The President has the power to oppose or approve laws passed by Congress. In the same way, Congress can reject the President's veto by a two-thirds majority vote. To vote in an election, you must be an American citizen and at least 18 years of age. Our Constitution allows for the election of the President of the United States by an electoral college. Each state is assigned a certain number of electoral votes based on its population. While the people of a small State, for example, may overwhelmingly vote for a President, the candidate may still lose because that state is represented by only a few electoral votes. Receiving the popular vote does not always mean the candidate will be elected. The President serves a 4-year term before running for reelection. A President may only serve for two consecutive terms.
Lesson Plans and Site Navigation:
1. The web site for this field trip is: The Presidents of the United States: http:www.whitehouse.gov/. From time to time, the links on a web site do not work. Either skip the question below or the page you have been directed to and go on. When navigating this site, please use your forward and back arrows to go back to the original page. This tour is very easy to navigate. To read about every President of the United States, click the arrow keys at the bottom of each page to continue. This tour will take you to specific Presidents, and you may follow the site navigation designed below.
2. Click on the words The President & Vice President. On this site, the current occupants of the White House are displayed. You may click on any of the occupants you wish to read. Under the President, you will find: Presidential Accomplishments, Biography, Some of the President's Public Addresses, White House Offices and Agencies, and Presidential Initiatives. (It is recommended that older students read the folder of Offices and Agencies.) Use the back arrow to return to the home page.
3. On the home page, click on White House History and Tours. Click on the icon at the top, which says Presidents or the words Presidents of the United States.
4. Click on the current President. Read his welcome. Click the back arrow to return.
5. Following are the Presidents I have highlighted for this tour, and the questions pertain to them. Here is the order in which they should be read: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, and William Clinton. Remember, there are links to each of the First Ladies you may want to read and additional sites pertaining to some of the Presidents. Return to the Presidents Home Page.
6. Click on the bottom link on the Presidents Home Page, A Glimpse of the Past. Here you will find links to other sites including the White House (I have a separate field trip tour for this if you are interested.)
Scavenger Hunt Questions:
1. Who was the first President of the United States?
2. Who can vote for a President?
3. Which President that served in the 1800`s was a great military hero?
4. Who was the youngest man to be elected President and die in office?
5. What is a fun fact about President Reagan?
1. How long can the President serve in office?
2. What do you think is the hardest job for the President?
3. Which President led the Nation through the Depression and World War II?
4. The Watergate scandal had to do with a break-in at the offices of the Democratic National Committee. The objective of the break-in was to search for information on individuals who were running against the President in a reelection campaign. Which President resigned his office because of this scandal?
5. Which President had a young daughter, named Amy, who lived with him and his wife at the White House?
1. Briefly explain the duties of the President of the United States.
2. How is a President elected?
3. Many of the past Presidents left a legacy of reform. In your opinion, which of the Presidents that you have learned about left the most important legacy. If you cannot choose one, then list three.
4. Which President was chosen to serve under the terms of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment? Explain why this was unusual.
5. Name the Presidents (the ones who were the focus of this tour) who were shot while in office. Were all of them fatal?
Additional Activities:
· Check out the interesting link at the bottom of Washington’s page: The Papers of George Washington. Here you may read some articles pertaining to Washington.
· One link on this site is to a page dedicated to the First Ladies; you may want to explore this site at www.firstladies.org/
· Send an e-mail to the President, First Lady, or Vice President. Express your views on the job they are doing.
· Research the election process. Hold an election. Have candidates give speeches and prepare, as any candidate, would for election. Vote by secret ballot.
· What are the costs involved in running for office? Set up an election budget. How would you conduct fundraising? What are the guidelines to fundraising?
· Become involved in the election campaign of a local candidate. How much work is involved? Write a brief paper (200 words or less) on local elections.
· Make a card game. Winner receives the most points. Points are awarded on the card by the difficulty of the questions. On one side of the card, write the clue; on the other side, write the answer. For example: I am the first elected President of the United States, who am I? (Washington, one point). My father was President before me, who am I? (John Quincy Adams, two points). My grandfather was also a President, who am I? (Benjamin Harrison, three points).
· You are a speechwriter for a presidential candidate. Write an acceptance speech.
· You have been elected President. Why would you want this job? (If you would not want this job, then write why not.)
· What changes would you make if you were President?
· After reading the section on the lives of the First Families, make a list of antidotal happenings.
· Study the making of a bill into a law. What are the steps involved? Make a flow chart to illustrate.