Name American Government: Presidential Crisis Simulation You have already been assigned one of the following roles as key advisor to the president, cabinet department secretary, or head of a government agency: State, Defense, Interior, Health and Human Services, Justice, Transportation, Energy, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, EPA Director, CIA Director, Press Secretary, Chief of Staff My Assigned Role: I. Background Information: In this simulation, you will participate in a Cabinet meeting at the White House, playing the role of a key advisor to the president, a department secretary or the head of a key agency of the federal government. In playing this role, you will have to give the president (President DeNardo) information on how the crisis described below might impact your area of responsibility and advice on how he should respond to this potential national emergency. Finally, you need to suggest to the President what information, if any, should be given to the American people. II. Crisis: Nuclear Disaster At 5:30 A.M. the President was awakened by the Chief of Staff and was given the news that there was a nuclear disaster, including a major fire and explosion followed by a massive core melting of both reactors at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station located on California s southern coast between San Diego and Los Angeles. It is not yet known if the disaster is due to a natural phenomenon, negligence or a terrorist attack. The exposure zone for extremely hazardous chemical waste is a 90 mile radius, which would include not only major population centers, but also military installations and fragile ecological zones. The President needs your help as you are his advisors and heads of the various agencies of the federal government. At 6:00 A.M. the President directed the Chief of Staff to immediately notify the Cabinet to report to a meeting at 7:00 A.M. to develop policy regarding this situation. No public statements have been issued but the President has asked the national and cable networks for airtime at 9:00 A.M. EST to address the nation. The President is seeking advice from the Cabinet to ensure this speech is helpful and comforting to the American people. III. Your Task: If you are representing a Cabinet department or government agency, you will be asked to present in an energetic, dynamic 2-3 minute Power Point, a succinct action plan to the president and other cabinet members that includes the basic responsibilities of your department/agency and a 3-4 point action plan for your department/agency. Be prepared to defend your ideas and participate in group discussion. If you have one of the individual advisor roles (National Security Advisor, Press Secretary, Chief of Staff, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Counsel to the President), you will give a 2-3 minute energetic, dynamic Power Point on what your roles and duties are and including a three-step action plan you will follow to assist the president.
Name CABINET DEPARTMENT/GOVERNMENT AGENCY DETAILED PLAN OF ACTION Your Department/Agency: 1.What is the impact of the crisis on your area of government responsibility? 2. How should the President work with and deploy your department/agency in response to the crisis? What constitutional powers/executive tools are available to the President? What are the relevant roles the President will need to fulfill?
CABINET DEPARTMENT/GOVERNMENT AGENCY DETAILED PLAN OF ACTION continued 3. Very specifically outline the steps that your department/agency can take to assist in this emergency. Discuss which agencies, services, and bureaus within your department/agency will be involved in these steps. You should shoot for 3-5 actions. Make sure you make clear your reasoning: who, what, WHEN (timelines are important), where, why. Be sure to consider when your Department policy implementation will be most effective: 1 st 72 hours, first few weeks, first few months, etc. short term? Long term? What other departments and agencies in the government will you need to coordinate with?
NOTE TAKING GUIDE: Cabinet positions, Agencies, and Individual Roles The purpose of the Cabinet is to advise the President on matters relating to the duties of their respective offices. As the President's closest and most trusted advisors, members of the Cabinet attend weekly meetings with the President. Department Name Purpose/Goals/Role in American Government Response to crisis (agencies and bureaus involved, role of President) State Defense Interior Chief of Staff
Department Name Health and Human Services Purpose/Goals/Role in American Government Response to crisis (agencies and bureaus involved, role of President) Department of Justice Transportation Energy
Department Name Purpose/Goals/Role in American Government Response to crisis (agencies and bureaus involved, role of President) Homeland Security Housing and Urban Development EPA Director CIA Director Press Secretary