US Elections

Question 1

Requirements to be president

Answer 1

• Natural born citizen of the USA
• At least 35 y/o
• Lived in the US for 14 years

Question 2

Mandate terms

Answer 2

• 4 year term
• can only be re-elected once

Question 3

State Electors =

Answer 3

Nb of Senators + congressman (representatives)

Question 4

Total electors & how many to win

Answer 4

538, majority of 270 to win

Question 5

Winner-takes-all except in 2 States :

Answer 5

Only Main & Nebraska use proportional systems, dividing electoral votes on district results

Question 6

Example of Electoral College V. Popular Vote Mismatch

Answer 6

2016
- Hillary Clinton (Democrat) : Won the popular vote with (48.4 %), but lost with 266 electors

• Donald Trump (Republican) : Lost the popular vote (46.1%) but won 306 electors.

(gives smaller states more power per voter)

Question 7

Presidential Inauguration & its date

Answer 7

Formal event that marks the start of a new presidential term.
January 20

Question 8

Inaugural Adress

Answer 8

After taking the oath of office, the new president delivers a speech to the nation outlining their goals, vision & tone for the next 4y.

Ex : Biden’s 2021 speech focused on unity and healing after the Capitol riot.

Question 9

Every 2y voters elect :

Answer 9

• All (435) members of the House of Representatives
• 1/3 of the 100 Senators

This means that the pw of Congress can shift even if the President doesn’t change.

Question 10

Divided Government means :

Answer 10

• One party controls the executive branch (president)
• Another party controls one or both chambers of Congress (Senate & House of Representatives).

Makes it harder to pass laws, parties often block each other’s agendas.

Question 11

Citizens United V. FEC - Supreme Court case

Answer 11

• Ruled that corporations and unions can spend unlimited money on independent political advertising.
• The Court said this was protected by the First Amendment (free speech).
• Result: explosion of “outside” spending by Super PACs and dark money groups, which can’t coordinate with campaigns but often support them indirectly.
• Critics call it “legalized corruption” because wealthy groups can dominate the political narrative.

Question 12

SpeechNow.org V. FEC

Answer 12

• Built on Citizens United V. FEC & allowed Super PACs to exist.
• Ruled that individuals & groups can raise & spend unlimited money to support or oppose candidates - as long as they do it independently.

The result : campaigns depend heavily on donors, which raises serious concerns about democratic fairness and undue influence.

Question 13

Why don’t Americans Vote ?

Answer 13

1/ Too many elections

2/ Voters Restriction
- felon disenfranchisement
- Voter identification laws

3/ Not a national holiday
- Tuesday
- Not compulsory
- inaccessible polling location
- Long line, long wait

4/ Vote doesn’t matter
- Presidents who lost the popular vote but won the election : 2016 Donald Trump, 2000 George W. Bush

Question 15

The Bill of Rights

Answer 15

It’s the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution.

Question 16

Which article define the role of the President

Answer 16

Article II, executive branch