we know which seven we need to understand.  Below are six of the agencies; the seventh, the FEC, will be covered in our elections unit. For each of these agencies, identify the type of agency that it is, and the main job of the agency.

Agency Run Down Sheet

Activity # 2: Vocab (In your Notebook)  

Must know these terms for the Test:

Executive

• Roles of the president
• Order of Succession
• Executive Orders
• Executive Agreements
• Executive Privilege
• Veto
• War Powers Act
• Amendments 20, 22, 24
• Pardon
• Lame Duck

Bureaucracy

• Merit System
• Civil Service Exam
• Patronage
• Discretion
• Rule-Making
• Iron Triangle
• Congressional Oversight

Activity # 3:

Review for the Executive Branch & Bureaucracy Test

Extra Review for the Test:

#1: 

#2:

I have also assigned Khan Academy covering the Executive Branch & Federal Bureaucracy. It is NOT for a grade & NOT mandatory. 

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11/15 & 11/18: Federal Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy Activity & Simulation

Lesson 2.13: Bureaucratic Rule Making Authority

Enduring Understanding:

The federal bureaucracy is a powerful institution implementing federal policies with sometimes questionable accountability.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the federal bureaucracy uses delegated discretionary authority for rule making and implementation.

Essential Knowledge:

Discretionary and rule-making authority to implement policy are given to bureaucratic departments, agencies, and commissions, such as:

• Department of Homeland Security
• Department of Transportation 
• Department of Veterans Affairs 
• Department of Education 
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Federal Elections Commission (FEC) 
• Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Working with the Bureaucracy Simulation...

Today you will have a chance to really experience operations within a bureaucratic organization. Remember that interacting with the bureaucracy will require patience, maturity, and attention to detail.

Form a group of 3 and take one of the white forms from the stack.

Grant Applications

Each group will complete the "Educational Assistance Award" on behalf of their government teacher. Once you have completed this form, take it to Mr. Clark's room (123) for form verification, and he will then direct you to the next step in the process.

YOU MUST HAVE ALL PARTS OF THE PROCESS COMPLETED AND RETURN TO YOUR ORIGINAL CLASSROOM IN NO MORE THAN 30 MINUTES!!!

The reward for successful completion will be a take home Executive Branch & Bureaucracy Exam

Activity #1: Iron Triangle Scenario

Check out this Scenario and as a class, we will construct the Iron Triangle.  Next, I would like you to create your own Iron Triangle based off an event in your life that you are impacted by.

Activity #2:

The AP Government curriculum requires that students become familiar with seven of the agencies within the federal bureaucracy.  This is great news! Instead of guessing which of the agencies might show up on the exam, we know which seven we need to understand.  Below are six of the agencies; the seventh, the FEC, will be covered in our elections unit. For each of these agencies, identify the type of agency that it is, and the main job of the agency.

Agency Run Down Sheet

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11/14: Review Day -

Activity #1: Powers of the President

Using the Chart we create in our notebooks, break the President's Powers into four categories...

• Legislative Powers
• Executive Powers
• Diplomatic/War Powers
• Judicial Powers

Then use the following article to note the powers of the president that relate to your specific category

Activity #2: The President in Checks and Balances Stations

In each of the station rotation, discuss the impact that each item has on the power of the Executive Branch. In each station, you will see a document, cartoon, or article that discuss a check the Executive branch has on other branches, or that the other branches have on the president...

• Impeachment
• Court and Cabinet Nominees
• The War Powers Act
• The Budget

Activity #3: Kahoot Review

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Tuesday 11/12 & Wednesday 11/13 2.12 Federal Bureaucracy

Lesson 2.12: The Bureaucracy

Enduring Understanding

The federal bureaucracy is a powerful institution implementing federal policies with sometimes questionable accountability.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the bureaucracy carries out the responsibilities of the federal government.

Essential Knowledge:

Tasks performed by departments, agencies, commissions, and government corporations are represented by:

• Writing and enforcing regulations
• Issuing fines 
• Testifying before Congress 
• Issue networks and “iron triangles

Political patronage, civil service, and merit system reforms all impact the effectiveness of the bureaucracy by promoting professionalism, specialization, and neutrality.

Debrief 2.9: In your Notebook

Is Pizza Hut Fast Food?  Why or Why Not?

Activity # 1: 

Bureaucracy Video

Activity # 2: Notes Over the Bureaucracy

NOTES

Activity # 3:  Bureaucratic Agency Up Close

Agency Up Close

Activity # 4: 

EdPuzzle - Controlling Bureaucracy

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Friday 11/8 & Monday 11/11: Topic 2.12 The Bureaucracy

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING:

The federal bureaucracy implements federal policies.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

Explain how the bureaucracy carries out the responsibilities of the federal government.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE:

Tasks performed by departments, agencies, commissions, and government corporations are represented by:

Writing and enforcing regulations
 Issuing fines
Testifying before Congress
Issue networks and “iron triangles”

Political patronage, civil service, and merit system reforms all impact the effectiveness of the bureaucracy by promoting professionalism, specialization, and neutrality.

Activity # 1:

If the legislature was to make a law that made government responsible for overseeing internet service and social media as "guaranteed public services and utilities" (like electricity, water, gas, telephone, etc.), which one of the 15 executive departments would likely be assigned the agency to oversee their regulation?  Explain why you chose that department.

1. Attorney General: William Barr
2. Secretary of Agriculture: Sonny Perdue
3. Secretary of Commerce: Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
4. Secretary of Defense: Mark Esper
5. Secretary of Education: Elisabeth Prince DeVos
6. Secretary of Energy: James Richard Perry
7. Secretary of Health and Human Services: Alex Azar
8. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Benjamin S. Carson, Sr.
9. Secretary of the Interior: David Bernhardt
10. Secretary of Labor: Eugene Scalia
11. Secretary of State: Mike Pompeo
12. Secretary of Transportation: Elaine L. Chao
13. Secretary of the Treasury: Steven T. Mnuchin
14. Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Robert Wilkie
15. Secretary of Homeland Security: Vacant

Activity # 2:

TIP-C - In your Notebook

Activity # 3:

Ed Puzzle - Federal Bureaucracy

Activity # 4:

Video Game - Executive Command

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Wednesday 11/6 & Thursday 11/7 2.6 Expansion of Power / 2.7 Presidential Communication

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING:

The presidency has been enhanced beyond its expressed constitutional powers.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

Explain how presidents have interpreted and justified their use of formal and informal powers.

Explain how communication technology has changed the president’s relationship with the national constituency and the other branches.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE:

Different perspectives on the presidential role, ranging from a limited to a more expansive interpretation and use of power, continue to be debated in the context of contemporary events

Term-of-office and constitutional-power restrictions, including the passage of the Twenty-Second Amendment, demonstrate changing presidential roles.

Justifications for a single executive are set forth in Federalist No. 70.

The communication impact of the presidency can be demonstrated through such factors as: Modern technology, social media, and rapid response to political issues

Nationally broadcast State of the Union messages and the president’s bully pulpit used as tools for agenda setting

Activity # 1: 

From your collective analysis from the last two weeks, how would you describe the executive branch, or specifically the president, cabinet, and federal agencies in 2-3 sentences that anyone could easily understand.

Activity # 2: 

Ed Puzzle Presidential Power # 2

Activity # 3: 

Executive Branch Mini-Lecture #2 - Evolution of the Office and its limitations

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1r5U9R2kBD_-Oria8XET-UO7EJNYKmw5RvOU_ZFy4A9Y/edit?usp=sharing

Activity # 4:

Orders, proclamations, power and prestige.

With a partner....

Use the link below to select an example of the types of executive orders and proclamations issued by presidents, and then answer the questions below in your notebook.

https://www.federalregister.gov/presidential-documents

1. ASAP analysis of your selected document.
2. How did the president use the Executive Order, Proclamation, and/or other documents that you have selected to increase their authority and/or prestige?  

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Monday 11/4 & Tuesday 11/5 : 2.5 Checks on the Presidency

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING:

The presidency has been enhanced beyond its expressed constitutional powers.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

Explain how the president’s agenda can create tension and frequent confrontations with Congress.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE:

The potential for conflict with the Senate depends upon the type of executive branch appointments, including:
Cabinet members
Ambassadors
White House staff

Senate confirmation is an important check on appointment powers, but the president’s longest lasting influence lies in life-tenured judicial appointments.

Policy initiatives and executive orders promoted by the president often lead to conflict with the congressional agenda.


Activity #1 - Presidential Simulation AAR

After having completed the executive branch simulation, take time to reflect on the following questions in your notebook.

1. What were the greatest challenges to success?  Identify at least 2.
2. What were the keys to success?  
3. What would you have done differently?

Activity # 2: 

Limits on Presidential Power

Although the President has many powers, both formal and informal, that does not mean that the President is all-powerful. In our constitutional system of separation of powers (more correctly shared powers) and checks and balances, there are limits to what the President can do. Today, we will look at some of the checks on Presidential power.

At your table, with your table mates,  brainstorm the ways that Congress can limit the President. You should be able to come up with a minimum of 5-6 & write in your notebook.

Activity # 2:

Activity # 3:




Activity # 4:

Executive Branch WebQuest

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