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The President's Roles and Responsibilities

Last updated almost 6 years ago
9 questions
Note from the author:
A fun formative for Presidents' Day! Students analyze the Constitution to discover the requirements to be President and the responsibilities of the role. They also play a simulation game to discover what being President would be like!
About this formative
This formative is adapted from EDSITEment's Understanding the President's Job lesson plan: https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plans/presidents-roles-and-responsibilities-understanding-presidents-job. (Please do not delete the citation at the bottom of the page when you assign this formative.)

Objectives
Activities will help students:
  • Explain the unofficial and official roles and responsibilities of the President of the United States.
  • Analyze sections of the Constitution to identify the requirements to be President and the President's official responsibilities.
  • Understand the seven roles of the President.
Guiding Questions
  • What are the requirements for someone to become President of the United States?
  • What are the roles and responsibilities of the President of the United States?
To use this formative
Feel free to delete sections and questions, and/or modify and add your own questions!

Remember to:
  • Add an answer key to questions if you'd like to enable autograding
  • Adjust the number of points each question is worth
  • Adjust whether you want students to be able to earn partial credit on each question
  • Tag your own standards
  • Add a header image to the formative, if you'd like to!

The President's Roles and Responsibilities 🇺🇲

Part 1
How does someone become President of the United States?
9

Let's review the three branches of government! For each branch:
  • Add one group of people (👫)
  • Ad one role (💼)
  • Add one special ability (💪)

  • 👫: President and Vice President
  • 👫: Senate and House of Representatives
  • 👫: Supreme Court
  • 💼: Create laws
  • 💼: Interpret laws
  • 💼: Implement laws
  • 💪: Can overturn laws
  • 💪: Can appoint judges
  • 💪: Can impeach the President
  • Legislative
  • Judicial
  • Executive
Check out this poster to see if you got your answers right!
1

Based on the poster in the link above, which document created the 3 branches of government?

3

According to the Constitution, what are the official requirements that someone must fulfil in order to be President of the United States?

Check all that apply. They must...

Check out The United States Constitution, Article 2, Section 1, to see if you got your answers right!

Note: Make sure you read the entire Section 1 by clicking on the "Keep Reading" link!
6

Although there are official requirements to be President of the United States, unofficial requirements tend to be more important when it comes to who runs and who is elected.

What do you think should be requirements for someone to be President of the United States? Write down at least three ideas. Think about:
  • What should someone who wants to be President believe?
  • What should someone who wants to be President say?
  • What should someone who wants to be President do?

Part 2
What are the roles and responsibilities of the President of the United States?
5

What do you think the President of the United States does? What are their responsibilities?

5

Go to The United States Constitution, Article 2, Section 2, to read the official responsibilities of the role of the President of the United States. (Note: Make sure you scroll down to Section 2!)

Check all that apply. The President shall...

7

The President of the United States also has 7 special roles. Watch this video to find out what they are:


Now rearrange the role descriptions below in this order:
  1. Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces
  2. Chief Executive
  3. Chief Administrator
  4. Chief of State
  5. Chief Legislator
  6. Chief Diplomat
  7. Chief Citizen

  1. In this role, the President recommends laws to Congress.
  2. In this role, the President greets heads of state from other countries, and carries out ceremonial duties.
  3. In this role, the President provides an example of moral character and integrity for other citizens.
  4. In this role, the President is "the boss" of all the staff employed by the Federal Government.
  5. In this role, the President negotiates treaties and trade agreements.
  6. In this role, the President enforces laws passed by Congress.
  7. In this role, the President has final authority over all military actions (including launching nuclear weapons).
4

You have learned about the official roles and responsibilities of the President of the United States.

Do you think any of these roles and responsibilities should be amended (updated) to reflect the current nature of the job? Write down at least two ideas. Think about:
  • Should any of these roles / responsibilities be dropped or given to someone else?
  • Should we add new roles / responsibilities?

Part 3
President for a day!
10

Think you would be a good President? Test your skills in this "Executive Command" game! (Note: Choose "Fast" mode.)

In the game you will need to:
  • Propose an agenda to Congress
  • Sign bills into law
  • Delegate new laws to the appropriate federal agency
  • Handle international diplomacy
  • Command the military during times of war.
Tips: If the game doesn't display well below, go to this link. Choose "Fast" mode.


When you are finished, type in your "Impact Points" score:

Well done! 🇺🇲

This formative has been adapted from a lesson plan by EDSITEment: https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plans/presidents-roles-and-responsibilities-understanding-presidents-job