Introduction to the United States and the 2008 Election

The United States - Introduction The United States of America was born on July 4 th , 1776 There are 50 states and one Federal District (Washington, DC) The 4 th largest country in the world (disputed) The 3 rd largest population (after China and India)

The United States of America was born on July 4 th , 1776

There are 50 states and one Federal District (Washington, DC)

The 4 th largest country in the world (disputed)

The 3 rd largest population (after China and India)

Geography – Key Terms The Appalachian Mountains in the east The Rocky Mountains in the west The Great Plains between these two mountain systems The Mississippi River The Great Lakes Borders on the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean

The Appalachian Mountains in the east

The Rocky Mountains in the west

The Great Plains between these two mountain systems

The Mississippi River

The Great Lakes

Borders on the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean

Population The current population of the United States is over 300 million people White people – 207 million Hispanic or Latino – 45 million African American (Black) – 36 million Asian – 15 million Many experts believe the population will be over 439 million by 2050

The current population of the United States is over 300 million people

White people – 207 million

Hispanic or Latino – 45 million

African American (Black) – 36 million

Asian – 15 million

Many experts believe the population will be over 439 million by 2050

The 2008 Presidential Election November 4 th , 2008

There are two main political parties in the United States Democrats Republicans

Democrats

Republicans

Democrats The oldest political party in the United states and one of the oldest in the world Founded in 1828 Social Liberalism – support heavier taxation and regulation of society with more state enterprises The largest political party in the United States with 72 million voters

The oldest political party in the United states and one of the oldest in the world

Founded in 1828

Social Liberalism – support heavier taxation and regulation of society with more state enterprises

The largest political party in the United States with 72 million voters

Republicans The party started in 1854 Began as a political party against slavery 55 million registered voters Conservative – believe in traditional values (church and family) and a strong military In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican President

The party started in 1854

Began as a political party against slavery

55 million registered voters

Conservative – believe in traditional values (church and family) and a strong military

In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican President

Let’s meet the candidates John McCain and Sarah Palin represent the Republican Party

John McCain and Sarah Palin represent the Republican Party

John McCain A U.S. Senator from Arizona A veteran of the Vietnam War Lost the Republican nomination to George Bush in 2000

A U.S. Senator from Arizona

A veteran of the Vietnam War

Lost the Republican nomination to George Bush in 2000

The candidates (cont.) Barack Obama and Joe Biden represent the Democratic Party

Barack Obama and Joe Biden represent the Democratic Party

Barack Obama An Illinois Senator His father was from Kenya (Africa) and his mother was from Kansas He graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School He was the fifth African-American to be elected to the Senate

An Illinois Senator

His father was from Kenya (Africa) and his mother was from Kansas

He graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School

He was the fifth African-American to be elected to the Senate

Vice-President Candidates Sarah Palin (Republican) Governor of Alaska Was the youngest person elected as governor Joe Biden (Democrat) Senator from Delaware Failed in 1988 and 2008 to become the Democratic candidate for President

Sarah Palin (Republican)

Governor of Alaska

Was the youngest person elected as governor

Joe Biden (Democrat)

Senator from Delaware

Failed in 1988 and 2008 to become the Democratic candidate for President

Let’s look at the election process People vote for Republican and Democratic candidates during the Primary Elections Candidates are chosen at a Convention Qualified voters cast their votes in November If the candidate wins a state, he gets the Electoral Votes from that state The candidate with the most electoral votes in nominated for President

People vote for Republican and Democratic candidates during the Primary Elections

Candidates are chosen at a Convention

Qualified voters cast their votes in November

If the candidate wins a state, he gets the Electoral Votes from that state

The candidate with the most electoral votes in nominated for President

Primary Elections These elections occur within the Party The Democrats hold their own primary election The Republicans also hold a primary Primaries are usually held in the beginning of the election year

These elections occur within the Party

The Democrats hold their own primary election

The Republicans also hold a primary

Primaries are usually held in the beginning of the election year

Convention At the convention, the candidates are officially announced For example: At the Democratic National Convention, Barack Obama was named the candidate for President At the Republican National Convention, John McCain was named

At the convention, the candidates are officially announced

For example:

At the Democratic National Convention, Barack Obama was named the candidate for President

At the Republican National Convention, John McCain was named

Presidential Campaign The candidates go around the country speaking to potential voters. Debates are held on TV Advertisements are run on TV, radio and newspapers Between September 28 th and October 4 th , McCain and Obama spent $28 million on TV ads (192,000,000 RMB!)

The candidates go around the country speaking to potential voters.

Debates are held on TV

Advertisements are run on TV, radio and newspapers

Between September 28 th and October 4 th , McCain and Obama spent $28 million on TV ads

(192,000,000 RMB!)

November Elections During the November election we can see two types of votes Popular vote – the vote for the U.S. President by qualified voters (must be 18 years old and a U.S. citizen) Electoral vote – the vote cast by the representatives of each state

During the November election we can see two types of votes

Popular vote – the vote for the U.S. President by qualified voters (must be 18 years old and a U.S. citizen)

Electoral vote – the vote cast by the representatives of each state

The Electoral College Each states has a group of electors The number of electors are based on the number of Senators (2) plus the number of Representatives (based on the population) The candidate must receive over half of the electoral votes to become president

Each states has a group of electors

The number of electors are based on the number of Senators (2) plus the number of Representatives (based on the population)

The candidate must receive over half of the electoral votes to become president

The Electoral College There are 538 “electors” in the Electoral College The winning candidate must receive 270 of these votes to become president I know this is a difficult idea to grasp, so let’s take a look at this map from the 2004 election

There are 538 “electors” in the Electoral College

The winning candidate must receive 270 of these votes to become president

I know this is a difficult idea to grasp, so let’s take a look at this map from the 2004 election

Electoral votes by state

The states with the most electors California (55) Texas (34) New York (31) Florida (27) Illinois (21) Pennsylvania (21)

California (55)

Texas (34)

New York (31)

Florida (27)

Illinois (21)

Pennsylvania (21)

Inaugurated On January 20, the president enters office in a formal ceremony know as the inauguration. He takes the presidential oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

On January 20, the president enters office in a formal ceremony know as the inauguration.

He takes the presidential oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”