Presidential Election

Electing the President - a guide to the Election Process

http://www.lwv.org/files/2012ElectingThePresident_1.pdf

1 a) For how long does the process of the US election last? It begins immediately after the preceding election and doesn’t end until the voters have their say b) When does it start? At noon on the 20th of January following a presidential election. c)When does it end? In November on the election-day.
2) What is meant by an ”absentee ballot?”
It is a “vote by mail” program for those who are away from home and wants to vote.

3) How does the result of the elections affect people’s life? Give 4 examples from the text.
Your job, your taxes, your health care, your Social Security.
4) Who are allowed to vote?
You must be: 1) A citizen of the United States. 2) A resident of the state and 18 years old by the general election.

5) What does the nineteenth amendment tell us? Use your own words when explaining.
The nineteenth amendment tells us the citizens voting rights. It reads as follows:
The right of citizens of the United States to vote should not be denied or abridged by the
United States or by any State on account of sex.

6) What percentage of the Americans did not vote in the the last elections?
47 % did not vote in the last elections.

7) Some states managed to get a higher turnout than others at the last election. How?
81) What is the main reason to people not voting?
According to the League of Women Voters’ research, the degree to which people feel that the outcome of an election will affect them and their families has a lot to do with whether or not they vote. In other words, people need information that connects the election to what’s happening at work, in their communities, and in their homes
8) Give 2 examples of ways to increase voter turnout.
There are a number of possible remedies to the decreasing voter turnout in the United States. Nine states have adopted election-day registration, which means citizens can go to their polling place or county courthouse, register, and vote all at one time. 9)What does DNC stand for? Democratic National Committees. It raises money to support the parties and candidates. 10) 11 % of the Americans claimed themselves ”independent” in the last elections? What is meant by that? It means that they are not supporting either of the candidates. 11 a) What is meant by ”traditional media” The traditional media are the sources from which the majority of Americans get most of their news and information about the candidates, the issues, and the election. b) In what way are they important to the candidates? The media has outreached through out the years and that increases the voting. 12) What duties does the US President have? Give 3 examples.

13) What powers does the US President have?
The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the
United States; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.
He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law: but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments.
.He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.

14) What is the result of you checking the box ” the Presidential Election fund box” on your tax return?
Checking the box at the top of your tax return does not increase the taxes you pay or reduce your refund. It simply deposits $3.00 of the tax you’ve already paid into the Presidential Election Fund. The size of the Fund and the strength of our democracy depend entirely on the number of people who choose to check the box. And, it’s the only part of your taxes that you actually can designate for a specific purpose!
15) What are the requirements to become a President?
Only native-born U.S. citizens (or those born abroad, but only to parents who were both citizens of the U.S.) may be president of the United States.
One must also be at least 35 years of age to be president and one must live in the United States for at least 14 years to be president, in addition to being a natural-born citizen.

16) What did the framers of the Constitution think of political parties? Why?
The Constitution’s framers were resolutely opposed to the formation of political parties in this country. Based on their knowledge of the way things worked in Britain, the framers believed that parties created unnecessary and counterproductive divisions within a nation. They thought that candidates should be judged on their personal merits and their stands on the issues, not their party affiliations.
17) Which are the two major parties in the US?
The democrats and the republicans parties.
18) What are the main differences between the party platforms? Give 3 examples
The main differences between the democrats and the republicans parties are that the democrats are more liberal. That means that they want to make the society more independence. They allow gay marriage and abortion. Those are one of the few things that the republicans are highly against. The republicans really think about the economy and think that it comes in first hand.

19) What is ”Super Tuesday?”
Super Tuesday is the day when the most states simultaneously hold their primary elections, and the single day when the most nominating delegates can be won.

20) When does the term of the incoming president begin? At a formal inauguration At At a formal inauguration ,ceremony, the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court swears in the president and the vice president before members of Congress, government dignitaries, representatives of foreign governments, and important well-wishers, as well as a national television audience.After an inaugural address and parade, the new president is on the job. The American people have made their choice and are looking to the new president to prove them right.
21 What are the main differences between elections in the US and elections in Sweden?
Well first of all Sweden is a monarchy, which means that we have a king instead of a president to represent the country. We vote for different parties, which later on the leader of the party that wins,becomes the prime minister. One of the differences is that Sweden has 8 major parties in the parliament while the us only has two major parties.