National Emergency
AP US Government and Politics
What portion of Americans approve of Donald J. Trump’s decision to declare a national emergency to build a wall?
How accurate was your prediction?
Describe public opinion of the Trump Emergency Declaration?
How do you think public opinion on the emergency declaration varies by party affiliation?*
Why do you think the public feels that way about Trump’s national emergency Declaration funding a border wall?
Who does the U.S. Constitution empower to fund things such as interstate highways, n.A.S.A., and border walls?
Does Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution give the president the power to go against the Congress’ wishes and fund a border wall?
President Trump’s power to declare a national emergency and build a wall comes from 33 U.S. Code § 2293 - Reprogramming during national emergencies and 10 U.S. Code § 2808 - Construction authority in the event of a declaration of war or national emergency. Based on your reading of these two short section of the U.S. Code, does Trump’s declaration of an emergency fall within the meaning of that code?
You just made a claim about Trump’s power to declare a national emergency. What institution gets to make a claim about this which carries the rule of law?
There are a number of things Congress could do to stop Trump. What is the most likely thing the Senate and House could do about Trump‘s declaration of a national emergency?
The power of the purse (funding) is a Congressional power laid out in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. COnstitution. The Congress has repeatedly refused to fund a wall. By declaring a national emergency and funding a border wall, president Trump is taking away the funding from congress and giving it to himself. What does this action do to checks and balances?
According to James Madison in Federalist No. 51, Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. Whose ambition is currently counteracting trump’s ambition?
List the top three national emergencies that America faces:
If you had to rank the border, in terms of national emergencies, how high would it rank?
When Americans are asked to name the top national emergencies how high does the border wall rank?*
Explain whether there is a connection between Trump taking such unpopular positions as declaring the border an emergency and his low public approval ratings?
clearly, the president is taking a highly unpopular action. In your opinion, Explain whether this means that Trump is a strong or a weak leader.
explain whether taking such a highly unpopular position makes Trump more of a trustee, delegate, or Politico.
During two years of a Republican controlled Congress, POTUS Trump was not able to convince the legislature to fund his wall, Nor was he able to convince the public of the importance of the wall. Why do you think that is?
President Trump is very good at convincing people of things they already believe in. He has been less successful at convincing people who don’t already agree with him. Explain whether successful presidents (or politicians) are able to convince people to change their minds. Support your argument with examples from american political history.
The House and Senate have rejected the president’s requests for spending for the wall. Many Senators from his own party have publicaly opposed his national emergency declaration. Explain whether you believe the Congress will stop him?
There are already a number of legal challenges to the national emergency Declaration (hear the list below). Where will these challenges ultimately end up and how do you think the SCOTUS will rule on this issue?
