Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts

By Syl Sobel J.D.

This updated, easy-to-read book about the United States for kids brings history and social studies classes to life as readers learn about important people, places, and events in the history of presidential elections.

Parents, teachers, and gift givers will find information on:

• Who can run for president?
• Who can vote?
• What is the Electoral College?
• What is a third-party candidate?
• Which Republican president had a Democrat for his vice president?
• Who was the only U.S. president to be elected for more than two terms?
• Which candidates have won the popular vote but lost the election?

Now is the perfect time to introduce Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts to young readers. Children will be fascinated by the history they'll find in this book, including riveting facts about everything from George Washington's election in 1789 to Barack Obama's victories in 2008 and 2012.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sourcebooks
• Release date: May 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781438068299

Syl Sobel J.D.

Syl Sobel, J.D., is Director, Publications & Media Division, Federal Judicial Center, Washington, D.C. He is also the author of How the U.S. Government Works, The U.S. Constitution and You, and Presidential Elections, all available from B.E.S.

Book preview

To Izzy, who asked me to write this book.

Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2008, 2001, 2000 by Sylvan A. Sobel

Illustrations Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2001, 2000 by

Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

All inquiries should be addressed to:

Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.

250 Wireless Boulevard

Hauppauge, New York 11788

www.barronseduc.com

eISBN: 978-1-4380-6829-9

Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 2015953125

Date of Manufacture: December 2015

Manufactured by: Midas Printing International

   Tuen Mun, N.T., Hong Kong

Contents

Who Will Lead the Country?

The Rules for Electing the President

The Electoral College

The Presidential Campaign

What If Something Happens to the President?

Conclusion

Glossary

Resource Guide

Who Will Lead the Country?

Maybe you’ve heard grown-ups talking about the presidential election. Maybe you’ve heard someone say: This is an election year. Or maybe the TV news has stories about people running for president. Did you ever wonder what the presidential election is, and why adults spend so much time talking about it?

You probably know something about elections already. Your school may have a student government or a student council. When you and your classmates vote to put someone from your class in the student government, that is an election. When you and your friends decide whether to play baseball or play with sidewalk chalk, that’s an election. An election is when people make choices by voting. Whichever choice receives the most votes wins. A system in which people make decisions by having a vote is called a democracy.

Reviews for Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts

[kelleykl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is filled with a lot of good information--almost too good. Elementary students with the a book that is primarily text driven. Most two-page spreads contain some kind of hand-drawn graphic or info box. However, pictures are done in blue and white and don't lend a lot of information to most sections. Contains a glossary, bibliography and index. Bibliography should be updated. Would be better suited to younger students with better full-color photos. Purchase where election books are in demand as the information is good.