318. How Does the US Presidential Election Work? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Nov 4, 2024

The upcoming US presidential election is heating up, featuring Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Dive into the candidate selection process and get acquainted with essential electoral vocabulary. Discover the intricacies of the two-party system and the pivotal role of the Electoral College. Learn how delegates influence campaign strategies and what happens on election day. Explore evolving voting methods, especially post-pandemic, and understand the significance of key states. This whirlwind tour reveals what makes US elections uniquely complex!

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INSIGHT

US Political Structure

The US political structure is a federal republic, dividing power between national and state governments.
This allows states to create their own laws, leading to variations in taxes, education, and healthcare.

INSIGHT

Two-Party System

The US has a two-party system: Democrats (progressive, favoring social reform) and Republicans (conservative, supporting limited government).
While other parties exist, these two dominate elections.

INSIGHT

Choosing a Nominee

Before the general election, parties choose their presidential nominee through primaries and caucuses.
Delegates represent state voters at the national convention, where the nominee is officially chosen.

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On November 5th, the United States of America will elect their next President. The two candidates this year are former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris.

The election has been controversial and close. There have been assassination attempts against Donald Trump, the original Democratic candidate Joe Biden dropped out of the race, and the United States seems relatively politically unstable.

This episode is not going to focus specifically on this year’s US election, but on the US presidential election in general. My aim is to explain how candidates are selected, the key features of US elections, and what makes them unique.

Hopefully, after listening to this episode, you will be able to understand the events of this year’s election day!

Transcript - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2024/11/04/how-does-the-us-presidential-election-work-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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Vocabulary

Candidate (Noun): A person who is nominated for election to a public office.
Progressive (Adjective): Favouring or promoting social reform or new, liberal ideas.
Federal (Adjective): Relating to a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and individual states.
Delegate (Noun): A person sent to represent others, especially at a conference or convention.
Elector (Noun): A member of the Electoral College chosen by voters to officially vote for the President and Vice President.
Campaign (Noun): An organized effort by a candidate or political party to win an election.

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