The Power Grab Game The
OVERVIEW:
The highest law of the land is the Constitution. The Constitution and its
amendments outline the framework for the society in which we live. The core
ideas of American Government are embodied in the Constitution: checks and
balances, separation of powers, the Bill of Rights and amendments.
RULES: Working in groups of three, you should
complete the following activity. In each
round of the activity, a branch of government will have an opportunity to make
an unconstitutional "Power Grab". Your group must find proof from the
Constitution and its amendments (by article, section, and clause) that explains why the power grab is unconstitutional.
You should mark the appropriate source by each
unconstitutional power grab.
**POWER
GRABS**
Round
1
President—A serious
economic crisis takes place In the
Congress—Congress passes a law taking 25% of all
the profits from all cheese exported from
Courts—The Court rules that the government may
not issue patents because of the need for technological advance.
Round 2
President—President Xiong
decides to declare war on
Congress—Congress passes a law that people from
Courts—Since Washington D.C. is not a state,
residents who live there may not vote in any national elections.
Round
3
President—The President
appoints Jean Burrows to Senator Kohl's seat when Kohl resigns due to a
personal scandal.
Congress—Congress impeaches President Bush
because he pardons Dick Cheney for some minor crime. The Democratic Senate uses
their anger to "get him".
Courts—Because of our huge national debt, the
Round
4
President—President Teska
decides that to fight terrorism, anyone found guilty of hijacking will be
punished by having their fingernails ripped off.
Congress—Congress decides that beards and
mustaches are illegal; anyone who wore one in the last year must pay a $100
fine.
Courts—The Court decides that since religion and
politics don't mix, no government official is required to take an oath of
office.
Round
5
President—The President decides that Congress
will meet in regular session on December 15 of each year.
Congress—Congress decides to Impeach President
Clinton with the President Pro-Temp of the Senate presiding.
Courts—The ambassador
to
Round
6
President—The President
orders that a mass murderer be sent back to
Congress—A House member dies, the House takes
four days off to mourn but the Senate says they can only have two days off.
Courts—The Court rules that the heads of
departments may no longer make appointments of inferior officers, but only the
President of the
Round
7
President—Brad Pitt comes to
Congress—Congress passes a law naming 15
university students guilty of crimes against the government and orders them
expelled from school.
Courts—A male teacher
sues over sexual discrimination by taking the case directly to the Supreme
Court.
Round
8
President—Your land is
in the way of a federal highway, so the President takes your land without
compensation.
Congress—Congress passes a law that says you can
sue your state in federal court.
Courts—The Court rules that income tax is illegal and you don't
have to pay.
Round
9
President—The President orders that since all
citizens over 18 want to vote for the President, they may do so by popular
vote.
Congress—Congress decides that because of the
contributions of Brett Favre to football, they will
honor him with the title. "Sir Brett Favre".
Courts—The Court rules that because of the
difficulty in finding honest, law abiding citizens, they will allow Mr. Novak
to be Secretary of the Interior.
Round
10
President—The President, concerned about drug
violations in the state of
Congress—Congress decides to change the
Constitution to allow the President to be elected to one term of six years.
Courts—The Courts find
President Clinton guilty of perjury on the basis of testimony of Monica
Lewinsky alone.