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Discuss and Research Emergency Powers of the President

Students will analyze the boundaries of presidential power through primary sources and complete a performance task.

Students will use online resources from presidential libraries, Library of Congress, other websites that have presidential executive orders and other policies. Students will understand how a president (or multiple presidents) used presidential power of speech and words to enact legislation

Students will examine primary and secondary source material to draw connections while working individually, cooperatively with a partner, and during whole-group discussion.

To introduce analysis of primary documents to sixth through eighth grade students in preparation for History Fair’s theme, “Breaking Barriers in History”

For students to investigate the expansion of executive powers by President Richard Nixon and the debate about the scope of executive power.

Students will discuss the difference between executive orders and bills becoming laws
Students will view examples of executive orders from various Presidents.

Students will be comparing a) FDR and Truman’s use of executive orders and b) the Supreme Court’s decisions on those executive orders.

Instead of teaching the concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances, the students can see how the power of the President to use executive
orders have played out in three different moments in history.

This assignment will provide the students with a “hands on” experience by making a poster and a campaign button in support of his/her favorite candidate