NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
President Donald Trump’s social media post over the weekend that implied he is above the law triggered alarm bells from experts who were already concerned about the legal and constitutional boundaries tested during his first few weeks in office. Kim Lane Scheppele, professor of sociology and international affairs at Princeton University, joins Amna Nawaz to discuss for our new series, "On Democracy."
View the transcript of the story.
Key terms
Strongman — one who leads or controls by force of will and character or by military methods
Autocracy — a form of government in which one ruler has absolute control and decision-making power
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- Who are the political strongmen leaders in other countries that Trump has praised?
- What are some similarities between those authoritarian governments and what Trump has done so far in his second term?
- How is Trump attempting to transform the government without approval from Congress?
- What are the biggest differences between Trump's first and second terms?
- Why might it be difficult for Americans to understand the implications of what Trump has been doing this time around?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
Kim Lane Scheppele mentions that the Trump administration's targeting of migrants and trans people is a strategic form of scapegoating and generating fear. Why might this have dangerous consequences for both those in these targeted groups and those outside of them?
Media literacy: Think about what you've learned in class so far about democratic governments. Make a list of similarities and differences between democracies and autocracies.
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
Watch this interview with constitutional scholar Ilya Shapiro to hear another perspective of Trump's second term.
The Trump administration's dismantling of federal agencies has been referred to by some as executive overreach, or the expansion of presidential power and authority beyond the limits established by the Constitution and the system of checks and balances. Do you think Trump's actions align with this definition?
According to Shapiro, Trump's executive orders are well within the scope and power of the executive branch and should only require congressional approval to make sure these laws can't be reversed in the future. Others believe that some of Trump's executive orders, such as the reversal of birthright citizenship, go against the United States Constitution, and should be challenged by the courts. Use what you've learned about checks and balances in the US government to discuss with a classmate how the executive branch might overexert its power.
Written by Gianfranco Beran, PBS News Hour Classroom's production assistant, and News Hour's Luke Gerwe.
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