| | ''To enroll, see [[Conservapedia:American Government Fall 2012]].'' | | ''To enroll, see [[Conservapedia:American Government Fall 2012]].'' |
| − | Welcome to this course in American Government & Politics. The full title is "Government" '''''and''''' "Politics" because it is impossible to understand one without the other. Government policies are dictated by elected officials, and they care most about being reelected. To understand why government acts in certain ways, it is necessary to understand elections first. | + | '''Welcome to this course in American Government & Politics!''' The full title is "Government" '''''and''''' "Politics" because it is impossible to understand one without the other. Government policies are dictated by elected officials, and they care most about being reelected. To understand why government acts in certain ways, it is necessary to understand elections first. |
| − | In every year divisible by four, such as this 2012, there is a presidential election, an election of every "seat" or position in the House of Representatives, and an election of one-third of the U.S. Senate. (One third and all of the House of Representatives are elected every two years, such that by every six years every Senate seat has stood for election.) Many state offices are also on the ballot on Election Day. | + | Tonight, September 6, 2012, President Barack Obama will accept the nomination by the Democratic Party for his candidacy to be reelected as president of the United States. As is customary, he will deliver an acceptance speech that tries to persuade millions of Americans to reelect him. A week earlier, on August 30th, Mitt Romney accepted the nomination by the Republican Party to be elected to this same position. In every year divisible by four, including this 2012, the United States elects (or reelects) a president. At the same time, officially the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November ("Election Day"), American voters also elect the entire House of Representatives (435 officers) and one-third of the U.S. Senate. (One third of the U.S. Senate is elected every two years, such that by every six years the entire Senate has been elected.) Many state offices are also on the ballot on Election Day. |
| − | Election Day officially is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, but with "early voting" most people will actually vote before Election Day this year, either by mail or by going to a polling booth that is open for voting before the official Election Day.
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| | Every political leader is thinking about who will win on Election Day, and millions of other other Americans are thinking about it also. It's like the Super Bowl or World Series. Billions of dollars in political advertisements are being spent to try to influence voters before they vote. | | Every political leader is thinking about who will win on Election Day, and millions of other other Americans are thinking about it also. It's like the Super Bowl or World Series. Billions of dollars in political advertisements are being spent to try to influence voters before they vote. |