Scandal and Statecraft Lesson Plan Scandal and Statecraft
Lesson Plan: Impeachment and Political Bias
History / Civics
Grades 10-12
Learning Objectives
Define impeachment and distinguish it from removal from office.
Analyze how political bias and "Culture Wars" influenced the Clinton impeachment.
Evaluate arguments regarding the moral vs. political motivations of impeachment.
Compare the Clinton impeachment to other historical cases (Johnson, Trump).
Pacing
Total Time: 50-60 Minutes
5m: Warm-up Brainstorm
10m: Video Analysis
25m: Discussion/Debate
10m: Extension/Comparison
5m: Closure & Reflection
Essential Question
Is impeachment a vital defense of national moral values, or a tool for political power plays?
1 Warm-up: The Removal Power (5 min)
Ask students to brainstorm reasons why a President might be removed from office. Record these on the board.
Teacher Note: Distinguish between "impeachment" (the formal charge by the House) and "conviction/removal" (the trial in the Senate). Most students assume they are the same thing.
2 Video Viewing: The Clinton Segment (10 min)
Watch the "Politics in the 1990s" segment specifically focusing on the Clinton Impeachment (Starting around 09:46).
Focusing Questions:
What were the formal charges against President Clinton?
How did the "Conservative Radio" and "Liberal Radio" voices differ in their interpretation of the scandal?
3 Small Group Debate: Crossfire (25 min)
Divide the class into small groups (4-5 students). Distribute the Crossfire Discussion Cards. Groups should rotate through the questions, ensuring every student contributes.
Defense of Morality Role:
Argue that the President is the nation's moral leader; lying under oath undermines the rule of law regardless of policy success.
Political Power Play Role:
Argue that the impeachment was a weaponized response by a partisan Congress to undo an election based on personal, non-state matters.
4 Extension: Impeachment Inquiry (10 min)
Distribute the Impeachment Inquiry Worksheet. Students compare Clinton's charges to Andrew Johnson's (Tenure of Office Act) or Donald Trump's (Ukraine/Jan 6th).
5 Closure: Personal vs. Public (5 min)
Exit Ticket Reflection: "Should a President's personal conduct be grounds for removal if their public policy is successful? Why or why not?"
Required Materials
Scandal Slides Crossfire Cards Impeachment Worksheet Discourse Rubric
Scandal and Statecraft Slides Scandal & Statecraft
Impeachment and the Culture Wars
Unit: Political Division in Late 20th-Century America
Warm-up: The Bar for Removal
The Constitution allows for removal for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
Brainstorm with a partner:
What specific actions by a President should lead to their removal from office?
The Clinton Case (1998)
In the 1990s, political talk radio fueled a growing divide known as the "Culture Wars."
Watch for:
The formal charges against Clinton.
The contrast between liberal and conservative reactions.
Embedded media
Starts at 09:46: Impeachment Segment
Two Sides of the Scandal
Conservative View
"Whatever moral and ethical bar we set for ourselves... our President must be above that."
Theme: Moral Values
Violation of public trust and the sanctity of the oath.
Liberal View
"Nobody's saying Clinton's perfect... but we elected him to do a job. The economy's in good shape..."
Theme: Practical Statecraft
Personal failings don't erase public success; political power play.
Discussion Prompt
"Was the impeachment a defense of moral values or a political power play?"
Use Your Discussion Cards
Refer to the Rubric
Historical Comparisons
Andrew Johnson
1868: Tenure of Office Act
A battle over Reconstruction power between the President and Congress.
Bill Clinton
1998: Perjury/Obstruction
Lying under oath about a personal relationship during a lawsuit.
Donald Trump
2019 / 2021
Abuse of power (Ukraine) and Incitement of Insurrection (Jan 6th).
Complete the "Impeachment Inquiry" worksheet.
Closure Reflection
"Should a President's personal conduct be grounds for removal if their public policy is successful?"
Be prepared to justify your answer with a specific example from today.
Crossfire Discussion Cards Crossfire Discussion Cards
Cut these cards out. Use them in small groups to facilitate a debate on the Clinton Impeachment and the nature of political scandal.
Topic: Law vs. Life
Lying under oath is a crime (perjury).
Does the nature of the lie (a personal relationship) matter more than the act of lying in a legal proceeding? Why or why not?
Prompt A
Topic: Policy vs. Person
The Liberal Radio host argued: "The economy's in good shape... so he's done the job."
Should a President's job performance act as a "shield" against removal for personal misconduct?
Prompt B
Topic: Moral Bar
The Conservative host argued: "Our President must be above [the moral bar of everyday Americans]."
Is it realistic to expect a President to be a moral exemplar, or should we only expect them to be an effective administrator?
Prompt C
Topic: Partisanship
Was this a "Political Power Play"?
If the President had been from the same party as the Congress, do you believe they would have pursued impeachment? Why or why not?
Prompt D
Topic: Precedent
Setting a Standard
If Clinton had been removed, what message would that have sent to future Presidents? By staying in office, what message was sent instead?
Prompt E
Topic: Public Interest
The "Culture Wars"
How did talk radio and public opinion contribute to the impeachment trial? Can a President get a fair trial when the public is so divided?
Prompt F
Debate Guidelines
Respectfully disagree: "I hear your point, but I see it differently because..."
Use evidence: Refer to the video or historical context.
Equal time: Ensure every voice in the group is heard.
Impeachment Inquiry Worksheet Impeachment Inquiry
Historical Comparison Activity
Name:
Date:
The Impeachment Mechanism
The U.S. Constitution provides for the removal of a President for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." While the term "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" is not explicitly defined, history shows it has been applied to both legal violations and perceived abuses of power.
The Historical Record
President Context / Era The "High Crime" (Charges) Andrew Johnson 1868 Post-Civil War Reconstruction; power struggle with Radical Republicans. Bill Clinton 1998 The "Culture Wars" of the 90s; partisan divide and talk radio. Donald Trump 2019 & 2021 Deep political polarization; social media era; contested elections.
1. Patterns of Scandal
Looking at all three cases, which impeachment appears to be the most "political" (motivated by a power play) and which appears to be the most "legal" (motivated by a specific crime)? Explain your reasoning.
2. The Role of Public Opinion
In the Clinton case, "Culture Wars" and talk radio shaped public perception. How do you think modern social media would have changed the 1998 impeachment process?
3. Personal Conduct vs. Official Acts
The Johnson and Trump impeachments centered on official government acts (firing a cabinet member, foreign relations, incitement). Clinton's centered on a personal lie. Should the Constitution distinguish between private misconduct and official abuse of power?
"Impeachment is a political process, not a legal one." — Gerald Ford
Civic Discourse Rubric and Key Civic Discourse Rubric
Evaluation for Small Group Debate and Discussion
Criteria Advanced (4) Proficient (3) Developing (2) Beginning (1) Use of Evidence Consistently cites specific quotes from the video or historical facts. Often refers to the video or general historical context. Occasionally uses evidence, but mostly relies on opinion. Rarely or never uses specific evidence to support claims. Nuance & Complexity Acknowledges multiple perspectives and identifies the complexities of the issue. Recognizes different viewpoints but sticks primarily to one side. Demonstrates basic understanding of two sides. Sees the issue in overly simplistic or "black and white" terms. Active Engagement Actively listens and builds upon others' ideas or asks clarifying questions. Listens well and contributes regularly to the conversation. Participates occasionally or needs prompting to contribute. Dominates the talk or remains disengaged from the group. Civil Discourse Responds to disagreement with extreme respect and academic language. Remains respectful and polite throughout the discussion. Generally respectful but may use dismissive language. Uses disrespectful language or interrupts others frequently.
Impeachment Reference Key
Teacher guide for the Inquiry Worksheet comparison table
Andrew Johnson
Violation of the Tenure of Office Act.
He fired Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without Senate approval. This was a "test case" to see if Congress could limit the President's power to manage his own cabinet during the high-stakes battle over Reconstruction policy.
Bill Clinton
Perjury and Obstruction of Justice.
Specifically, lying under oath in a civil deposition regarding a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky and allegedly encouraging others to hide evidence. The "misdemeanor" was a personal legal violation, not a state policy act.
Donald Trump
Abuse of Power / Incitement of Insurrection.
2019: Pressuring Ukraine to investigate a political rival (Joe Biden) while withholding military aid. 2021: Encouraging the events of January 6th and attempting to overturn the 2020 election results.
Discussion Facilitation Tip
Students often struggle with the "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" phrase. Remind them that "High" refers to the office (crimes committed by a high official) rather than the severity of the crime. A "Misdemeanor" in the 18th century often meant "bad demeanor" or misconduct in office.
