The power of the American presidency has grown over time, particularly during times of war. In this activity, you read about the actions of six...

The power of the American presidency has grown over time, particularly during times of war. In this activity, you read about the actions of six presidents: Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Lyndon B. Johnson, and George W. Bush.

• Do their actions represent appropriate uses of presidential power, or examples of presidents overstepping the authority they were granted by the Constitution?
• How do you think the framers of the Constitution would respond to the presidency's expanded powers?
• In your opinion, do U.S. presidents today have too much power or not enough?