US History Honors -Applying the Balance of Powers - A8-16

I. According to the Constitution, which branch of government (if any) has the power to do the following?

1. Make it illegal to copy songs from the Internet without paying record companies.

2. Declare war on Iran.

3. Send troops to Haiti to restore stability and protect the peace.

4. Appoint an ambassador to France.

5. Tax profits from the sale of shoes in the US.

6. Protect suspected criminals from abusive interrogations.

II. Write your best answer for each of the following scenarios:

1. You're the president. You want to cut the income tax. What can you do about it?

2. You're in Congress. You don't like the Supreme Court's ruling against the Pledge of Allegiance. What can you do about it?

3. You're in Congress. The President vetoes your Social Security Reform act. What can you do about it?

4. You're on the Supreme Court. A girl has been expelled from high school for wearing a Bush is a Terrorist T-shirt. You think that she has a constitutional right to express her political opinion in school. What can you do about it?