Unit 3: Executive Branch (Presidency & Bureaucracy)
Duration of Days: 10
Constitutional Basis and Structure
Article II of the U.S. Constitution establishes the Executive Branch.
Roles of the President, Vice President, and executive agencies.
Presidential Powers
Formal powers: veto, commander-in-chief, appointment of officials, treaty-making.
Informal powers: executive orders, executive agreements, signing statements, agenda-setting.
Roles of the President
Chief Executive, Chief Legislator, Commander-in-Chief, Chief Diplomat, Chief of State, Party Leader, Economic Leader.
Executive Agencies and Bureaucracy
Purpose of the federal bureaucracy in implementing laws.
Independent agencies vs. cabinet departments.
Regulatory agencies and enforcement powers.
Checks and Balances
How Congress and the judiciary limit executive power (e.g., impeachment, judicial review, Senate confirmation).
Elections and Succession
Electoral College process.
Presidential term limits (22nd Amendment).
Presidential succession (25th Amendment).
Presidential Influence and Public Policy
Role of the President in shaping domestic and foreign policy.
Impact of public opinion, media, and interest groups on presidential decision-making.
Students will Read, write, think, investigate, and debate the structure and function of the Executive Branch and the role(s) of the President.
Projects, debates, readings, and the unit assessment will encompass the demonstration of learning.
| Lesson # | Lesson Title | Duration of Days |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Second Branch: The Executive | 1 |
| 2 | Power of presidency reading | 1 |
| 3 | 10 Presidents Who Reshaped the U.S | 1 |
| 4 | The Bully Pulpit and the State of the Union Address | 2 |
| 5 | Bureaucracy Investigation | 1 |
| 6 | Federalist 70 | 2 |
| 7 | Presidency and Bureaucracy review and assessment | 2 |