Question

In early 2020, the emergence of a new virus led the administration of President Donald Trump to announce a series of travel bans from countries where the virus was rapidly spreading. By late March, the U.S. borders and airports were closed to all non-essential travel. As the United States and many other nations instituted travel bans grounding airlines and closing borders, thousands of American travelers and workers were stranded elsewhere. Restricting travel was one part of the administration’s response plan to prevent spread of the virus and mitigate the effects. Another part was issuing guidelines for preventing the spread, including social distancing. The president declared a “major disaster” in many states, enabling the federal government to coordinate and assist the states with funding, supplies, and people to assist with the emergency situation. By mid-May 2020, the U.S. State Department (a department in the executive branch) had facilitated the return of over 85,000 Americans from 131 foreign countries and territories. Another executive department arranged for General Motors to produce 30,000 ventilators, important medical equipment for treating the most ill patients. Medical staff in the U.S. military were deployed to New York City and later to other places where hospitals had a great need for help. This is a sampling of executive branch actions during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, not an exhaustive list.

Referring to the scenario in your response, identify the executive power being exercised as it relates to the purposes of government expressed in the Preamble to the Constitution.

Describe how the power identified in part A reflects a specific weakness of government that existed under the Articles of Confederation.

Referring to the scenario in your response, explain how Congress could use a legislative power to influence the situation.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

I'm not sure if it's correct

In the scenario described above, the executive power being exercised is the power to respond to a crisis or emergency situation. This power relates to the purposes of government expressed in the Preamble to the Constitution, specifically "to provide for the common defense" and "to promote the general welfare." During a public health crisis such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the executive branch has the authority to take swift and decisive actions to protect the public and mitigate the effects of the crisis.

This exercise of executive power reflects a specific weakness of government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. Under the Articles, the central government had limited authority and lacked the power to effectively respond to emergencies or coordinate a unified national response. Each state had its own sovereignty and could act independently, which often resulted in a lack of cohesive action during times of crisis. The inability to respond effectively to emergencies was one of the reasons the Articles of Confederation were ultimately replaced by the Constitution, which granted broader powers to the federal government.

In this scenario, Congress could use its legislative power to influence the situation by passing laws and allocating resources to address the crisis. For example, Congress could pass legislation to provide additional funding for medical supplies, research, or economic relief. They could also establish guidelines and regulations to ensure the smooth distribution of resources and coordinate efforts among different government agencies. Additionally, Congress has oversight powers and could hold hearings or investigations to evaluate the effectiveness of the executive branch's response and propose changes or improvements as needed. Through legislation, Congress plays a crucial role in shaping the government's response to the pandemic and enacting laws that promote public health and welfare.