US Elections 2024: A Simple Guide (PDF)

US elections 2024: a simple guide to the presidential vote. ----------------------------------------------------------- test your knowledge ------------------- **Circle the correct answers.** 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The animal symbolising the Republican Party is a donkey -- an elephant...

US elections 2024: a simple guide to the presidential vote. ----------------------------------------------------------- test your knowledge ------------------- **Circle the correct answers.** 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The animal symbolising the Republican Party is a donkey -- an elephant -- an eagle. 8. The animal symbolising the Democratic Party is a donkey -- an elephant -- an eagle. 9. Kamala Harris's "running mate" is Michelle Obama -- Mike Pence -- Tim Walz 10. Donald Trump's "running mate" is J.D. Vance -- Mike Pence -- Nancy Pelosi. 11. The first president of the United States was George Washington -- Abraham Lincoln -- Winston Churchill. 12. John Lennon -- George H. W. Bush (Sr) -- John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on 22 November 1963. 13. Bill Clinton -- Richard Nixon -- Hillary Clinton had to abdicate because of the Watergate Affair. 14. The official presidential residence is the Pentagon -- the Capitol -- the White House in Washington. 15. Trump succeeded Hillary Clinton -- George W. Bush (Jr.) -- Barack Obama. Words, words, words... ---------------------- **Complete the following dialogue with words from the box below:** abandoning - ballot - campaign - cast - connections -- debates - elect - to back - to run for president - vote Bovenkant formulier **Sharine:** Tony, I have been hearing so much in the news about different presidential [candidates]. Can you tell me a little about how Americans elect their president? **Tony:** Well, it\'s a long process. We start off by deciding who the official candidate for each political party will be. Usually, a person first announces that he or she wants to run for president If you want to be your party\'s official candidate, you need [to raise money] and [gather support] from party members. Candidates usually campaign to let people know what they represent. They give speeches, meet with community leaders, and [participate in] debates. This process lasts for several months, and then the party members vote to decide who they want to back in the election. **Sharine:** Do you have to be rich to become president? **Tony:** You don\'t really have to be rich to become president, but it helps. Usually rich people have more connections and can raise money more [effectively]. Most of our presidents in the past have been [relatively] rich men, but not all of them. **Sharine:** So, how do you make the final decision?\ \ **Tony:** After several months of television ads, interviews, speeches, and kissing babies, we have the presidential [election]. [Citizens] go to a voting center and cast their ballot for the candidate of their choice.\ \ **Sharine:** You sounded a little cynical when you said \"kissing babies.\" What did you mean by that?\ \ **Tony:** Well, it\'s quite common for [politicians] to have themselves photographed kissing babies. It\'s their way of trying to appear [in touch with] the [average] American, but it looks really [phony]. These days, becoming President is all about acting. The candidates try [to appeal to] so many different people that they end up abandoning their own opinions. Sometimes, it feels as if the parties are all the same.\ \ **Sharine:** How many parties are there?\ \ **Tony:** We have many political parties in the United States, but most of them are quite small. There are really only two with [significant] power: the Democrats and the Republicans. **Fill out the missing words. Choose from the list below.** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | In 2020 a lot of Democrats were | **(1)** running | |... *(competing in the election)* | | | **(1)**, like Bernie Sanders, Joe | **(2)** cast ballots | | Biden, Pete Buttigieg and | | | Elizabeth Warren. | **(3)** polling booth | | | | | Party members will... their... | **(4)** race | | *(votes)* **(2)** in August 2024. | | | | **(5)** electoral | | New Hampshire has a more typical | | | election: voters go into a... | **(6)** conventions | |... *(cubicle where people can | | | vote)* **(3)**. | **(7)** running mate | | | | | The winner of the primary will be | **(8)** allegiance | | the candidate in the 2024... | | | *(election)* **(4)**. | **(9)** victory speech | | | | | Each state is worth a number of | **(10)** sworn | |... **(5)** college votes, based | | | on population. | | | | | | Both Republicans and Democrats | | | hold... *(official meetings)* | | | **(6)** in the summer, at which | | | they announce their presidential | | | candidate. | | | | | | Presidential candidates have to | | | elect a... *(companion)* **(7)** | | | to be their vice-president. | | | | | | The election is often decided in | | | swing states, where the | | | population often change their | | | party... *(loyalty)* **(8)**. | | | | | | The candidate who wins holds a | | |...... **(9)**. | | | | | | In the third week of January the | | | new president is... **(10)** in. | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Look up what the following terms refer to. Use words from the exercises above in your explanation.** a. Super Tuesday: It\'s when most states vote in the presidential primary calendar. b. swing states: Swing states are those in US presidential elections that could potentially be won by either candidate. Also known as battleground states. c. Inauguration Day: is on January 20 (or 21 if it falls on a Sunday). The president-elect holds the presidential oath at the US Capitol. donald trump's speaking style ----------------------------- Donald Trump's speaking style is one of the most distinct in modern politics. Whether you agree with his politics or not, it's hard to deny that he knows how to command attention. His speeches are memorable, powerful, and filled with techniques. Which techniques does he use? 1. Simple and direct language He doesn't use complex vocabulary or long sentences. *'We are going to win.'* *'America is back.'* 2. Bold claims and strong statements He rarely hesitates or shows uncertainty. *'No one knows more about this than I do.'* *'We're going to make America great again.'* 3. Repetition for emphasis This is one of Trump's most used techniques. He often repeats key words to make sure they stick in people's minds. *'We're going to win. We're going to win big. We're going to win more than ever before.'* 4. Comparatives and superlatives He doesn't just want something to be good; he wants it to be the best. *'Our economy is stronger than ever.'* *'This is the greatest tax cut in history.'* 5. Emotional appeal, unfiltered speech Trump knows how to connect with his audience. He talks about issues that provoke strong feelings. *'Immigrants are eating Springfield's pets.'* *'The baby will be born and we will decide what to do with the baby.'* 6. Exaggeration Trump is known for his use of exaggeration. *'No one has done more for the military than me.'* *'This is the biggest crowd ever.'* 7. Storytelling and personal anecdotes Trump often uses stories and personal anecdotes in his speeches. *'I met a business owner who told me how bad Biden's regulations are.'* 8. Nicknames Trumps loves giving nicknames. *'Sleepy Joe, crazy Kamala, childless cat lady, crazy Bernie, crooked Hilary)* Now let's listen to one of his latest speeches. KAMALA HARRIS SPEECH -------------------- Trump VS Harris debate ---------------------- There has been one debate between the two candidates. According to Trump he won the debate easily but according to experts it was Harris who won this debate. What do you think? Watch the highlights from the debate. trump versus HARRIS ------------------- Speaking: Do you know anything about their campaigns? Economy, immigration, abortion, taxes, healthcare, gun laws,... look it up and share it with the class. So who do you think will win? Trump vs. Harris: A high-stakes election and its risks to democracy - GZERO Media