Choosing America’s President Election 2012 Choosing America’s President By Kennedy’s Korner

What do you know ? True or False 1) Thomas Jefferson was the first U.S. President. 2) You must be at least 35 years old to be President. 3) Americans elect a President every 3 years. 4) The President is in charge of the U.S. armed forces. 5) The President is the leader of the United States. 6) Presidents’ pet can live in the White House.

Meet the Candidates Candidates Mitt Romney Barack Obama Political Party Republican Democrat Age 65 51 Where he was born Michigan Hawaii Family Ann – wife, Tagg, Matt, Michelle- wife, Josh, Ben and Craig (sons) Malia and Sasha (daughters) Likes skiing, horseback riding playing basketball and cooking chili

Vocabulary ~ words to know Amendment: change to the U.S. constitution armed forces: groups of people who protect and fight for the country bills: written plans for new laws ballot: a form that lists all the candidates you can vote for candidates: the people running in an election Debates: public discussions between candidates with different views elect: to choose by voting monuments: statues of buildings created to remind people of events or people Political party: a group of people who share similar ideas about how the country should be run Register: to sign up on an official list U.S. Constitution- the plan for how our government works

Voting over the years…. 1920 1870 19th Amendment The 19th Amendent gave women the right to vote. 1870 15th Amendment Gave African American men the right to VOTE. 1971 26th Amendment The voting age was changed. The age when people could start voting used to be 21. The 26th Amendment changed the voting age to 18 1870 1890 1920 1965 1970 1892 Voting Machine The first voting machine was used in Lockport, NY 1965 Voting Rights Act Almost 100 years after the 15th Amendment, some states were still making it hard for African- Americans to vote. This law said that states couldn’t make it hard for people to vote anymore.

The President’s many jobs Job: Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces The President is in charge of all parts of the armed forces. The armed forces include the Army, Navy, Air force and Marines. 1 2 Job: Chief Executive The President signs bills passed by Congress making them laws. They are also in charge of every department of government. Job: Director of Foreign Policy The President will decide how the U.S. will work with other countries. They visit with leaders of other nations. The President also signs treaties, or agreements, and donates money to countries in need. 4 Job: Head of State The President represents the people of the United States. Getting an award or an invitation from the President ~ is just like getting an award or an invite from AMERICA 3

United States of America W E S 1) Barack Obama was born in Hawaii – Circle Hawaii. 2) Mitt Romney was born in Michigan- Put and X on Michigan. 3) Which state is farther south, Florida or Illinois ? _______________ 4) Which state is farther west, Nevada or Colorado ? _____________

Important Issues Candidates will campaign for months to try to get people to vote for them. They also tell people their ideas for solving problems and making the country better. These important problems are called issues. Here are some issues candidates talk about. Education The Environment Health Care Pick an issue that you think is important. Write a letter to the next President about that issue. Be sure to include detail and explain why you think that issue is important, what problem do you see, and how he/she can solve that problem.

Who Can Be President ? To Serve as President of the United States, a person must be at least 35 years old have been born a citizen of the United States have lived in the United States for 14 years or more Look at these photographs below and read about each person. Then decide if that person could be U.S. President now. This woman is 32 years old. She was born in Hawaii and still lives there. This man lives in New York. He was born in China. He’s 27 years old This woman has lived in the U.S. for most of her life. She was born in Ireland and moved her when she was 3. She’s 54 years old. Justin Bieber is 18 years old. He was born in Canada. He is very famous. This woman is a U.S. citizen. She was born in Buffalo, NY. She lives in Orlando, Florida and has lived there for 20 years. She is 38 years old.

A Day in the Life of the President 7:00- 8:00 a.m. Goes jogging with Secret Service 9:30- 10:30 a.m. Meets with the White House staff 11:00-11:30 a.m. Talks to reporters 11:30-12:30 p.m. Makes phone calls 12:30-1:15 p.m. Has lunch with the Vice President 2:00- 5:00 p.m. Meets with World Leaders 5:45- 6:15 p.m. Goes for a walk with the dog Time What the President Does 7:00- 9:00 p.m. Attends a dinner party Use this table to answer the questions that your teacher gives you.

Time to VOTE ! Choose ONE candidate After you have done some research and talked to your family about the election ~ It’s your chance to VOTE. Choose ONE candidate Mitt Romney Barack Obama Explain why you voted for that person. Use details in your explanation.

Election 2012 After the election, write the name of America’s newly elected President here : ___________________________________________. In late January of 2013, the winner of the election will become the next President of the United States of America. This special day is called Inauguration Day. The winner will take an oath. He will promise to protect and defend the laws and government of the United States. How long will this person be elected to term of office ? 2 years 4 years 12 years Does the new President’s family get to move into the White House with him ? Or does he just work there? Turn and talk to you friend / partner and tell them why you would like to live in the White House.