As you know, the United States has a Presidential election every four years. In November of this year, someone will be elected President. Before your child can understand the election process, and the significance of it, he or she has to understand some related vocabulary words.
This year, 2012, is an election year. Many news stations and websites have been talking about the political process, the candidates, and the impact of certain issues that are likely to play an important role in how people choose to cast their vote for President of the United States.
No matter what your political views happen to be, you probably will want your child to have a good understanding about the political process. He or she is going to become eligible to vote someday.
To get started, it might be best to go over some of the vocabulary words that relate to this year’s election period. Dictionary.com is an excellent online resource for vocabulary words.
Election: The selection of a person, (or persons), for office by vote
Vote: A formal expression of opinion or choice, either positive or negative, made by an individual or body of individuals.
Office: A position of duty, trust, or authority, especially in the government, a corporation, a society, or the like
President: The highest executive officer of a modern republic as the Chief Executive of the United States
Vice President: The officer of this rank who is elected at the same time as the President and who succeeds to the presidency on the resignation, removal, death, or disability of the President.
Republic: A state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly for them. Republic also means: a state in which the head of government is not a monarch or other hereditary head of state.
Republican: A member of the Republican party
Republican party: One of the two major political parties in the United States: originated in 1854- 1856
Democrat: A member of the Democratic party
Democratic party: One of the two major political parties in the United States: originated in 1828
Constitutional: Provided by, in accordance with, or not prohibited by, such as a constitution
United States Constitution: The constitution written at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 and subsequently ratified by the original thirteen states
Freedom of Religion: The right to choose a religion (or no religion) without interference by the government. Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution
Amendment: An alteration of or addition to a motion, bill, constitutional
Bill: A form or draft of a proposed statute presented to a legislature, but not yet enacted or passed and made law
Proposition: The act of offering or suggesting something to be considered, accepted, adopted, or done. In some states, creating a proposition is a way to get something onto the ballot so that people can vote about it.
Ballot: A slip or sheet of paper, cardboard, or the like, on which a voter marks his or her vote
Image by Chad Davis on Flickr