2024 US Elections 5H

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 5,6

2024 US Elections 5H

- To understand the results of the 2024 U.S. election.  

- To critically analyze the data and the implications of the results. 

- To develop reading and writing skills through structured analysis.

Introduction to U.S. Government and Elections

The U.S. government is a democracy, which means people vote to choose their leaders.

There are three main parts of the government: the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch, and the Judicial Branch.

In this lesson, we will focus on the Legislative Branch and other government leaders.

The Three Branches of the U.S. Government

The U.S. government is divided into three branches to make sure no one part has too much power.

Executive Branch: The President and the people who work with him/her.

Legislative Branch: Congress (Senators and Representatives) who make the laws.

Judicial Branch: The courts (judges) who interpret the laws and make decisions.

What is Congress?

Congress is the Legislative Branch of the U.S. government. It makes the laws for the country.

Congress is divided into two parts:

The Senate

The House of Representatives

These two parts work together to create and pass laws.

The senate

The Senate is the upper part of Congress.

There are 100 Senators in total. Each state has 2 Senators, no matter how big or small the state is.

Senators serve for 6 years.

They help make laws, approve important decisions (like judges and treaties), and check the President's power.

Example: California has 2 Senators, and so does Texas or Florida, even though California is much bigger in population.

The House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is the lower part of Congress.

There are 435 Representatives in total, but each state has a different number based on the population.

California, being the largest state by population, has 53 Representatives.

Representatives serve for 2 years and represent a specific part of their state called a district.

They also help make laws and check the President's power.

Example: In New York, a big state, there are many Representatives because more people live there.

What Do Senators and Representatives Do?

Make Laws: Both Senators and Representatives write and vote on new laws.

Approve Presidential Appointments: Senators approve important decisions by the President, such as picking judges or ambassadors.

Control Money: They decide how the government spends money, like how much to spend on schools or defense.

Impeachment: They can remove a President or other officials if they break the law.

The President and the Executive Branch

The President is the leader of the Executive Branch and the head of the U.S. government.

The President’s job is to enforce laws, make decisions about how the country is run, and lead the military.

The President is elected every 4 years.

The President also works with other leaders to make decisions about things like education, healthcare, and international relations (other countries).

Other Key Government Leaders

Vice President: The second-in-command. If the President can’t do the job, the Vice President takes over.

Cabinet Members: These are leaders in charge of important parts of the government, like education, defense, or health. The President chooses them.

Supreme Court Justices: Judges who interpret laws and make important legal decisions.

How Do Elections Work for Congress?

Senate Elections: Senators are elected every 6 years. Every state elects 2 Senators, no matter the state size.

House Elections: Representatives are elected every 2 years. Each state is divided into districts, and each district elects 1 Representative.

Midterm Elections: These happen every 2 years for the House of Representatives. Sometimes Senators also have elections at the same time.

Why Are Congressional Elections Important?

Congress makes the laws that affect everyday life, like school rules, taxes, and healthcare.

They control how the government spends money and make decisions about the economy.

Congress helps check the President’s power to make sure the President doesn’t have too much control.

Congress can also decide to impeach (remove) the President if they break the law.

The Judicial Branch – Courts and Judges

The Judicial Branch is made up of courts and judges.

The highest court in the U.S. is the Supreme Court. The judges in the Supreme Court are called Justices.

The Supreme Court’s job is to decide if laws and government actions are fair and constitutional (in line with the Constitution).

There are 9 Justices on the Supreme Court. They are appointed by the President and approved by the Senate.

Putting It All Together

In the U.S., there are three main branches of government:

The Executive Branch: The President and their team.

The Legislative Branch: Congress (Senate and House of Representatives).

The Judicial Branch: The courts and judges.

Elections are held for the President, Senators, Representatives, and sometimes local leaders.

The President is elected every 4 years, Senators every 6 years, and Representatives every 2 years.

The parties

The Democratic Party and Republican Party represent two different visions for America’s future. The Democrats tend to focus on social justice, equality, and government programs, while the Republicans emphasize limited government, personal freedom, and economic growth through private enterprise. The 2024 election will give voters a chance to choose between these two visions, based on their values and what they believe is best for the country.

Activity 1

Explore the BBC Election Results Page (or use the printouts provided).

https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/us/results

https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cj3ergr8209t

Highlight  the following key areas within those texts available in classroom:

Overall Winner of the election (if declared).

Breakdown of key battleground states.

Which party controls which states.

Voter turnout trends (if available).

Any surprising shifts in states or demographics.

The difference between Dutch and American elections.

Activity 2

Reflect on the findings and consider their implications. Write your findings about these questions:

• What factors might have influenced the election results in key battleground states?
• What demographic groups seem to have voted for which party?
• Were there any patterns or trends in the results? (e.g., regions voting for a particular party).
• What might the results suggest about the political climate in the U.S.?
• How do these results differ from elections in the Netherlands?

Activity 3

Write a response to the following prompt with all your data (Wordcount 400. 20% marge):

"Based on the results of the 2024 U.S. election, what do you think is the future direction of U.S. politics? How could this affect the Netherlands? Consider the factors that influenced the election, the outcome in key states, and the implications for both major political parties. Provide evidence from the results to support your opinion. "

Do not forget: Writing Structure:

Introduction: State your overall opinion on the future direction of U.S. politics.

Body Paragraphs:

Discuss different aspects of the election: key battleground states, voter trends, and party control.

Analyze the implications for both major political parties (Democrats and Republicans).

Conclusion: Summarize your analysis and give your opinion on how the election results might affect politics in the Netherlands.

Share your insight about either one of the following:
Something you've learned about the U.S. election.
Something you've found interesting in the election results.
Did you learn new vocabulary related to elections or politics?
Which language skills (reading, writing, speaking) did you practice most in this lesson?