Review: Questions about the president
- What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
- What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?*
- What is the political party of the President now?
- How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
Reading and Civics
The constitution defines the United States government. It sets up the legislative branch and the judicial branch.
We have read and learned about Congress and the Courts. There is one more major part of the American government. Do you know what it is?
The executive branch is the final part of the US government. The President is the leader of this part. The President is in charge of the executive branch.
Who is in charge of the executive branch? –> The President
The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government? –> Executive branch
The executive branch has many parts. Name one. –> The President
The executive branch has many important departments and offices. The President has a lot of power in this part of the government.
The President is responsible for these departments, including:
- The State Department
- Homeland Security
- The Department of Justice
- The Department of Education
- The Department of Defense
The Department of Defense includes the military. The President is the Commander in Chief of the military. This means they are the #1 boss of the military.
(100 and 128) Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? –> The President
The President cannot make new federal laws. Congress makes federal laws. But, Congress must work with the President.
A new law is called a bill. If the Senate and the House agree on a bill, they send it to the President. If the President signs the bill with their name, it becomes a law.
(100 and 128) Who signs bills to become laws? –> The President
But, sometimes the President does not agree with Congress. If the President does not sign the bill, it will not become a law.
When the Presidents says “no!” to a bill, it is called a veto. Only the President can veto a bill.
(100 and 128) Who vetoes bills? –> The president
Name one power of the president. –> Sign bills / veto bills
Another power is appointing federal judges. When the federal courts need a new judge, the president chooses the judge. The senate votes to agree or disagree with that choice.
Who appoints federal judges? –> The president
The writers of the Constitution did not want the United States to have a king. They did not want to have presidents serve for life.
So, we have a democratic election for President. We elect a President for 4 years.
We elect a President for how many years? –> 4
The President of the United States is elected for how many years? * –> 4
George Washington served two terms as president. He was president for eight years. Thomas Jefferson also served two terms as president. For a long time, everyone followed their example.
Roosevelt was president during the Great Depression and World War 2. He was elected four times. After that, congress and the states made a change to the constitution. The 22nd amendment says that presidents can only serve two terms. It keeps the president from becoming too powerful.
The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why? –> To keep the president from becoming too powerful / 22nd amendment
We vote for President almost at the end of the year. We vote for President in November. Election day is usually on the first Tuesday in November.
(100 only) In what month do we vote for President?* –> November
Citizens in every state vote for president. But, the system for deciding who is president is strange and complicated.
The Electoral College is the system for deciding who is president. Every state (and Washington DC) has a number of votes in the Electoral College.
What do you think is better? The Electoral College, or counting all the votes directly?
Why is the Electoral College important? –> It decides who is president
- Who is in charge of the executive branch?
- Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
- Who signs bills to become laws?
- Who vetoes bills?
- We elect a President for how many years?
- In what month do we vote for President?*
Bonus: How does the US elect a president?
This information helps us understand more about voting.
Questions for listening:
- Who votes for president?
- Why does it take a long time to count all the votes?
- What do we call the system of choosing the president with all 50 states and Washington D.C.?
- What is one good way to learn news about the US Election?