Unit 2
Interactions Among Branches of Government
American Government: Stores of a Nation Chapters
Unit 2: Branches of the Federal Government
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Foundational Documents
Review Materials
It's recommended that you use the CED to guide your study. These articles follow the CED's organization.
Representatives as delegates, trustees, and politicos (KhanAcademy.org)
The Constitution Explained (usconstitution.net) - this has some decent section-by-section explanations of each of the Articles of the Constitution with definitions and rationale.
Foreign policy and the role of the President and Congress (study.com) - this details the difficult relationship that the two institutions have in forming and exercising foreign policy
Executive Orders 101 (constitutioncenter.org) - a current event article discussing the use, background, and scope of executive orders. Also see this order authorizing a Union general to suspend the right of habeas corpus during the Civil War by Abraham Lincoln.
The Politics of Presidential Agendas (JSTOR) - even just the first page of this is a good resource for understanding what exactly a presidential agenda is and how it affects the president's relationship with Congress.
Confusing Concept
Stare Decisis - court decisions are made based on precedent, which means previous court cases. The remainder of the latin phrase is et non quieta movere, which means to not disturb settled points. See "The Principles of Stare Decisis" in the American Law Register, 1884.
Required Cases Related to this Unit
Primary Sources