On Jan. 20, 2001, George Walker Bush was inaugurated the 43^rd President of the United States. President Bush campaigned on a program that he called "compassionate conservatism." After running a hard-fought campaign, Bush defeated Al Gore in a very close election that involved recounts, court challenges and the intervention of the U.S. Supreme Court. In his inauguration speech, the new president promised to heal the country with his policies and the composition of his presidential cabinet. With the Republican Party holding a slim majority in the U.S. House and with the Vice President needed to break a tie in the U.S. Senate, many observers suggest that the need for conciliation and compromise is apparent.

Objectives:

In this study guide you will:

• Review candidate George W. Bush's campaign pledges
• Identify central issues within the Bush agenda
• Apply your understanding of issues to the confirmation hearings
• Compare President Bush's election to that of a past president
• Analyze the cabinet's role in the government

Keyword Terms:

Inauguration, Presidential Cabinet, Nominee, Confirmation Hearings, Bipartisanship, Missile Defense, Vouchers, Inaugural Address, "Tax Cut", Defense Department, State Department, Attorney General, Education Secretary, Labor Secretary

Activities:

1. Write a summary of the election results and the role of the Electoral College in determining its outcome.
2. Identify what you already know about candidate Bush's campaign promises by brainstorming key issues that President Bush mentioned in his campaign speeches. Create a "Knowledge Web" or "Mind Map" to illustrate these key issues.
3. Using your "Knowledge Web" or "Mind Map" find articles that relate to these issues. Refer to the keyword terms above to help with your search.
4. Imagine that you were serving on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee responsible for asking questions of one of the following cabinet nominees, Attorney General, Secretary of the Interior or Secretary of Labor. Based upon your understanding of the issues, what questions would you have asked the nominee?
5. Pretend that you oppose the nomination of one of President Bush's cabinet nominees. Using SIRS Knowledge Source, research the record and views of the individual you oppose. Write a letter to your Congressman explaining your opposition, using supporting evidence from the articles. Present your position to your class. How does your position differ or compare to those of your classmates who support the candidate?
6. Read President George W. Bush's inaugural address. List the major goals outlined in the address. Go to SIRS Knowledge Source and find articles on each of the major policy goals of the Bush Administration. Create an annotated bibliography of articles on President Bush's policies that you would suggest any citizen should read to be informed on these policy issues.
7. Vice presidents typically have a very minor role in presidential administrations. What role do you think Vice President Cheney should play in the Bush administration?

Assessment:

1. Like George W. Bush, Thomas Jefferson was involved in a contentious election, ultimately decided in the U.S. House of Representatives. Read President Jefferson's inaugural address. Compare and contrast Jefferson's address to that of President Bush. In what ways was Jefferson's situation similar to that of President Bush? How were the situations different?
2. The Constitution made no mention of a Presidential cabinet. It has evolved as a presidential tradition. Using SIRS Knowledge Source, determine who first introduced the presidential cabinet. Form a study group and determine whether you think the presidential cabinet is still necessary and why cabinet nominations are often contentious.