This lesson has been adapted from the BCPS Executive Branch Slam Dunk for Social Studies.

Objective: Students will analyze and synthesize curated resources by creating a Board Builder or Infographic in order to evaluate how the Executive Branch of the U.S. government should fulfill their responsibilities regarding immigration.

Introduction:

As you know, the President is elected every 4 years to serve the American public as the chief executive of the United States government.  The President has a team of people he consults, known as the Cabinet, to make policy decisions.

The President must make decisions on a number of controversial issues to ensure that laws are enforced in the United States.

You have learned about political parties, interest groups, elections and the media in a previous unit. 

Each of these linkage institutions influences how each branch of government fulfills their responsibilities to US government.

Essential Question:

In this lesson, you will be answering the essential question: How do linkage institutions affect how the Executive Branch fulfills their responsibilities in the United States government?

Your ultimate aim is to conduct research on how linkage institutions influence the Executive Branch regarding immigration--and to create a proposal:

What should the President do regarding immigration reform based on how your linkage institution affects how the President fulfills their responsibilities in the U.S. government?

STEP ONE: Research & Synthesis

Based on which linkage institution your group is assigned, you will be researching how this linkage institution has influenced the President regarding immigration reform. You may use this organizer to take your notes.

DAY ONE CHECK-IN:

 Tweet it! Contribute to your class's Padlet page below by advertising a clue/creating a Twitter campaign for your linkage institution that hints to the proposal you are considering. Remember to consider how your                     linkage institution will affect Executive policy regarding immigration. You can also upload/share a link to                    your notes here.

1B: https://padlet.com/stenly/EB_1A

2A: https://padlet.com/stenly/EB_2A

5A: https://padlet.com/stenly/EB_5A

STEP TWO: Creation & Evaluation

Use your notes to create a Board Builder  or Infographic describing how the linkage institution(s) you researched has influenced the Executive Branch in making decisions regarding immigration.

Specifically, you will also need to create a section for a proposal answering: What should the President do regarding immigration reform based on how your linkage institution affects how the President fulfills their responsibilities in the U.S. government? Using your previous learning, anticipate and address how the other two branches (legislative and judicial) may "check" the President on this proposal.

Be sure to include the following in your presentation:

1.  The name and a description of the linkage institution(s) you researched.
2.  How does that linkage institution impact how the Executive branch conducts their business of enforcing laws?
3. Your proposal for how the President should address immigration based on your learning. 
4. An anticipation for how your proposal will be met by the legislative and/or judicial branch. 

Refer to the following rubric to earn an A!

You will be sharing these boards/Infographics in class.

Enrichment Activities

The President often has projects that he is very passionate about, even if others in government are not in favor of the policy. 

How did the American people react differently to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act(also known as “Obamacare”)?

Pro-Viewpoint 

What is the Affordable Care Act?

Con-Viewpoint

Health Care Reform is a Disaster for All Americans

Create a one-pager summarizing the information you’ve learned about the Affordable Care Act expressing your own opinion.