Presidential Elections
Alex: This election is going to be close!
Helen: I think you’re right. The Republicans and the Democrats are fighting for every vote.
Alex: Did you watch the conventions?
Helen: Yes, I watched a little bit. The party platforms are extremely different.
Alex: Yes, they are! Watching them on TV, it was hard to believe they come from the same country!
Helen: Oh, it wasn’t that bad.
Alex: Hmmm, anyway the delegates certainly clapped hard for their nominees.
Helen: But it was the same stump speech over and over again. In both parties!
Alex: That’s what politicians do best. Talk … the problem is whether they actually do very much.
Helen: Oh, you’re a pessimist!
Alex: I wouldn’t say that. It’s just that I’m sick and tired of all the attack ads.
Helen: I see your point. It would be nice to know what they want to govern the country, rather than why they think the other guy isn’t any good.
Alex: They treat us like idiots! I hate sound bites. Short simple statements that don’t really give me much information. Treat me like I have a brain.
Helen: Some say we get what we deserve. Voter turnout is so low, perhaps we don’t deserve any better.
Alex: But that’s why people don’t come out to vote. They don’t feel represented even if they do vote.
Helen: I think we need a third party in this country.
Alex: I couldn’t agree with you more!
Helen: Perhaps a third party would stop the partisanship.
Alex: Another thing that I don’t think is fair is the electoral system.
Helen: No kidding! Just think, a state like California has 54 electoral votes. One vote majority in the popular vote and ALL of those 54 votes go to ONE candidate!
Alex: It just isn’t fair.
Helen: Of course, there are reasons for that.
Alex: Hmmm. I guess …
Helen: Are you a registered voter?
Alex: Of course! I’m a registered voter and I go to the voting booth to vote. I want that vote to represent my voice.
Helen: OK, OK, no need to give a speech.
Alex: Ha ha, I just think it’s my duty as a citizen to vote.
Helen: Yes, I agree with you. If you can vote, vote!
Key Vocabulary
to elect
political party
Republican
Democrat
third party
candidate
presidential nominee
primary election
to attend
party convention
to nominate
party platform
stump speech
attack ads
sound bite
voter turnout
registered voter
voting booth
Electoral College
electoral vote
popular vote
duty
Questions
What do Alex and Helen believe?
The election will be close.
The election won’t be close.
The election will not be held.
What does Helen think about the party platforms?
That they are very different
That they are very similar
That they are boring
What does Alex say?
Watching the conventions it was clear that the parties are from the same country.
Watching the conventions it was hard to believe that the parties are from the same country.
Watching the conventions put him to sleep.
What does Helen complain about concerning the conventions?
That the stump speeches were too different each time.
That the stump speeches were too similar each time.
That the conventions should have had more music.
What does Helen accuse Alex of being?
An optimist
A realist
A pessimist
What is an attack ad?
An ad attacking the other nominee
An ad supporting the other nominee
A type of hunting ad
What is a sound bite?
A detailed analysis of a situation
A short simple statement with little detail
A type of animal bite
What is Alex tired of?
The attack ads
The political parties
The nominees
What would Helen like to hear?
How the political parties intend to govern the country
Why the political parties think the other guy isn’t any good
More sound bites
Why does Helen say about voter turnout?
Perhaps we don’t deserve better treatment because voter turnout is so low.
Perhaps we make better decisions because voter turnout is so low.
Perhaps they don’t feel represented even if they do vote.
THE SYSTEM
Voting in the United States is a two party system. Every president since 1852 has been either a Republican or a Democrat.
In the U.S., a “single-member district system” applies. The candidate who gets elected is the one who gets the highest number of votes in their respective state.
Presidents are elected indirectly. The voters are really voting for electors in each state.
In all states, the candidate who wins a plurality, receives all of that state’s electoral votes. All together there are 538 electors (in the “Electoral College). It is very important to win in populous states.
To win the presidential election, a candidate must earn an absolute majority at least 270 of the 538 electoral votes cast nationwide.
Who can run for President?
He must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, be at least 35 years of age, and have been a resident of the United States for 14 years.
How long is the President in office?
He is in office for 4 years.
Can the President be reelected?
Yes. He can be reelected once. Overall he can be in office for 8 years.
Who can vote?
Anyone who is 18 years of age. There is no national list of eligible voters, so a citizen must first qualify by becoming registered. Citizens register to vote in conjunction with the place they live, if they move to a new location, they typically have to register again. Registration system has been designed to eliminate fraud.
Is the President elected directly?
No. Voters are voting for electors who are members of a party.
When is election day?
Election day is the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
When is the Inauguration of the President?
The President will be inaugurated on January 20 in the year after the election. From this time he is in office.
What are primaries?
At the primaries the parties nominate their candidates. This takes place about 1 year prior to the election.
There are
- closed / semi-closed primaries (e.g. Arizona)
- open primaries (e.g. Missouri)
- blanket primaries (e.g. Lousiana)
What is “Super Tuesday”
At this day there are pre-elections in at least 8 states. The winner of the primaries is most likely the candidate for the elections.
Kinds of Voting Technology
Elections in the United States are administered at the state and local level, and the federal government does not set mandatory standards for voting technologies.
1. Paper Ballots
2. Lever Machines
3. Punchcards
4. Computer (push-buttons)
5. Marksense Forms
6. Electronic Voting
Electoral College
There is a total of 538 electors. In December the electors meet in each states’s capitol to formally elect the President.
The congress meets in joint session to count the electoral votes January 6.
Voting pattern in America
The turn out at the election is only 50%. The problem that has made worse the issue of voter representation is the fact that an individual must initiate voter registration well before election day.
MORE VOCABULARY
To Back: to give support to
Slogan: a short phrase expressing usually a political or advertising message.
A ballot: The piece of paper you write your vote on
To cast a ballot: to put your ballot in the ballot box
To run for president: to try to become a president.
To defeat: to win
Delegates: the people that have to be elected in the different States.
National convention: The candidate is formally nominated at this meeting.
Opinion poll: an attempt to find out the different opinion about something, esp about political matter.
DISCUSS
- What are the main differences between the U.S.A elections and the Spanish ones?
- Do you consider politics something important?
- Do you believe in politics?
- What do you hate about elections?
- What is, from your point of view, the best way of promoting a candidate?
WRITE
- In Groups of four. Put up a candidate for President of the U.S.A ( one of the group) , design a short campaign and a slogan to back him/her and obtain support. Try to convince the class.
- Vote for your President. Use a ballot and cast it in the ballot box.
- WHO IS THE NEW PRESIDENT???
