U.S. election

U.S. election

General elections held every four years to elect the President and Vice President of the United States. These are indirect elections in that ordinary voters cast ballots for a slate of electors of the U.S. Electoral College, who in turn directly elect the President and Vice President.

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U.S. election

vice president

Government; U.S. election

The vice-president's primary duty is to succeed to the presidency in the event of the resignation, removal or death of the incumbent president. The vice-president's only other constitutional ...

Speaker of the House

Government; U.S. election

The House Speaker is the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives (not to be confused with the House Majority Leader). He or she has a dual role as both the leader of his or her ...

Super Tuesday

Government; U.S. election

Refers to a critical date in the campaign calendar - usually in early March - when a large number of states hold primary elections. The hope was that by holding their votes on the same day, states ...

balancing the ticket

Government; U.S. election

When a candidate has won his or her party's presidential nomination, he or she is then obliged to pick a "running-mate" who would become vice-president if the candidate won the election. The two are ...

push polling

Government; U.S. election

The controversial practice where voters are contacted over the telephone by campaign workers, who talk up their own candidate and criticise opponents. Voters often say they feel deceived by the ...

open primary

Government; U.S. election

A primary election (to select a candidate for the general election) in which people are allowed to vote regardless of party affiliation or registration. However, in an open primary, voters are ...

commander in chief

Government; U.S. election

The constitutional role granted to the president as head of the United States' armed forces. Under Article III of the Constitution, the president is given authority to lead "the army and the navy of ...