The President Breaks the Law (A Think)

CNN is running an article entitled NSA Eavesdropping Program Ruled Unconstitutional. The article quotes the court ruling:

"The defendants "are permanently enjoined from directly or indirectly utilizing the Terrorist Surveillance Program in any way, including, but not limited to, conducting warrantless wiretaps of telephone and Internet communications, in contravention of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Title III," (U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor )wrote... Her ruling went on to say that 'the president of the United States ... has undisputedly violated the Fourth in failing to procure judicial orders.'"

The Lesson

This ruling is an incredibly powerful statement about the government of the United States. It demonstrates that the President and the Executive Branch are not all powerful.
1. For younger students, you might pose the following question, "Who owns the United States of America?" Help students understand that the people who live in the United States all have equal powers. All people in the United States have to follow laws, even Presidents. A useful analogy might be that in the classroom teachers have to follow some rules, not just students. For example, a teacher cannot swear or push somebody. In the country the President has to follow rules.
2. For older students, ask if they think it's a good idea that the President has to follow rules. You might ask students to write a persuasive argument taking one side of this issue or the other.
3. Ask students if they think that the President of the United States should have the right to eavesdrop on telephone conversations that the American people have, during times of war. Encourage them to support their opinions.
4. If you know how electronics work, or teach an electronics or technology class, this might be a convenient time to discuss the workings of the telephone system with your students. Perhaps incorporate drawing into this lesson and ask students to diagram the way that the telephone system works and how eavesdropping interacts with the telephone system.
5. The CNN article lists several amendments that the judge found the President guilty of violating. In a civics class it might be a convenient opportunity to consider these amendments.