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| Chapter 13: The Presidency |
| Questions for Discussion and Thought |
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| 1. Most Americans did not know that President Franklin Roosevelt was severely crippled from polio and had to use a wheelchair, or that John F. Kennedy had extramarital affairs while in the White House. The media censored itself due to respect for the office and the man. Which do you think is better: Not knowing very much or knowing a lot about the personal lives of the presidents? Does what goes on in their personal lives affect their ability to govern? Have our most effective presidents also been the most exemplary? Have the most moral been the most effective? |
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| 2. Why do you think the U.S. president is often called the most powerful leader in the world? If that is true, what special responsibilities does the U.S. president carry? Should we limit the president’s role in world affairs? Should the United States be less of a world leader? |
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| 3. Are the responsibilities of “the most powerful leader in the world,” the U.S. president, too large a job for one person? Why has the U.S. presidency grown so large? Are there any powers you think should be taken away from the president? Do we over-idealize the president? Do you think it is safe for a democracy to put so much faith in a single leader? |
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| 4. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the line-item veto to be unconstitutional because it violates the separation of powers. Yet the veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in each house, just as any other bill is vetoed. Do you agree with the judge that the veto violates separation of powers? |
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| 5. If we limit a president to two terms, as required by the Twenty-second Amendment, shouldn’t we also limit the terms of the Congress? What about federal judges, who are appointed for life? What is different about the president from the other branches? |
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