Elections in the United States

Nicole Chidiac

Voting…• Do you think it is important to vote? Why?

• What do you think of Barack Obama winning the election?

How do the American Presidential elections work?

• The presidential elections in the United States happen on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Tuesday, November 4th 2008

• They take place every 4 years.

• This process began in the year 1792.

• The American elections for the president and the vice-president are indirect elections.

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

• Then the electors vote for the president and vice president.

• The electors are part of the Electoral College.• The Electoral College has 538 electors. Every

state has a specific number of electors to represent it. For example, Illinois has 21 electors.

Voting booths

Democrats vs. Republicans

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

• 72 million people support this party

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

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

• It is also known as the Grand Old Party.

• 55 million people support this party.

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

• It is considered the right-wing party.

Who else is on the ballot?

• Democratic Party• Republican Party• Green Party• Libertarian• Constitution Party of Illinois• Independent: a person representing themselves. They

do not run for a political party.• And a blank

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

• Obama will be sworn in on January 20th, 2009.

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

• He worked as a civil rights attorney.

• “Yes we can!”

What does this political cartoon tell you?

What do you think of this political cartoon?

Debating time!

We are going to have a debate about a few important issues or topics from the United States.

•Same sex marriages

•Healthcare

•The War in Iraq

Same sex marriages

• Same-sex marriage, also referred to as gay marriage, is a marriage between two persons of the same sex.

• Today, the federal government of the United States does not recognize same-sex marriage, under the Defence of Marriage Act, but same-sex marriage is currently legal in three states, Massachusetts and Connecticut and California.

• Should same sex marriages be allowed in the United States?

Healthcare

• There are over 40 million Americans with little to no health insurance.

• This is almost the same as the population of Spain. • Health insurance is very expensive. • If you don’t have a job, you don’t have health

insurance. • “Because powerful, selfish, private economic and

professional interests have so far blocked the enactment of such a program.”

• Should there be universal healthcare in the United States?

The War in Iraq

• This war began in 2003• The War in Iraq has cost over 500 billion dollars. It

was predicted it would cost 100-200 billion dollars. • It is considered a war on terror. • Saddam Hussein was captured and executed.• The Iraqi military was defeated.

• What do you think? Should the War in Iraq be ended?

Casualties in IraqThe Human Cost of OccupationEdited by Margaret Griffis :: Contact

American Military Casualties in Iraq

Date Total In Combat

American Deaths  

Since war began (3/19/03): 4193 3390

Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03) (the list)

4054 3282

Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03):

3732 3084

Since Handover (6/29/04): 3335 2757

Since Election (1/31/05): 2756 2494

American Wounded Official Estimated

Total Wounded: 30774 Over 100000

Latest Fatality Nov. 8, 2008