ELECTION 2012

KIDS VOTEwww.generationnation.org |

facebook.com/generationnation | twitter.com/gennation

ELECTION 2012

|

Election VocabularyVote–Make a decisionCandidate–A person running for officeOffice–An elected role in governmentReferendum–A public vote on a question, policy or issueElectoral College–Constitutional process by which the President

is elected by state representatives, or Electors

Political Parties

Political Parties are groups of people who have similar ideas.

Major US political parties•Democrats www.democrats.org•Republicans www.gop.com•Libertarians www.lp.org

Some government offices are nonpartisan•The individual candidates can have political ideas but

don’t officially run as members of a political party•Includes school board and judges

On Our Ballot

PresidentGovernorUS House of RepresentativesMecklenburg ballot–County Commission–Student referendum

President

President –4‐year term Role–Makes decisions–Works with Congress–Works with other countries–Follows and enforces U.S. laws–Leads the military–Represents the United StatesI'll Be the President

Meet the Candidates

Barack Obama (D) Mitt Romney (R) Gary Johnson (L)

Obama Campaign Site

Romney Campaign Site Johnson Campaign Site/

Governor

Governor–4‐year termsRole–Reports to the General Assembly on the business

of North Carolina–Recommends a budget to the General Assembly

and administers a balanced budget–Leads the state’s military forces (except when

forces are called into action by the US)–Names state officers, such as judges–Signs North Carolina laws

Meet the Candidates

Walter Dalton (D)

Pat McCrory (R)

Barbara Howe (L)

Dalton Campaign Site

McCrory Campaign SiteHowe Campaign Site

U.S. House of Representatives

Representative–2‐year termsRole includes:–Represents North Carolina residents in Congress–Makes decisions–Works with the Senate to create and approve

legislation–Initiates revenue bills, including taxes–Can impeach officials–Elects the President in the event of an electoral

deadlock

Meet the CandidatesRoberts Campaign Site Pittenger Campaign Site

Jennifer Roberts (D) Robert Pittenger (R)

Campbell Campaign Site

Curtis Campbell (L)

County Commission

Governing body for Mecklenburg County3 At‐Large members represent entire county; 6

District members represent districtsResponsibilities of the BOCC include:•Adopt the annual county budget•Set the property tax rate•Define county priorities and policies (health,

safety, education, environment, social services)•Hire the county manager, a professional who

manages the daily operations of the county

Candidates for County Commission

At‐Large (Vote for 3)•Pat Cotham (D)•Trevor Fuller (D)•Kim Ratliff (D)•Jason Bateman (L)•Michael Hobbs (R)•James Peterson (R)•Wayne Powers (R)

Vote for 1 District RepresentativeDistrict 1: Keith Bradford (D) or Karen Bentley

(R)

Now…its YOUR turn!

1.Learn about the candidates2.Think about the information3.Choose candidates you like best

4.Vote5.After the election, keep track of the candidates & their promises and actions

Start with an issue YOU care aboutEducation, environment, safety, transportation,

economy/jobs, children, neighborhoods, teachers

Find information about the candidatesGenerationNation

www.generationnation.org/k12in2012Includes candidate debate videos and other

informationCharlotte Observer www.charlotteobserver.comNC Voter Guide www.ncvoterguide.org