1. Social Club
Thursday, September 8th, 2016

2. 1. What is an election?
2. What is the difference between a Primary
Election and a General Election?
3. The USA is holding a general election this
November. Why?
4. What does the US President do?
5. Do you know who the main candidates in the
US election are?
6. What else do you know about the US election?

3.  Every American citizen over 18 years old (with no
serious criminal record) has the right to vote
 Voting isn’t required. In Presidential elections, between 35%
and 45% of Americans usually vote.
 However, when we vote in a Presidential election,
we’re actually voting for members of the Electoral
College
 States with higher populations get a larger number of electoral
college votes
 In a general election, the candidates with the majority
of the votes in a state gets ALL of that state’s electoral
college votes
 So, if you vote against the majority in your state, your vote
doesn’t really count
 Because of these rules, a candidate can actually get the
highest number of votes but still lose the election
 This happened when Pres. Bush was elected in 2000

5.  Also known as the “Chief Executive,”
“Commander in Chief,” or POTUS
 In charge of:
 Making sure the laws of the USA are carried out
 Meeting and cooperating with foreign leaders
 The military (especially in emergency situations)
 Elected for a 4 year term
 Cannot serve more than two terms (8 years) in
a row [since 1951]
 Lives in The White House in Washington, D.C.

9.  Like most American politics in the 21st century,
Presidential elections are really about choosing
between one of the two major political parties:
The Democratic Party or The Republican Party
 What are the differences between the two?

10.  Democrats
 Generally Liberal
 Think government
should play bigger
role in people’s lives
 Higher taxes, more
services
 Willing to change
traditional ‘values’
to improve society
 Ex) In favor of gay
rights, abortion rights
 Republicans
 Generally Conservative
 Think government
should play smaller role
in people’s lives
 Lower taxes, less
services
 Support traditional
‘values’ and oppose
social change
 Ex) Oppose gay rights,
abortion

11. 1. Many European democracies have more than
two major political parties. Do you think it’s a
good idea to have only two political parties?
Why or why not?
2. Based on the description on the last slide, do
you think you would be a Democrat or a
Republican? Why?

13.  Billionaire real estate developer
 Inherited most of his money
 Famous for putting his name on
buildings and hosting TV show
 Many thought his presidential
campaign was a publicity stunt
 No political experience
 But this seems to be part of why
people like him
 Running on his ‘business skills’
 Says many offensive things
 Slogan: “Make America Great
Again”

14.  Started career as a lawyer
 President Bill Clinton’s First
Lady
 Political experience:
 New York senator (2001-2009)
 US Secretary of State (2009-
2013)
 Ran for President in 2008
 Criticized for
 Email scandal
 Attacks US diplomats in Libya
 Voting for War in Iraq
 Slogan: “Stronger Together”

15.  “I know words, I have the best words.”
 “I am not a natural politician.”
 “I will build a great, great wall on our southern border,
and I will make Mexico pay for that wall.”
 “I will be the greatest jobs president that God ever
created.”
 “I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies
and had teas.”
 “I know the Chinese. I’ve made a lot of money with the
Chinese.”
 “Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights
are human rights.”
 “I believe America thrives when the middle class
thrives.”

16. 1. Trump is known for saying insulting things
about his political enemies and other
countries. Do you think this could cause
problems if he is elected?
2. Some people criticize Clinton for being a
‘career politician’ who has spent too much
time in Washington. How could this possibly
be a bad thing?
3. Who do you think will make a better
president? Who do you think will win the
election? Why?

17. 1. Primary Election
2. General Election
3. Candidate
4. Vote [v]
5. Political Party
6. First Lady
7. Publicity Stunt
8. Term
9. The White House
10. The Oval Office
A. The building where the President
lives
B. A group of people with similar
political ideas
C. An election which ‘narrows down’
the number of candidates
D. The room where the President works
E. To choose who you think should win
the election
F. The time limit for the Presidency (or
other political office)
G. The wife of the President
H. A person running to win an election
I. An action meant to gain attention
J. An election which chooses the final
winner