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Presidents and the Constitution

Download the full curriculum HERE

Volume 1 – Table of Contents

The Bill of Rights Institute Councils ii
Acknowledgments iii
Preface iv
Teaching Suggestions v
Introductory Essay: “The Creation of the American Presidency” by David Marion, Ph.D. vi

UNIT ONE – Powers Herein Granted: The President and Federal Power
Constitutional Connection: The Presidency and Federal Power 2
“The Presidency and Federal Power” by David Marion, Ph.D. 4
James Madison and the Bonus Bill 8
Theodore Roosevelt and the Bully Pulpit 18
Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan: Two Views of Federal Power 24

UNIT TWO – Commander in Chief: War and the Constitution
Constitutional Connection: War and the Constitution 34
“War and Civil Liberty” by Robert M. S. McDonald, Ph.D. 36
John Adams and the Alien and Sedition Acts 40
Abraham Lincoln and Habeas Corpus 48
Woodrow Wilson and the Espionage Act 56

UNIT THREE – All Other Persons: Slavery and the Constitution
Constitutional Connection: Slavery and the Constitution 66
“Slavery, the Constitution, and the Presidency” by Stuart Leibiger, Ph.D. 68
James Buchanan and the Dred Scott Decision 72
Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation 80
Andrew Johnson and the Civil War Amendments 86

UNIT FOUR – Advice and Consent: The President as Chief Diplomat
Constitutional Connection: The President as Chief Diplomat 92
“The President as Chief Diplomat” by Gleaves Whitney 94
George Washington and Jay’s Treaty 98
Woodrow Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles 106
Jimmy Carter and the Panama Canal Treaty 114

UNIT FIVE – The Electors Shall Meet: Electing the President
Constitutional Connection: Electing the President 118
“Selecting the President” by Marc Landy, Ph.D. 120
John Quincy Adams and the Election of 1824 124
Rutherford B. Hayes and the Disputed Election of 1876 132
George W. Bush and the Supreme Court Case of Bush v. Gore (2000) 140
Answer Key 156
Appendix A: The Declaration of Independence 165
Appendix B: The Constitution of the United States 168
Appendix C: The Bill of Rights 178
National Standards Correlations 179
Special Thanks and Image Credits 180

 

Volume 2 – Table of Contents

Acknowledgments i
The Bill of Rights Institute Councils ii
Preface iii
The Bill of Rights iv

UNIT ONE – Powers Herein Granted: The President and Federal Power
Constitutional Connection: The President and Federal Power 2
“The Presidency and Federal Power” by Marc Landy, Ph.D 4
Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase 8
Grover Cleveland and the Texas Seed Bill Veto 16
Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the Great Depression 24

UNIT TWO – Commander in Chief: War and the Constitution
Constitutional Connection: War and the Constitution 36
“Commanders in Chief at War” by Gleaves Whitney 38
War in the Early Republic 42
Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and the War Powers Resolution 48
George W. Bush and the War on Terror 58

UNIT THREE – Faithfully Execute: The President as Enforcer of the Law
Constitutional Connection: The President as Enforcer of the Law 66
“The President as Enforcer of the Law” by David Marion, Ph.D. 68
George Washington and the Whiskey Rebellion 72
Andrew Jackson and Indian Removal 78
Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Little Rock Crisis 86

UNIT FOUR – High Crimes and Misdemeanors: Impeachment and the Constitution
Constitutional Connection: Impeachment and the Constitution 102
“Impeachment and the Constitution” by Stuart Leibiger, Ph.D. 106
The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson 110
Richard Nixon and the Watergate Scandal 118
The Impeachment of Bill Clinton 126

UNIT FIVE – Together with the Vice President: Presidents and the Transfer of Power
Constitutional Connection: Presidents and the Transfer of Power 134
“Transfer of Presidential Power” by Robert M. S. McDonald, Ph.D. 136
The Election of 1800 140
The Election of 1860 146
The Resignation of Richard Nixon 158
Answer Key 164
Appendix A: The Declaration of Independence 173
Appendix B: The Constitution of the United States 176
Appendix C: The Bill of Rights 186
National Standards Correlations 187
Special Thanks and Image Credits 188

 

Header photo provided by The National Park Service