Election Words to Know
You’ll hear a lot of election-related terms leading up to November 5. How well do you know what they mean? Take this quiz to find out!
In the United States, people choose their leaders by voting in elections. What is this form of government is known as?
The writers of the U.S. Constitution gave citizens the power to elect the people who represent them in government. Voting is considered one of the most important rights in a democracy.
What are the two main political parties in the United States?
Political parties are groups of people with similar ideas for how a country should be run. Both the Democratic and Republican Parties have been around since the 1800s. There are also several smaller parties in U.S., including the Green Party and the Libertarian Party. All parties other than the Republicans and Democrats are called third parties.
True or false? Candidates in the United States must belong to a political party.
Candidates and elected officials who don’t belong to a political party are called Independents. Voters can be Independent too. As Election Day approaches, Democratic and Republican candidates often work extra hard to try to attract Independent voters.
How does a voter know which political party to join—if any? One way is to read the list of a party’s plans and positions on key issues. What is that called?
A platform outlines a party’s goals and its plans for solving problems in the country. For example, it may explain how the party’s leaders plan to create jobs and ensure that Americans can afford health care. Each party’s platform can be found on its official website.
Presidential candidates aren’t in the race alone. They each team up with a candidate for vice president. What is that candidate called?
Candidates running together for president and vice president are called a party’s ticket. Once in office, the vice president serves an important role. If the president were to die or leave office, the vice president would take over as the nation’s leader. The vice president is also one of the president’s most trusted advisers.
True or false? During election season, the word polls refers to places where people vote.
Polls, or polling places, can be schools, churches, and other buildings where voters cast their ballots on Election Day. You may also hear about a different kind of poll. A public-opinion poll is a survey that tells what people think about candidates or specific issues.
What is the Electoral College?
Tens of millions of Americans will cast their ballots for president in the popular vote. But they’ll really be voting for electors. These are people who have pledged to vote for their party’s candidate. Click here to learn about how the Electoral College works.
What’s the name of the day the newly elected president takes office?
The inauguration will take place on January 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The president will take the oath of office, promising to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Taking the oath is the official start of the president’s four-year term.