Elections in the Elections in the United StatesUnited States

How do the American How do the American elections work?elections work? The election for the president and the vice The election for the president and the vice

president of the United States are indirect president of the United States are indirect elections.elections.

This means, that voters cast ballots for a This means, that voters cast ballots for a group of electors. group of electors.

The electors are part of the Electoral The electors are part of the Electoral College and they vote for the president College and they vote for the president and vice president.and vice president.

Each state is given a number of Electoral Each state is given a number of Electoral College electors which is equal to the number College electors which is equal to the number of Senators and representatives in the United of Senators and representatives in the United States Congress. States Congress.

The presidential elections in the United States The presidential elections in the United States happen every four years. They are happen every four years. They are quadrennial. quadrennial.

This process began in the year 1792.This process began in the year 1792. It is on the first Tuesday after the first Monday It is on the first Tuesday after the first Monday

in November.in November.

This year, Barack Obama was elected on This year, Barack Obama was elected on November 4November 4thth, 2008., 2008.

Obama will be sworn in on January 20Obama will be sworn in on January 20 thth, 2009. , 2009. This means he will be inaugurated.This means he will be inaugurated.

He was the Junior Senator of Illinois before He was the Junior Senator of Illinois before running for the presidency. running for the presidency.

He is a civil rights attorney.He is a civil rights attorney.

Tina Fey as Sarah Tina Fey as Sarah PalinPalin

Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live (SNL)(SNL)

Democrats vs. RepublicansDemocrats vs. Republicans

It is the largest political It is the largest political party in the United States.party in the United States.

72 million people support 72 million people support this partythis party

It was founded by Thomas It was founded by Thomas Jefferson who wrote the Jefferson who wrote the Declaration of Declaration of Independence. Independence.

It is leftist. This means it It is leftist. This means it is a liberal party. is a liberal party.

It is also known as the It is also known as the Grand Old Party. Grand Old Party.

55 million people support 55 million people support this party.this party.

The Republican party The Republican party came about in 1860, when came about in 1860, when Abraham Lincoln was Abraham Lincoln was elected.elected.

It is considered the right-It is considered the right-wing party. wing party.

It supports the idea of It supports the idea of separation of powers.separation of powers.

Final Political Final Political Dashboard 2004Dashboard 2004

Prediction 2008Prediction 2008

Final Political Final Political Dashboard 2008 Dashboard 2008

Who else is on the ballot?Who else is on the ballot?

DemocraticDemocratic RepublicanRepublican Green PartyGreen Party LibertarianLibertarian Constitution Party of IllinoisConstitution Party of Illinois IndependentIndependent And a blank: Some people put Mickey MouseAnd a blank: Some people put Mickey Mouse

Voting boothsVoting booths

Voting TimeVoting Time

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Ratified July 4, 1776 “We hold these truths to be self-

evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

United States United States ConstitutionConstitution

Ratified June 21, 1788Ratified June 21, 1788 Amendments on VotingAmendments on Voting

– The 15th Amendment (1870): The 15th Amendment (1870): Race/ColorRace/Color

– The 19th Amendment (1920): The 19th Amendment (1920): WomenWomen

– The 26th Amendment (1971): Age The 26th Amendment (1971): Age 18+18+

QuotesQuotes Part of America's genius has always been its ability to absorb Part of America's genius has always been its ability to absorb

newcomers, to forge a national identity out of the disparate lot that newcomers, to forge a national identity out of the disparate lot that arrived on our shores.arrived on our shores.

BARACK OBAMA, BARACK OBAMA, The Audacity of HopeThe Audacity of Hope

Our enemies are fully aware that they can use oil as a weapon against Our enemies are fully aware that they can use oil as a weapon against America. And if we don't take this threat as seriously as the bombs America. And if we don't take this threat as seriously as the bombs they build or the guns they buy, we will be fighting the War on Terror they build or the guns they buy, we will be fighting the War on Terror with one hand tied behind our back.with one hand tied behind our back.

BARACK OBAMA, speech, Feb. 28, 2006BARACK OBAMA, speech, Feb. 28, 2006

Hope -- Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. Hope -- Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope! In the end, that is God’s greatest gift to us, the The audacity of hope! In the end, that is God’s greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation. A belief in things not seen. A belief that there bedrock of this nation. A belief in things not seen. A belief that there are better days ahead.are better days ahead.

BARACK OBAMA, speech, 2004 DNC ConventionBARACK OBAMA, speech, 2004 DNC Convention

QuotesQuotes

““The issue of economics is something that I've really never The issue of economics is something that I've really never understood as well as I should.”understood as well as I should.”

JOHN MCCAIN, JOHN MCCAIN, Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune, Dec. 18, 2007, Dec. 18, 2007

““I am a Republican. I'm loyal to the party of Abraham Lincoln I am a Republican. I'm loyal to the party of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. And I believe that my party, in some and Theodore Roosevelt. And I believe that my party, in some ways, has strayed from those principles, particularly on the ways, has strayed from those principles, particularly on the issue of fiscal discipline.”issue of fiscal discipline.”

  John McCain quoteJohn McCain quote

“ “I am fully prepared to be commander in chief, ... I don't need I am fully prepared to be commander in chief, ... I don't need on-the-job training.”on-the-job training.”

John McCain quoteJohn McCain quote

You like Barack You like Barack Obama, don’t you?Obama, don’t you?

How many people have How many people have listened to his speeches in listened to his speeches in

English?English?

Obama’s Acceptance Obama’s Acceptance SpeechSpeech

Debating time!Debating time!

Instructions & Instructions & QuestionsQuestions Do try to think of how your issue is not Do try to think of how your issue is not

only important in the United States, only important in the United States, but is also important in Spainbut is also important in Spain

You willl help classmates that don’t You willl help classmates that don’t understand the vocabulary, won’t you?understand the vocabulary, won’t you?

Some people won’t like to speak in Some people won’t like to speak in front of their classmates, will they?front of their classmates, will they?

You haven’t got much time to prepare You haven’t got much time to prepare for the debate, have you?for the debate, have you?

Same Sex MarriagesSame Sex Marriages

Same sex marriages are allowed in Same sex marriages are allowed in Connecticut, California and Connecticut, California and Massachusetts. Massachusetts.

There is no constitutional amendment. There is no constitutional amendment. This means the states each have the choice This means the states each have the choice of allowing or prohibiting same sex of allowing or prohibiting same sex marriages.marriages.

Health CareHealth Care

There are over 40 million Americans little to no There are over 40 million Americans little to no health insurance. This figure is approximately health insurance. This figure is approximately the same as the population of Spain.the same as the population of Spain.

Health insurance is very expensive. Most people Health insurance is very expensive. Most people receive some insurance 3-6 months after starting receive some insurance 3-6 months after starting a job.a job.

If you are not covered, the hospitals do not have If you are not covered, the hospitals do not have to accept you as a patient.to accept you as a patient.

EducationEducation

In 2001 President Bush implemented a policy, In 2001 President Bush implemented a policy, No Child Left Behind, that is not functioning No Child Left Behind, that is not functioning properly. properly. – Teachers are responsible for each child passing a Teachers are responsible for each child passing a

grade. grade. – Teachers only focus on children learning the Teachers only focus on children learning the

information (content) that will be on a test.information (content) that will be on a test.– After three years, all students must take the exams in After three years, all students must take the exams in

English. That will make it hard for non-native English. That will make it hard for non-native speakers to pass a grade.speakers to pass a grade.

Happy Veterans Day!Happy Veterans Day!

(Rememberance Day)(Rememberance Day)