The Long Road to the White House: How to Become a US President
American politicians say that the way they elect presidents is one of the most open and democratic processes in the world. But to outsiders it seems rather baffling. In some countries, the election race takes just a few weeks, but in the United States, it usually takes more than a year. The road to the White House is a long road, said George W. Bush.
The Rules: According to the US Constitution, a president must be elected every four years. To become a US president, you must be 35 or older, be a US citizen born in the USA, have lived in the USA at least 14 years.
You can only serve two terms. This means you can only be president twice. This became law in 1951. Before that, the law was different. In fact, Franklin D. Roosevelt became president in 1933 and was still president when he died in 1945.
The US president is not actually chosen by a direct vote of people. He is elected by the 538 electors that make up what is called the Electoral College. The Electoral College isnt the kind of college with students and professors. It means the total number of electoral votes from all the states. Altogether, there are 538 electoral votes and a candidate must win at least 270 of them (more than half) to win the presidency.
Step 1. Get yourself nominated: The first step on the long road to the White House is primaries and caucuses. Voters all over the country go to the polls to help each political party decide on a single candidate. In most countries, the party picks the candidate. But in the US, voters have to choose from the list of candidates made by the party. The US has two main political parties: the Democrats and the Republicans.
Step 2. The Convention: The party delegates gather together to unite behind one presidential candidate. The Republicans usually meet in Philadelphia and the Democrats meet in Los Angeles. They also create their party platforms.
Step 3. The Campaign: TV, radio, and print advertisements are everywhere! The candidates travel up and down the country, giving speeches and appearing on TV. These guys want you to know why they should live in the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Step 4. Great Debates: The candidates face each other in national debates. They have to answer difficult questions about taxes, education, foreign policy
Step 5. The Election Day: On November 7, people in every state vote their choice for president. Whichever candidate wins your states popular vote usually gets all of your states electoral votes.
Step 6. Moving-In Day: On Inauguration Day, which is always held on January 20, Americans finally call the winner Mr. President. And that looks pretty cool on a business card! There is usually a parade and the new president usually makes a speech about his plans for the US.
TEXT 4. Read and translate. Name three things you associate with America.
American Symbols
The Declaration of Independence
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This famous document declared the freedom of the original 13 colonies from British rule. A large part of it was written by Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration stated that the colonies were now free and independent states and officially named them the United States of America.
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Congress on the fourth of July, 1776. This day is now celebrated in the USA as Independence Day.
The Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is a symbol of freedom. It was made in London and taken to Philadelphia in 1752 where it cracked when it was first used. It was repaired, and when the Declaration of Independence was signed, it rang out the day. It cracked again in 1835 and 1846. In 1976 it was placed in a special case of glass and steel behind Independence Hall (the building in Philadelphia where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed).
Stars and Stripes
The flag of the US has 13 stripes for the 13 original colonies and 50 stars for the 50 states. American citizens and immigrants sometimes recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Unites States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, One Nation, under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.
The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty was a present to the people of the United States from the people of France. It was designed by Frederic Auguste Bartoldie and brought to America in 1884. The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in the middle of New York harbour. It has become a symbol of hope and freedom and was the first American sight seen by many people who went to the US for a better life. The Statue is 46 metres high and weighs 204 tons.
The American Eagle
The American eagle is the national symbol of the United States. It is also called the bald eagle and it appears on the Great Seal of the United States and on some coins.
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam has the initials US and is an unofficial symbol of the US government. He first appeared in the 1960s on posters asking people to join the army, pointing his finger and saying Uncle Sam needs you! His top hat and clothes are always decorated with the stars and stripes of the American flag.
