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The US presidential
elections
E very four years on the first Tuesday after the first
Monday in November, the people of the USA choose
a new president and vice president.
2012 is presidential election year in the USA. So this
year, on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, a new US president
will be elected. The two most important candidates
this year are Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
Obama is the current president. He’s a Democrat.
Romney is a Republican. The Democrats are a left
of center or left-wing party. The Republicans are a
right of center or right-wing party.
The US presidential election system is quite
complicated. First of all, during the summer before
the presidential election, each party decides who their
candidate is going to be. People in the same party
compete against each other in these elections. These
elections are called primaries and caucuses. After
the primaries and caucuses each party chooses one
person who they nominate to become president.
© Ernst Klett Verlag GmbH, Stuttgart 2012 | www.klett.de | Alle Rechte vorbehalten
Von dieser Druckvorlage ist die Vervielfältigung für den eigenen Unterrichtsgebrauch gestattet.
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Once the candidates have won their party’s nomination
they organise and run huge campaigns. The candidates
travel across the country visiting different constituencies
trying to win votes. They debate on important issues
on TV. The campaigns cost a lot of money and the
candidates have to raise this money themselves.
Then, in November, it’s Election Day or General Election
Day. Americans have to be US citizens to be able to
vote, and they have to be at least 18 years old. Each
state has certain rules of their own for their voters,
so it’s not the same in every state. On Election Day
the voters go to the polls. Usually, people go to voting
booths and put their ballot paper into a ballot box. But
in Oregon, people only vote by mail.
Voters don’t vote for the president directly. They vote
for delegates or electors. These delegates then formally
elect the president. This takes place in December. In
2012 electors will formally elect the new president on
December 17, 2012.
In the following January the electors’ votes are counted
by the US Congress. This will take place on January 6,
2013. The new president is announced and is finally
inaugurated in office and begins his term at the end of
January. The inauguration ceremony is a big public event
in the US. It will take place on January 20, 2013. The
president and his/her family always live in the White
House during the presidency. The president’s wife is
known as the First Lady.
So far, no woman has ever been elected president of
the United States. Barack Obama is the first black
president of the United States. The first president of
the US was George Washington (1789 – 1797). Since
1789 there have been 18 Republican presidents and
15 Democratic presidents. Four presidents have been
assassinated while in office. One president has resigned
because of a scandal during his term of office.
Great! Niveau A2/ B1 1
US presidential election
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16.10.2012 13:33:59
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US Presidential Election Crossword

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ACROSS ➞ DOWN
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4 all the things a political person does in order 1 decision which takes place in the summer before
to try and win votes the General Election when a party chooses its
6 member of the political party that is left candidate
of center 2 deputy head of the USA after the president;
9 member of the political party that is right person who takes over if something happens to
of center the president
11 to choose in an election 3 official political group
12 election which takes place in the summer 5 election in which people vote for the government
before the General Election when a party or Head of State
chooses its candidate. 6 in the US presidential election: person elected by
13 in the US presidential election: person elected voters who then elects the president
by voters who then elects the president 7 place where people vote
16 left of center 8 to officially and formally start a term of office,
21 box into which ballot papers are put after voting often with a big ceremony
22 person who is standing for election to become 10 leader of the USA
president 14 day on which people vote
23 to propose a candidate 15 right of center
24 name given to a region in which people who 17 name of the president’s home
can vote live 18 paper with names of all candidates used
25 title given to president’s wife for voting
26 in the USA: elected body that creates laws 19 to choose in an election
20 election, survey

© Ernst Klett Verlag GmbH, Stuttgart 2012 | www.klett.de | Alle Rechte vorbehalten Great! Niveau A2/ B1 2
Von dieser Druckvorlage ist die Vervielfältigung für den eigenen Unterrichtsgebrauch gestattet. US presidential election
Die Kopiergebühren sind abgegolten. Bildnachweis: shutterstock, Chuck Rausin. A08108-50148020

A08108-50148020_US_Elections.indd 2 16.10.2012 13:33:59

 Great!

Solutions
US Presidential Election Crossword
C 1

V 2
P C A M P 3 4
A I G 5
N D E M O C R A T
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I V A 7
E E U
C O I R E P U B L I 8 9 10
C A N E
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L E C T C
E T N T R E E U
P R I M A R Y
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E L E C T 13 14
O R R G S
R N U S L R 15
A A
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E G G I E I L E F T W I N G
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S B U W D C G E E
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I O R H E T H L B V
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D O A I N I T E A O P
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E T T T T O W C B A L L O T B O X
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N H E E C A N D I D A T E L E L
T H D N I O L
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O A G N O M I N A T E
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C O N S T I T U E N C Y N P
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S F I R S T L A D Y
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C O N G R E S S P
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ACROSS ➞ DOWN
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4 campaign all the things a political person does 1 caucus decision which takes place in the
in order to try and win votes summer before the General Election when
6 Democrat member of the political party that is a party chooses its candidate
left of center 2 vice president deputy head of the USA after the
9 Republican member of the political party that is president; person who takes over if something
right of center happens to the president
11 elect to choose in an election 3 party official political group
12 primary election which takes place in the 5 General Election election in which people vote
summer before the General Election when a for the government or Head of State
party chooses its candidate. 6 delegate in the US presidential election: person
13 elector in the US presidential election: person elected by voters who then elects the president
elected by voters who then elects the president 7 voting booth place where people vote
16 left-wing left of center 8 inaugurate to officially and formally start a term
21 ballot box box into which ballot papers are put of office, often with a big ceremony
after voting 10 president leader of the USA
22 candidate person who is standing for election to 14 Election Day day on which people vote
become president 15 right-wing right of center
23 nominate to propose a candidate 17 White House name of the president’s home
24 constituency name given to a region in which 18 ballot paper paper with names of all candidates
people who can vote live used for voting
25 First Lady title given to president’s wife 19 vote to choose in an election
26 congress in the USA: elected body that 20 poll election, survey
creates laws

© Ernst Klett Verlag GmbH, Stuttgart 2012 | www.klett.de | Alle Rechte vorbehalten Great! Niveau A2/ B1 3
Von dieser Druckvorlage ist die Vervielfältigung für den eigenen Unterrichtsgebrauch gestattet. US presidential election
Die Kopiergebühren sind abgegolten. Bildnachweis: shutterstock, Chuck Rausin. A08108-50148020

A08108-50148020_US_Elections.indd 3 16.10.2012 13:34:00