Primaries and Caucuses: The Differences

The election process begins with primary elections and caucuses. These are two methods that states use to select a potential presidential nominee. Primary elections and caucuses differ in how they are organized and who participates. And rates of participation differ widely. Primaries Primaries are run by state and local governments. Voting happens through secret ballot. …

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Understanding America’s Electoral College

When U.S. citizens cast their presidential election ballots, they’ll be voting for someone like Hagner Mister or Rex Teter. You probably have not heard of Mister or Teter. In fact, most voters who chose them in 2016 did not know who they were. During the last presidential election, Mister and Teter served as electors — …

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What Swing States Are and Why They’re Important

While each major U.S. political party has many states it counts on winning in November’s presidential election, a handful of states are too close to call. These “swing states” have populations that are closely divided politically. They have swung back and forth between Democratic and Republican candidates in recent years. They are the battleground states …

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U.S. Presidential History: October

October 5 1947 President Harry Truman made the first-ever televised presidential address from the White House. October 9 1888 The Washington Monument, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the U.S. capital, officially opened to the public. October 11 1975 William Jefferson Clinton, known as Bill Clinton married Hillary Rodham in Little Rock, Arkansas. Bill …

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YSEALI U.S. Election Debate Camp – Chiang Mai

On September 18, YSEALI gathered over 30 youth from every region of Thailand to attend a debate camp at Payap University in Chiang Mai. The two winners, Mr. Sila Thongborisute and Mr.Sirasith Suchartlikitwongse, will compete in the final debate at U.S. Embassy Bangkok’s Election Watch Event on November 9 with Ambassador Glyn Davies!

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U.S. Presidential History: September

September 3 1919 President Woodrow Wilson embarked on a tour across the United States to promote American membership in the League of Nations. September 4 1951 President Harry S. Truman made first transcontinental television broadcast. The speech focused on Truman’s acceptance of a treaty that officially ended America’s post-World War II occupation of Japan. September 5 1975 …

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U.S. Presidential History: July

July 2 1964 U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson carried out John F. Kennedy’s campaign for civil rights reform and signed into law the historic Civil Rights Act in a nationally televised ceremony at the White House. July 4 1776 U.S. declared independence. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims …

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U.S. Presidential History: June

June 2 1865 Today marks the end of the American Civil War. Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith signed the surrender terms, ending the four years of war. June 3 1800 Second President of the United States John Adams becomes the first president to live in Washington, DC. The city was created to replace Philadelphia as …

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Conventions: Thousands of delegates. Even more balloons.

From ShareAmerica U.S. political conventions are colorful spectacles. Start with several thousand delegates. Add 15,000 or more print, Internet, radio and television journalists. Don’t forget the speeches. A little-known Illinois legislator named Barack Obama first drew national attention through his 2004 Democratic National Convention address. And balloons. Lots of balloons. Republicans dropped 120,000 of them from …

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U.S. Presidential History: May

May 1 1931 President Herbert Hoover officially opens the Empire State Building in New York City. At the time of its dedication, the Empire State Building was the world’s tallest building at 102 stories. May 3 1940 President Franklin D Roosevelt speaks to over 4,000 Democratic women in Washington, DC. President FDR was known for …

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What is Super Tuesday?

(From ShareAmerica ) Many American sports fans look forward to Super Bowl Sunday. But Americans who follow politics wait for “Super Tuesday.” What is Super Tuesday, and why is it important? The major U.S. political parties — Democratic and Republican — select their presidential and vice presidential candidates at a party convention to which each state …

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A-Z to U.S. Elections

Here are some selected glossary and facts about the U.S. Presidential Elections, in alphabetical order: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO PQRSTUVWXYZ A Absentee voting allows voters who cannot come to polling places to cast their ballots. A …

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Summary of the U.S. Presidential Election Process

The Candidates About a year before the elections candidates from the two main political parties the Democrats and the Republicans begin their campaign trails. They set up their team and start “going on tour” around the country to rally for support and to fundraise for their campaigns. The Debates At the start of the campaigns …

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Importance of Iowa Caucus

Why does Iowa vote first? And what is a caucus? Iowa, which holds its Democratic and Republican caucuses February 1, is neither particularly large nor populous. And yet it plays an outsized role in selecting each major party’s presidential candidate. What is a “caucus?” And, why does Iowa vote first? The parties make the rules …

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U.S. Presidential History: April

April 2 1917 President Woodrow Wilson asks Congress to declare war against Germany. “The world must be made safe for democracy,” proclaimed the President on this day. April 3 1948 President Harry S. Truman signs the Marshall Plan. Also knowns as Foreign Assistance Act of 1948, the plan was established to provide $12 billion worth …

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U.S. Presidential History: March

March 1 1960 President John F. Kennedy establishes the Peace Corps. The executive order created an opportunity for American civilians to volunteer and donate their time and skills to improving the lives of the people in underdeveloped countries. 1872 President Grant signs the bill creating the nation’s first national park at Yellowstone. March 3 1931 …

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U.S. Presidential History: February

February 1 1790 The Supreme Court of the United States meets for the first time in New York City. 1968 Richard M. Nixon announces his candidacy for president. February 3 1924 President Woodrow Wilson dies. The 28th president of the United States passed away in Washington, D.C. at the age of 67. February 4 1789 …

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U.S. Presidential History: January

January 1 1863 President Abraham Lincoln signs the final Emancipation Proclamation, leading to the end of slavery in the United States. The proclamation freed all slaves in states that were still in rebellion during the time of the American Civil War. January 2 1960 Senator John F Kennedy, announces his candidacy for the United States …

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U.S. Presidential History: December

December 1 1842 The House of Representatives decide who becomes the U.S. president in 1842 elections. According to the 12th Amendment of the U.S. Consititution, if none of the presidential candidates receives a majority of the electoral votes, the decision will be turned over to the House. December 4 1783 George Washington resigns as commanding …

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U.S. Presidential History: November

November 1 1800 President John Adams, in the last year of his only term as president, moved into the newly constructed President’s House, the original name for what is known today as the White House. November 2 1948 President Truman won a second term as U.S. President. President Truman took the office when President Franklin …

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