pc i chief diplomat-jimmy carter and panama canal treaty-student program

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Educating Young People about the Constitution

www.BillofRightsInstitute.org

Presidents and the ConstitutionAdvice and Consent:The President as Chief Diplomat



Presidents and the Constitution Resources

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“The President shall have the power, by theadvice and consent of the Senate, to maketreaties, provided 2/3 of the Senators presentagree.” Article II, section 2.

But what does “advice and consent” mean?And how has it come to pass that Presidentsnegotiate treaties and the Senate merelyapproves them. Is that right? Who shouldreally have the power to make treaties?

Directions: Read Gleaves Whitney’s Essay onpages 94-96. Underline or highlight the factsyou think are important.



Constitutional Connection Activity

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The President as Chief Diplomat



Critical Engagement Question

How did President Jimmy Carter achieve Senateratification of the unpopular treaties transferring thePanama Canal Zone from the United States back to

Panama?

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Jimmy Carter and the Panama Canal Treaty

MirafloresLocks at the

PanamaCanal



Jimmy Carter and the Panama Canal TreatyObjectives

• Understand the issues at stake between the United States andPanama in the Panama CanalTreaty

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Trace President approach to thequestions and controversies thatresulted from the Panama CanalTreaty.

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Analyze the roles of the executiveand legislative branches in thetreaty making-Process.

• Evaluate the effectiveness ofCarter’s efforts.

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Background/Homework

Handout A: Jimmy Carter and the PanamaCanal Treaty

1. What were Carter’s goals for foreignaffairs?

2. What were the reasons for Panamanianopposition to U.S. ownership of thePanama Canal Zone, and why were thesereasons important to Carter?

3. How did President Carter influence

public opinion?

4. How did President Carter get the adviceof the Senate?

5. How would you assess his approach to

“advise and consent of the Senate”? 6




Warm-Up

•Research the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and preparefor a mock debate.

• You will need Senators in favor of the Treaty, Senatorsopposed, and a President.

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Activity

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Mock debaters should share their ideas with their like-mindedcolleagues.• Senators should argue the best reasons for and against the

treaty.• Presidents should summarize the advice they received from the

Senators and decide how to a) address the Senators concerns and b) conduct future conversations with Torrijos.

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PresidentCarterAddressing a joint session of

Congress. 1978



Wrap Up

• Vote on the Treaty. (Treaty ratification requires 2/3 majority)• Discuss the roles of the executive and legislative branches in

the treaty making process.• Even though a treaty must be approved by the Senate, history

holds the President responsible for the outcome of the treatynegotiations. Why is that?

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Jimmy Carter and Omar

Torrijos signing thePanama Canal Treaty.



Homework

Create a T-chart to respond to the questions: 1) What didPresident Jimmy Carter do effectively in the “advise and consent”part of the Panama Treaty Process? 2) What aspects of hisapproach, if any, needed improvement?

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President Carter’s Statementon the Panama Canal Treaty

Signing September 7, 1977

pc i chief diplomat-jimmy carter and panama canal treaty-student program

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