CONGRESS, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, AND THE JUDICIARY

Balance of Power and the War Powers Resolution For this assignment, you will prepare a debate paper covering an issue that involves the balance of power between the executive and the legislative branches: The War Powers Resolution. The War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress when he or she sends troops into combat and requires the president to withdraw them within 60 days if Congress does not approve of the actions. The executive branch has never acknowledged the constitutionality of this law. Case Assignment Step 1 Write a 3 to 4-page debate paper that address the following scenario: You are serving an internship with a candidate running for Congress. She has asked you to help her prepare for a series of debates over central topics facing the nation. In the first section of the debate paper, you will provide the most powerful argument possible in favor of one side of the debate, and then you will do the same for the other side. Finally, you will write a critique of the side of the issue with which you disagree. In the paper, you will debate whether the scope of the War Powers Resolution should be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, which has refused to hear challenges made by members of Congress to force the president to abide by the law. When addressing this topic, you must think carefully about the roles of all three branches of government and about the processes that led to the passage of and that support the current status of the War Powers Resolution. Your candidate's debates will take place before an audience of the general public, so be sure to explain the roles of the three branches of government and the current implications of the War Powers Resolution clearly. Step 2 Research the topic. Being able to apply information-literacy skills in studying politics is critical. Access the Internet to research and learn about the War Powers Resolution and the debates surrounding it. Consider your sources carefully when you research, keeping the following points in mind: Primary sources, such as government websites, will be more informative and less subjective than secondary sources. Check the reference lists or sources of any secondary online source you find, such as a journal or newspaper article. Has the author provided solid background for the opinions he or she expresses? Do not accept the opinions of any individual secondary source without question. Consider the site where you found the source. What is its primary purpose? Who is its intended audience?