Commander in Chief Teacher Guide Executive Command
Teacher Facilitation Guide
AP US Gov & Politics
Learning Objective
Students will differentiate between **Legislative Action** (passing laws via Congress) and **Administrative Strategy** (Executive Orders). By the end of this lesson, students will evaluate the constitutionality and efficiency of unilateral presidential action.
Essential Question
Does the use of administrative strategies bypass the separation of powers established in Article II?
Pacing & Flow
5m
The Hook: Save the Bees
Present the scenario: Congress is deadlocked. A crisis is looming. What can the President do *right now*? Use Slide 2 to facilitate this discussion.
10m
Direct Instruction: Crash Course
Watch How Presidents Govern (#14). **Focus specifically on 5:29 - 7:40**. Use the prompt: "Identify the three main presidential strategies mentioned."
20m
Activity: The Executive Order Draft
Distribute the Executive Order Worksheet, Agency Arsenal List, and Pocket Constitution.
Review historical examples: Desegregation (EO 9981), Internment (EO 9066).
Task students to pick a current issue (e.g., AI regulation, climate change, student debt).
They must identify a specific **federal agency** for enforcement.
10m
Closure: Constitutional Check
Peer review session. Students swap drafts and use the "Constitutional Validity" checklist on Slide 7.
Key Vocabulary
Administrative Strategy
Using the bureaucracy (EOP, OMB, regulatory review) to implement policy without Congress.
Executive Order
A presidential directive that has the force of law; derived from Article II's "Executive Power."
Teacher Tips
Remind students that while Executive Orders are powerful, they can be overturned by the next President, ruled unconstitutional by the Courts, or rendered moot by Congressional funding cuts.
Presidential Power Slides Executive Command
AP US Government & Politics
UNIT 2: THE INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT
The Presidential Dilemma
"You are President. Honeybees are on the brink of extinction, threatening the food supply. Congress refuses to pass your 'Save the Bees Act' due to budget gridlock."
What is your move? How do you act WITHOUT a law?
The Presidential Toolbox
Party Leadership
Using party influence to push agendas through Congress.
Public Opinion
The "Bully Pulpit" — using visibility to pressure lawmakers.
Administrative
Directly managing the bureaucracy to implement policy.
Watch: How Presidents Govern
Focus: 5:29 — 7:40
Embedded media
The Executive Order Draft
1
Identify a **National Crisis** (Climate, Tech, Education).
2
Find the **Enforcement Agency** from your reference list.
3
Draft the order using the **official template**.
Example: Desegregation
"By virtue of the authority vested in me as President... it is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services..."
— EO 9981 (Truman)
Constitutional Challenge
Legitimacy
Does the Constitution actually grant the President power over this specific issue?
Bypass Check
Is this bypassing Congress too much? Could a court strike this down as overreach?
"The President must take care that the laws be faithfully executed."
Executive Order Draft Worksheet Executive Order Briefing
AP GOPO: BUREAUCRACY & EXECUTIVE ACTION
Document Ref:
EO-ACT-2026
Historical Precedents
Executive Orders are directives issued by the President that manage operations of the federal government and have the force of law. While they bypass the traditional legislative process in Congress, they must be based on authority granted by the Constitution or delegated by Congress.
President & Order Subject Constitutional Basis Lincoln (1863) Emancipation Proclamation Freed enslaved people in rebel states. Commander-in-Chief powers during wartime. FDR (1942) Order 9066 Internment of Japanese-Americans. War powers / National Security (later ruled controversial). Truman (1948) Order 9981 Desegregation of the US Armed Forces. Commander-in-Chief (enforcing equal treatment). Eisenhower (1957) Order 10730 Federalized National Guard to integrate Little Rock schools. Authority to enforce federal court orders / Take Care Clause.
The Challenge
Opponents argue that these orders allow Presidents to "make law" rather than "execute" it, violating the separation of powers. Proponents argue they are necessary for efficiency and crisis management.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2026
Executive Order: ________
Student Name
Date
EXECUTIVE ORDER
(Order Title / Goal)
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including Article II of the Constitution, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy.
(Describe the problem and why this order is necessary)
Section 2. Agency Implementation.
The Secretary of shall take all necessary and appropriate steps to:
(Specific actions for the agency to perform)
President of the United States
Agency Arsenal List Agency Arsenal
Federal Enforcement Reference
When drafting an Executive Order, the President must direct a specific **Executive Department** or **Independent Agency** to carry out the policy. Use this list to find the enforcement arm for your order.
Environment & Safety
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
Regulates pollution, chemical safety, and endangered species protection.
FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
Supervises food safety, pharmaceutical drugs, and tobacco products.
Economy & Trade
SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission)
Regulates stock markets and protects investors from fraud.
Department of the Treasury
Manages federal finances, taxes (IRS), and prints currency.
Security & Civil Rights
DOJ (Department of Justice)
Enforces federal laws, handles civil rights cases, and oversees the FBI.
DHS (Department of Homeland Security)
Border security, emergency management (FEMA), and immigration (ICE/USCIS).
Specialized Regulation
FCC (Federal Communications Commission)
Regulates radio, TV, internet, and satellites.
Department of Education
Administers federal student aid and ensures equal access to education.
END OF REFERENCE // OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL REGISTER
Pocket Constitution Sheet We the People...
Pocket Constitution Reference
Focus: Article II & Executive Power
Article II, Section 1
"The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America."
AP Exam Note:
This "Vesting Clause" is the legal foundation for most Executive Orders. It implies the President has the authority to manage the executive branch.
Article II, Section 3
"...he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed..."
Key Concept: The Take Care Clause
The President must implement laws passed by Congress. Executive Orders are often justified as specific instructions on *how* to execute those laws.
Judicial Review
The Supreme Court can rule an Executive Order unconstitutional if it attempts to create NEW law rather than clarifying existing law. (e.g., Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer)
Legislative Check
Congress can refuse to fund an Executive Order or pass a new law that explicitly overrides the President's directive.
Relevant Amendments
10th Amendment
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution... are reserved to the States..."
14th Amendment
"...nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law..."
