1. What powers related to waging war are given to Congress under Article I? What powers are granted to the president under Article II? Why are there conflicts in this division of power between the president and Congress as they relate to war powers?
2. Why do you think members of Congress thought they needed to pass theWar Powers Resolution? Why have presidents asserted that the War Powers Resolution is unconstitutional? Do you agree with the position of Congress in 1973 or the position of subsequent presidents? Why or why not?
3. How do the terms imperial presidency and imperiled presidency reflect the fears of the Framers of the Constitution? How do the presidential leadership styles of Presidents Nixon and Johnson compare to the leadership styles of Presidents Ford and Carter?
4. What constitutional principles concerning the powers of the federal government did President Reagan describe in his first inaugural address? What founding philosophical principles does President Reagan echo in this passage?
5. Discuss President Reagan’s actions in Grenada with reference to the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. Did the president act within his constitutional powers? Did he act within the boundaries of theWar Powers Resolution? Why or why not?
6. What parts of the Constitution did President Reagan rely on in his firing of the air-traffic controllers? Do you see a conflict in President Reagan’s actions in this case and his goal of limiting the power of the government? Why or why not?
7. Do you see a conflict between the goals of limiting the power and size of the federal government and the expansion of the military? Why or why not?
