U.S.A. President Vocabulary elocution bipartisan caucus demagogue filibuster training in, or the art of, public speaking. a cooperative effort by two political parties. an informal meeting of local party members to discuss candidates and choose delegates to the party's convention. a leader whose impassioned rhetoric appeals to greed, fear, and hatred, and who often spreads lies. an attempt by a Senator or group of Senators to obstruct the passage of a bill, favored by the majority, by talking continuously. Because there is no rule in the Senate over how long a member can speak, a Senator can prevent a bill from coming up for a vote by talking endlessly. incumbent a current officeholder. left-wing lobby muckraker platform poll primary red tape veto Liberal. The labeling system originated from the seating pattern of the French National Assembly, which put liberals on the left, moderates in the middle, and conservatives on the right. a group seeking to influence an elected official, or the act of doing so. The term originated in the 17th century, when people waiting to speak with legislators at the English House of Commons waited in a large atrium outside the legislators' hall, called the lobby. a journalist who seeks out the scandalous activities of public officials. Derived from the Man with the Muck Rake, a character in John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress," who could never look up, only down. The positions that a party adopts, and stands on, at the beginning of an election campaign. A survey used to gauge public opinion concerning issues or to forecast an election. A state election in which party members vote for a candidate from within their party. The vote determines how many of that state's delegates each candidate gets. Government paperwork and procedures that are slow and difficult. Stems from an 18thcentury British practice of binding official papers with a reddish twine. the right or power of one official authority or body, esp. the chief executive, to reject or cancel something enacted by another, such as a law or budget authorization approved by a legislature. Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1
United States President Biographical Data Form Do the Research! Directions: Pick a President and write a short biography about his life using the following guidelines. Name of President: Year of Birth: Place of Birth: Political Affiliation: Year Elected: Term(s) Served: Name of Vice President: Political philosophy (beliefs): Describe accomplishments during presidency Year of Death (if applicable): Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2
President Cryptogram Directions: Unscramble the words by placing the correct letter in the shaded boxes. Use the numbered boxes to complete the answer to the riddle. RIDDLE: Who was the only President born on July 4th? OEMDGAUEG MAYIRRP BOBYL _ 5 2 6 SRIITUBLEF UASUCC PLLO 3 1 CUBMTNNEI EDEAPRT TEOV 4 7 ANSWER: 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 3
United States Presidents Facts Name of President: Directions: Fill in the information requested. Place of Birth: Year Elected: 1. Political Party (Democrat, Republican, etc.) 1. Vice President 1. Term Served (How many and what years) 1. Key Events During Presidency (List important historical events with the years they occurred Powered Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 4
President Group Creative Writing Directions: As a group, you have 25 minutes to write a brief story using the words/phrases below. veto demagogue lobby poll elocution filibuster muckraker primary bipartisan incumbent platform red tape caucus left-wing Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 5
If You Were There During Lincoln's Presidency Directions: Pretend that you lived in Lincoln's lifetime. Compose a letter to President Lincoln to help him through the difficult times in his life. Some things you can write about include his economic hardship and life as a child, his struggle with slavery, or his concerns about the Civil War. Date: Dear President Lincoln, Sincerely, Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 6
President Maze Worksheet Help the president find his home. Start Finish Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 7
Presidents Who Are Noteworthy Directions: Tell what each of the following presidents is noted for: George Washington Thomas Jefferson Abraham Lincoln 1. 1. Andrew Johnson 1. Theodore Roosevelt 1. Franklin Roosevelt Harry S. Truman John F. Kennedy 1. Richard Nixon Bill Clinton 1. Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 8
President Acrostic Poem An acrostic poem is one where you choose a word or name and use each letter in the name as the beginning of a word or line that tells something about that person or topic. Example: An acrostic poem using the word "friend." Frank from my class Really helped me when I got hurt. He ran to the nurse and got Ice for my leg Even when I lost Nelly my pet frog, his mom Drove us all around looking for her. Write an Acrostic Poem using the word below. P R E S I D E N T Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 9
President Vocabulary Quiz Directions: Match the vocabulary words on the left with the definitions on the right. 1. left wing a private meeting of leaders of a political party to choose candidates or determine policy, or such a group itself. 2. poll a leader, esp. a speaker or politician, who attempts to persuade and to gain a following by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of the public, rather than by rational argument. 3. platform a long narrow strip of material, usu. of plastic, cloth, or paper, sometimes having adhesive on one side. 4. muckrake any of several colors that resemble the color of blood; the first color on the spectrum. 5. bipartisan the casting of a ballot or the recording of votes in an election. 6. lobby currently holding an office or position: 7. primary composed of, representing, or supported by two parties or factions, esp. two political parties. 8. tape to investigate and expose misconduct or corruption, esp. of political or business leaders. 9. caucus most essential or prevalent; main; chief: 10. incumbent a level, raised surface used as a stage for speakers or the like. Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 10
11. veto training in, or the art of, public speaking. 12. red a faction of a political party or other group that advocates liberal reform or radical, revolutionary change, esp. in the social, political, or economic order. (Cf. right wing.) 13. elocution the right or power of one official authority or body, esp. the chief executive, to reject or cancel something enacted by another, such as a law or budget authorization approved by a legislature. 14. filibuster a hall or foyer inside the entrance of a hotel, theater, or other large building, often used as a waiting room. 15. demagogue (demagog) the practice or an instance of impeding or delaying legislative action, as by making long speeches. Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11
President Reading Comprehension Worksheet Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions below. President Bush's education bill survived a double-barreled assault on Wednesday as the Senate upheld a requirement for annual math and reading tests and preserved an experimental program that would cut regulations in hopes of improving student performance. The votes signaled that the bipartisan coalition behind the measure remained intact after last week's historic mid-session Senate shift to a Democratic majority. After a marathon debate lasting more than a month, final passage is expected as early as today. Expecting final approval, Education Secretary Rod Paige said he hoped House and Senate negotiators could begin a "summer school session" and wrap up a final compromise quickly "so we can get school started with a smile." Annual math and reading testing for students in the third through eighth grades is the cornerstone of Bush's effort to improve student achievement. Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., led the effort to add an amendment to make them optional by the states, rather than mandatory. 1. What conditions does President Bush's education bill call for? 2. Which political party seems to be favoring this bill? 3. At the time of this article, were there more democratic or republican Senators? 4. What is the overall goal of President Bush's education bill? Explain your answer. Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 12
If You Ran for the Presidency and Won! Step 1 Pretend that you were running for the presidency. Prepare a campaign speech and highlight the important things that you would wish to accomplish if elected. Problems to be addressed: Promises, if elected: Step 2 If elected, list the responsibilities and powers of your presidency. Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 13
Step 3 Tell what leadership characteristics you will need to be effective and to succeed as president. Step 4 What will be your legacy? Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 14
1.) Mount Rushmore Presidents Do the Research! Directions: Name the Presidents who are represented on Mount Rushmore. In the space provided, tell why you think these presidents were chosen. 2.) 3.) 4.) Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 15
Presidents Word Search Worksheet Directions: All words are positioned left to right. S O N C R K W A N H V E T O Z Y U L K R E J F I W Q E C J A L L G L W J R F O N Z S Q C E Q R E R X I G U Q A Y C Y U I N C U M B E N T I O X I N X Z C G B D F R S K S L Q S V N A T T Z Y O R Q B F L H P L O J E E H L O B B Y A Z U O C Q B N R L E I S N J U N G Y X K X H E P N F I L I B U S T E R Z M D Z C S K Y M U I W P R I M A R Y N J B S K I O S C G P G O E T K H J D E I T E Z B R X L E N U S T O X L A X O X I P L A T F O R M V N Z V Y L S A W O A Y J T Q L G O B U C S W E H G O E A K K X I U Y R T C A U C U S J B M E L O C U T I O N I K V L A R E D T A P E U X P W D E M A G O G U E M U Z Q P O L L X J C C M Q M U C K R A K E R F B I P A R T I S A N Y O W L E F T - W I N G V R G G M J O E A K G F K G C J Y E X N Z H H A Z M O K W Z R B K X K X S P F Q L G A G F D O R R W Q H Y X K N K N Z M U F G Q K V A S I N RED TAPE PLATFORM FILIBUSTER PRIMARY BIPARTISAN DEMAGOGUE VETO LOBBY INCUMBENT LEFT-WING ELOCUTION MUCKRAKER CAUCUS POLL Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 16
Comparing President Washington and President Lincoln VENN Diagram President Washington President Lincoln Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 17
Comparing Presidents VENN Diagram Pick two different presidents and compare them. President President Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 18
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Answers to Cryptogram OEMDGAUEG: Demagogue MAYIRRP: Primary BOBYL: Lobby SRIITUBLEF: Filibuster UASUCC: Caucus PLLO: Poll CUBMTNNEI: Incumbent EDEAPRT: Red Tape TEOV: Veto Riddle: Coolidge Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 22