This document outlines the topics and objectives for a unit on the American presidency. It will cover the roles and responsibilities of the president, including serving as head of state, chief executive, commander-in-chief, chief diplomat, and others. The unit will also discuss inaugural addresses and state of the union speeches, the growth of executive powers, impeachment, and other related topics. Students will learn about the qualifications to be president, term limits, salaries, and more through readings, discussions, and a vocabulary game.

1. Presidential Roles &
Responsibilities
The Many Hats of the American
President

2. question of the day
• within 10 calories, how many calories is
a typical 5 oz. paczki?
• more than 400, less than 450.
• 420

3. presidency unit:
administrative
• roughly three weeks.
• that puts your next test somewhere
between march 13th-18th.
• no long-term project.
• need to bring your government textbook
to class every day.
• keep everything I give you for your
binder.

4. presidency unit: topics
• roles & responsibilities.
• inaugural addresses & state of the union speeches.
• growth of executive powers.
• first 100 days.
• security/secret service.
• Impeachment.
• first ladies.
• famous presidents.
• presidential characteristics.
• vice presidency.
• bureaucracy.

5. quick review
• what are the branches of the U.S.
government?
• what is separation of powers/checks
and balances?
• why did the Framers write these checks
and balances into the Constitution?

6. today’s objective
• identify the major responsibilities and
roles of the President of the United
States.

7. the president’s job
description
• work, with a partner, to read ch. 13
section 1 and complete the reading
guide.
• when completed, quiz each other on the
vocabulary…a vocabulary game is
imminent.

8. breaking it down
• what are the eight different roles the
president must play at the same time?
• what are three formal qualifications to
be president?
– what do you think?
• what restriction on presidential terms is
in place?
– do you agree?

9. (continued)
• what amendment set this limit?
• why do some want it removed? Why do
some want it to stay in place?
– what do you think?
• what does the president get paid?
– is that a fair salary?

10. critical thinking: your
turn
• informal qualifications to be president:

11. vocabulary extravaganza
• rules:
– 2 teams.
– one member from each team comes to the front,
faces away from the board.
– a vocabulary word will be projected on the board.
– your job is to describe the vocabulary word to your
teammate so they can guess it.
– you get three hints.
– each hint may not be longer than 3 words.
– i may use some words that are not on your
vocabulary list-- just to make things interesting.

12. example
BANANA
• you might say: “curved yellow fruit,” or,
“monkeys eat it.”
• got it?

13. round 1
commander in chief

14. round 2
chief citizen

15. round 3
chief of state

16. round 4
The President of the United States

17. round 5
chief executive

18. round 6
chief diplomat

19. round 7
chief of party

20. round 8
mr. traxler

21. round 9
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)

22. round 10
John F. Kennedy

23. objective: revisited
• somebody name and explain one role of
the president.
• and another.
• and one more.