 |
Examine Bush's homeland security plan and presidential Cabinets
September 3, 2002
Web posted at: 5:55 PM EDT (2155 GMT)
Overview: The U.S. Senate begins debate on establishing a Cabinet-level homeland security office. The top sticking point for critics in the Senate is President Bush's insistence that top officials be allowed more power over personnel issues. Mr. Bush has threatened to veto any bill that does not grant the White House this authority. To have students better understand the function of presidential cabinets, direct students to investigate the changes in presidential cabinets since George Washington's inauguration.
Have students read the story "Senate tackles homeland security" and answer the following questions:
1. What new Cabinet-level department does President George W. Bush want to create? What is the status of the related Senate bill? Why are some Senators opposed to the White House-backed version of the bill that was passed by the House of Representatives? How have congressional lawmakers that support Bush's plan responded to these criticisms?
2. Have students discuss the following questions:
|
RESOURCES
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Why do some critics of Bush's plan feel that that granting the White House more power over personnel issues would "undercut protections for federal employees and weaken the civil service system?"
Why do you think some supporters of the president's plan feel that the bill needs to give the president reorganization flexibility, the ability to override collective bargaining agreements in the name of national security and personnel flexibility?"
After students consider these questions, poll your class to find out your students' views on Bush's plan and whether the president should have power over personnel issues in the new Cabinet–level department.
3. Have students define the term "veto" and why the U.S. president is granted the power to veto legislation. Then remind students that Bush has threatened to veto any bill that does not grant allow top officials more power over personnel issues. Ask: Why do you think the president has issued this threat? Do you think Bush should have made this statement? Why or why not? Do you think Bush's edict will sway Senate lawmakers' positions on the bill? Discuss.
4. President Bush is proposing a new Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security. Generate a class discussion about how Mr. Bush's proposal reflects changing times.
Inform students that the first U.S. president, George Washington, had a cabinet that consisted of four department secretaries: Secretary of War Henry Knox, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph. Ask: How was Washington's cabinet different from Bush's? What other changes in the presidential cabinet have taken place since Washington's presidency?
Group students. Direct each group to conduct research to learn more about changes in presidential cabinets since George Washington's inauguration. Have groups note the changes in Cabinet departments (i.e., additions and omissions), and the circumstances and events that precipitated these changes.
Have groups combine their information to create a timeline of the president's Cabinet, reflecting any changes and the events that made them happen.
RELATED STORY:
|
RELATED SITE:
• President Bush's Cabinet
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
|
|
|
