This lesson traces the rise of Abraham Lincoln from his humble beginnings to the presidency of the United States. You will examine Lincoln's ideas and decisions regarding slavery and the use of the presidential power to preserve the...

The subtitle of this essay is "How Presidents Have Come to 'Run the Country' by Usurping Legislative Power." It discusses how the Constitution defines executive powers in a general way, with few limitations on the power of the President...

Have you ever thought about being president? Executive Command gives you four years in office to accomplish your legislative and policy goals. You'll make a state-of-the-union address, work with your aides and cabinet, try your hand at...

The framers of the American Constitution made the executive power available to the executive branch. But what exactly is this tool, how does it work, and what's the extent of its power? Christina Greer explains.

A scholarly discussion of Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which establishes the executive branch of the U.S. government. Discusses the origin of the article and the debates on executive power that took place among the Founding...

Basic information and key concepts about the Executive Branch and Presidents. Also available from the orange tabs on top: a few interesting stories on the history, a timeline that shows the development of the presidency, some quotes and...

Do you like running things? Branches of Power allows you to do something that no one else can: control all three branches of government! You'll have the power to write any laws you want about issues you choose. Careful, though, there's a...

In-depth analysis of the use of presidential power to send troops abroad without consent of Congress.

Full text of Article II from the U.S. Constitution, as well as detailed annotations that explain the reasoning and subsequent impact of each clause and section of the Article. Content explores everything from the nature and scope of...

This unit details how the role of the President of the United States has evolved to the position it is today since the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Offers video, readings, web resources and activities.

Interactive and educational game puts players in control of all three branches of government and tests their abilities to turn issues of concern into full-fledged laws.

This resource provides the annotation on Section 2, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution., which outlines the President's responsibilities as Commander-in-Chief.

Save the federal government from Oppressor Sam, and learn about the US Constitution to restore the three branches of government.

This resource provides the annotation of Article 1 of the Constitution and the powers held by Congress. Focuses are on the implied, enumerated, inherent, and resulting powers of Congress. At the bottom of the page footnotes are provided.

World War II (WWII), a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945 involved more than 100 million people and over 30 countries. The Allied powers - including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union - worked together...

Read Section 3 of Article II which explains what the President's duties are as Law Enforcer. The Constitution does not state that the President shall execute the laws himself, but that he will ensure that laws are "faithfully executed."

Interactive teaching unit for Grades 5-8 that helps to explain the three branches of government and the the balance of power. Topics covered include balance of government, how a bill becomes a law, the amendment process, the Legislative...

Students learn the primary responsibilities of the president and how those duties connect to the powers the Constitution grants to the Executive Branch.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provides a lesson, focusing on the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, that relates to the power granted to the President and the Senate to make and approve treaties with foreign nations...

Senator Joseph McCarthy did not create the national obsession with communist subversion. It had arisen in the late 1930s, years before McCarthy had come to public notice. Angry that they had been barred from the corridors of power for 20...

This unit explores the timeless qualities of The U.S. Constitution, the opportunities to amend it, and how it is a pillar of the American identity, through these activities, videos, and outside resources.

China's remarkable aggregation of national power over the past 35 years has been a source of wonderment: to economists, who have been surprised by that country's consistently high rate of growth; to political scientists, who are at a...

Infographic helps keep track of the many hats worn by the president.

Test your knowledge of U.S. geography and government with these games and printable activities. In one game, see if you can place all 50 states in their correct location. In the second game, see if you can recognize the powers of each...