How to Elect a U.S. President

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 10 September 2024 > Ready to Use


It's not been the most typical U.S. electoral year, with the primaries counting less than usual in the process, and the late withdrawal of Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate. This article explains the basic system of how the U.S. President is elected and focuses on the 2024 candidates now they are finally settled, quickly exploring their careers as well as mapping out the electoral system. It’s an easy B1, usable in older classes in collège as well as lycée.

The following activities will enable the students to understand the two-party system as well as the main principles of the (not so simple) presidential elections. The final task aims to help them use what they’ve learnt in a fun yet organised way. The tasks could be then on display at the school’s media center.

Vocabulary and structures

  • elections: polls, elections, campaign, swing states…
  • simple present (habits)
  • present perfect + for and since
  • politics: senator, representative, Congress, term, president, party, convention, primary elections…