Monday, January 14, 2008

Vocabulary for U.S. Elections

PARTIES (Two-party system)
Democrat (liberal)
Republican (conservative)

(other parties are: Constitution, Green, Libertarian, Socialist, etc. but they don't count)

CANDIDATES
Barack Obama/Joe Biden- D
John McCain/Sarah Palin - R

CURRENT ADMINISTRATION
George W. ("Dubya") Bush, President
Dick Cheney, Vice President

In the event that George Bush were assassinated, and Dick Cheney had a heart attack, the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, would become president).

VOCABULARY
Assassination
Ballot
Citizen
Congress
-- Senate (50 senators)
-- House of Representatives (435 representatives)
Corruption
Election
Felon/felony
Platform/ideology/Issues
Primary elections (primaries)
-- Iowa
-- New Hampshire
-- "Super Tuesday" (Feb. 5)
Voter Registration

Electoral College
Direct Election
Straight Ticket voting

Separation of Church and state