Civics Shorts: Founding Mothers 1 - The Wives

The most well known icons of our nation’s history, the founding fathers, developed our Declaration of Independence, led us into the war for independence, and wrote the laws of our government.

However, while the majority of people, including women, were excluded from those moments in history, their contributions to the forming of our nation were enormous. In a multi-part series, Civics Shorts focuses on some of the women that journalist Cokie Roberts called “the founding mothers.” 

First up: the four wives of our founding fathers: Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Dolly Madison, and Eliza Hamilton.

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Final Founding Mothers 1.wav: Audio automatically transcribed by Sonix

Final Founding Mothers 1.wav: this wav audio file was automatically transcribed by Sonix with the best speech-to-text algorithms. This transcript may contain errors.

Nick Capodice:
I'm Nick Capodice.

Hannah McCarthy:
And I'm Hannah McCarthy. All right, Nick, when you think about the most fundamental players in the early history of the United States, who comes to mind,

Nick Capodice:
The founding fathers, right?

Hannah McCarthy:
Sure, of course. That's what the history books say. But as the founding fathers developed, our Declaration of Independence led us into the war for independence and wrote the principles of our government. There were many, many women whose contributions to our early history were enormous.

Nick Capodice:
Civic shorts is focusing on the women behind the founding of the United States in a multipart series. First up, Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Dolly Madison and Eliza Hamilton for Wives of Our Founding Fathers.

Christina Phillips:
Ok, hold up. That doesn't mean we have to defy these women just because of who they were married to. I'm Christina.

Jacqui Fulton:
And I'm Jacqui. And today we're talking about a couple women who made a significant impact on the founding of our nation.

Christina Phillips:
Have you ever heard the phrase history is written by the winners?

Jacqui Fulton:
Right. The people who decide what matters are the ones who have the power together.

Archival Presidential Audio:
We have made history here today and the ability with a sense not only of the moment in history, but also of history itself to record our history. We have it within our power to make history and pass it on. Let's not be afraid to do so.

Christina Phillips:
And when we think about the founding of our nation in our early democracy, those winners, our founding fathers, were predominantly white, educated, wealthy men who could read and write.

Jacqui Fulton:
They were the authors of our founding documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

The people should have as little to do as possible with the government. The election of the larger branch must be by the people, the people are dupes!

Jacqui Fulton:
And their letters, speeches, autobiographies and diaries. Help us understand how our government came to be.

Christina Phillips:
But that leaves out a huge portion of our history from and about people who weren't in these positions of power. In fact, the majority of people were excluded from the moments we learned about from the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the writing of the Constitution. Not only could women and enslaved people not vote, many couldn't read and write either because it was discouraged for women or outright banned for enslaved people. A lot of what we study in our nation's history comes directly from those founding fathers, and it's based on what and who they deem important.

Jacqui Fulton:
Are you saying that this history is not the right history?

Christina Phillips:
It absolutely is our history, but it's not the complete history. There are a lot of stories left out. Now, before we begin, it's important to recognize that these women still have a great deal of privilege.

Jacqui Fulton:
They were white women who were married to very powerful men and had access to some education and wealth not afforded to the majority of the population.

Christina Phillips:
We want to focus on how they turned that privilege into action. So let's start with the MVP of strongly worded letters, Abigail Adams. "A people may let a king fall, yet still remain a people. But if a king let his people slip from him, he is no longer a king. And as this is most certainly the case, why not proclaim to the world in decisive terms your own importance?"

Christina Phillips:
That was Abigail writing to her husband, John Adams, founding father and future president of the United States in July 1776.

Jacqui Fulton:
Wait a minute. Why aren't we starting with Martha Washington? Her husband was the first president of the United States.

Christina Phillips:
Remember what else happened in 1776? On July 4th, the founding fathers declared independence from Great Britain. So as that was happening, Abigail Adams was telling John Adams by letter why she thought it mattered that the colonies take a stand. Most of what we know about Abigail Adams is through the letters that she and her husband wrote to each other throughout their marriage, like most women at that time. Adams was not formally educated, but she learned to read and write in her family's extensive library and developed an interest in politics.

Jacqui Fulton:
Why was she writing John Adams letters instead of talking to him in person?

Christina Phillips:
This is something we see a lot from the wives of the Founding Fathers while their husbands were debating and steaming hot rooms about the future of our country and then leading the war for independence, their wives were in charge of running their homes, raising their children and taking care of the finances. And Abigail recognize the importance of herself and other women. Here she is in another letter in 1776.

Christina Phillips:
"Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation."

Christina Phillips:
And she wasn't afraid to manage the family money as she thought best. While John Adams wanted to buy and manage more land, Abigail decided to invest their money in government bonds. She referred to these investments as money I call my own. After the Revolutionary War, John Adams continued to turn to Abigail like in 1797 after he was elected president. He wrote to her that he had never wanted her advice more in his life.

Christina Phillips:
"I am highly pleased with your criticisms and observations on my adieus to the Senate, their answer and my reply before. Now you have a long speech, which I hope you will discount on as learnedly and ingeniously."

Jacqui Fulton:
What about Martha Washington?

Christina Phillips:
Ok, let's take a step back to the Revolutionary War, when George Washington was then a general and commander in chief of the continental forces. Here's the scene. In the fall of 1777, the British took Philadelphia after defeating the Continental Army there, and Washington realized he needed somewhere to bring his 12000 troops for the winter.

Jacqui Fulton:
Yeah, it's not like they could hop on a plane and go home for winter break in between battles. They needed a place to live.

Christina Phillips:
Washington decided that that place was Valley Forge, which was about 20 miles from Philadelphia. As you can imagine, 12000 wounded, cold, hungry soldiers gathering in one place to hunker down for the winter requires a lot of food, coats, blankets, shelter.

Jacqui Fulton:
I'm hungry and cold just thinking about it.

Christina Phillips:
And Martha Washington, who in her first marriage and her marriage to George Washington had overseen her family's plantations and the enslaved people there had the management experience for the job.

Jacqui Fulton:
She arrived there in February of 1778 and put her skills to work, organizing supplies, managing the domestic staff, including enslaved people, and establishing sewing circles of women and children to repair uniforms.

Christina Phillips:
It's estimated that 2000 of those 12000 men died that winter of disease and starvation. But without Martha Washington, that number may have been even higher. She later established the Ladies Association of Philadelphia with Esther to read this association organized women to raise money and contribute to the war effort. And Washington helped spread ladies associations throughout the colonies.

Jacqui Fulton:
Let's jump ahead past the Revolutionary War and after the Constitutional Convention to win our baby, federal government was up and running.

Christina Phillips:
That young government was soon dominated by two feuding political parties, the Federalists and the Democratic Republican Party. This was the beginning of that political polarization. That's a key component of our government to this day.

Audio Clip:
Did we not fighting a bloody and costly revolution to rid ourselves of British contagion.

Jacqui Fulton:
And Dolly Madison, who is the wife of James Madison, our fourth vice president, really shaped the role of first lady.

Christina Phillips:
She bridged growing gaps between the two political parties using the best method she knew throwing a party.

Jacqui Fulton:
Yeah, I can see the perks of working with your political opponent that way.

Christina Phillips:
Everything's always easier with food. The other responsibilities she took on included working with local charities and decorating the White House, which served as a model for first ladies to come.

Jacqui Fulton:
Ok, last but not least, Eliza Hamilton.

Christina Phillips:
After her husband was killed in the famous duel against Aaron Burr in 1884, Eliza raised their seven children under enormous financial strain. But she also recognized the importance of her husband's legacy. She gathered and preserved her husband's writing and insisted it be archived in the Library of Congress.

Jacqui Fulton:
She even sent out questionnaires to her husband's colleagues to learn more about his work and her expertise was essential for when her son, John Church Hamilton wrote the book The History of the Republic of the United States of America.

Christina Phillips:
Ron Chernow, who wrote the book, Alexander Hamilton, which later inspired the musical, said of Eliza: Her efforts made it easier to research Alexander's life because after his death, his enemies were in power.

Jacqui Fulton:
She also founded the Orphan Asylum Society, New York's first private orphanage, which aided over 700 children.

Christina Phillips:
So the next time you hear about the founding fathers, take a second to remember the ladies. They might not be in your history book, but that doesn't mean they didn't make a huge difference. This episode was produced by me, Christina Phillips, with help from Jacqui Fulton, Hannah McCarthy Nick Capodice and Michalski. Erica Janik is our executive producer. Music in this episode by Blue DOT Sessions. You can listen to more Civics 101 at civics101podcast.org. Civics 101 is a production of NHPR New Hampshire Public Radio.

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Civics Shorts: The Filibuster

To truly understand the U.S. Senate, it’s important to acquaint yourself with the filibuster. With strong supporters and fierce opponents, the filibuster seems to always be the subject of intense political debate. Its name evokes memories of senators giving speeches on the Senate floor for hours on end to stall. But there’s much more to the filibuster than that. Is it a tool of partisan obstruction or the defining feature of the Senate? Does it undermine the democratic process or force bipartisanship and compromise?

Today’s Civics short is designed for middle schoolers but like all sugary cereals it’s also fun for adults.

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Filibuster Civics Short_FINAL.mp3: Audio automatically transcribed by Sonix

Filibuster Civics Short_FINAL.mp3: this mp3 audio file was automatically transcribed by Sonix with the best speech-to-text algorithms. This transcript may contain errors.

(speaker):
Civics 101 is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Nick Capodice:
Hey, I'm Nick Capodice.

Hannah McCarthy:
And I'm Hannah McCarthy. Nick, do you know anything about the Senate filibuster?

Nick Capodice:
I do. But first and foremost, I know it comes from the Dutch word meaning "pirate." Do you know a pirates' favorite letter?

Hannah McCarthy:
Arrrrrrrrr!

Nick Capodice:
"R" be fine. But his first love be the "C."

Hannah McCarthy:
Ok, well, it's a good thing that we have Mitch Scacchi and Christina Phillips here to tell us a little bit more about one of the most complicated and controversial topics in American politics on today's Civics Short.

Nick Capodice:
It's designed with middle schoolers in mind, but can be a refresher for those of all ages. Take it away, folks!

"Why hold this vote at all if it's destined for failure?"

"Diane, the answer's one word. It's the filibuster. The reason that it can't pass is because of the Senate filibuster. Even if all the Democrats...."

"...60 votes to end a filibuster on legislation or 51?"

"If we can end it with 51, we would have no problem...."

Mitch Scacchi:
Filibuster, filibuster, filibuster. Opponents say it undermines our democracy and the will of the people, while supporters argue it's the cornerstone of the United States Senate and crucial to its success.

Christina Phillips:
You could say it's a hotly debated topic, but what is the filibuster? Hi, I'm Christina.

Mitch Scacchi:
And I'm Mitch. Today on Civics Shorts, we're exploring that pesky, tricky, unique Senate tool commonly known as the filibuster.

Christina Phillips:
Well, let's stop filibustering and get on with this episode.

"And I would go for another 12 hours to try to break Strom Thurmond's record, but I've discovered that there are some limits to filibustering and I'm going to have to go take care of one of those in a few minutes here...."

Mitch Scacchi:
Republican Senator Rand Paul held a debate on the Senate floor for almost 13 hours in 2013 to stall a vote on President Barack Obama's nominee to run the CIA.

Christina Phillips:
13 hours?! Why is a senator allowed to do that?

Mitch Scacchi:
It's called the filibuster. This is any attempt to block or delay Senate action on a bill or other matter. Call it an obstruction tactic.

Christina Phillips:
You can think of it as "talking a bill to death," and it can go on for hours. The senators just keep talking and talking and talking, hoping they can delay the Senate long enough to prevent it from voting on a proposal.

Hannah McCarthy:
"Senator Strom Thurmond spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes in what would become the longest speaking filibuster in Senate history."

Christina Phillips:
Senators can also filibuster by proposing a laundry list of amendments to bills.

Mitch Scacchi:
Quite frankly, senators don't even have to talk about anything relevant while filibustering.

"I do so like green eggs and ham. Thank you, thank you, Sam I Am."

Christina Phillips:
See? Not relevant at all, but he could carry out his, quote unquote "debate," as long as he pleased. Luckily, there is a way for the Senate to break a filibuster.

Mitch Scacchi:
That's right. This is called cloture, which means you're ending debate and taking a vote. It's the only formal way to break a filibuster.

Christina Phillips:
The Senate's cloture rule, known as Senate Rule 22, requires what's known as a "supermajority" to invoke cloture, or end debate.

Mitch Scacchi:
There are different kinds of majorities in the Senate. With 100 senators, a simple majority is one more than half of the Senate, or 51 votes. A three-fifths supermajority is 60 votes.

Christina Phillips:
This three-fifths supermajority, or 60 votes, is what it takes to invoke cloture, break a filibuster, and end debate.

Mitch Scacchi:
Once cloture is invoked, the Senate can debate for another 30 hours, but after that they have to stop and vote.

Christina Phillips:
It's very difficult to reach the 60 votes required for cloture. Control of the Senate often goes back and forth between Democrats and Republicans, so the majority party typically has less than 60 members. So the parties have to work together to end a filibuster.

Mitch Scacchi:
But in recent years, the political parties have become more divided, and so filibusters have become more common, almost expected.

Christina Phillips:
So most things in the Senate need 60 votes to pass rather than the simple majority of 51.

Mitch Scacchi:
So far, we've been discussing the "talking filibuster," where a senator gets up and speaks for 13 hours to stall. But there's another kind of filibuster.

"In the 70s, in the interests of efficiency, senators agreed to no longer require talking filibusters. Instead, now, if you just signal your intent to filibuster, and have 41 votes on your side, a bill...."

Mitch Scacchi:
This is the virtual filibuster. It's not actually a real filibuster, but just the threat of one. Think of it as one side suggesting that it will filibuster and the other side believing it. With the parties so divided, senators operate under the assumption that every proposal will be filibustered.

Christina Phillips:
Senators threatened to filibuster much more often because they can achieve the same results, like stopping a bill or a presidential appointment, without having to go through the time and effort of speaking indefinitely on the Senate floor.

Mitch Scacchi:
The filibuster, whether it's the threat of one or the real deal, has a deep history of obstruction.

Christina Phillips:
But where did it come from?

Mitch Scacchi:
Not from the founders or the Constitution. In 1805, Vice President Aaron Burr suggested that the Senate simplify its rulebook. The following year, the Senate took his advice and, as a consequence, removed a provision from its rules that would have allowed a simple majority to force a vote on a proposal.

Christina Phillips:
So the filibuster was a product of Senate housekeeping?

Mitch Scacchi:
Yeah, I know. And over time, the filibuster and the right to unlimited debate stuck, becoming key features of the already unique Senate. And now they have quite the reputation.

Christina Phillips:
The filibuster was used extensively by segregationist senators to block civil rights legislation during the first half of the 20th century.

Mitch Scacchi:
It's also been used more recently to block presidential nominees from appointment.

"Over the six decades before I took office, only 20 presidential nominees to executive positions had to overcome filibusters. In just under five years since I took office, nearly 30 nominees have been treated this way...."

Christina Phillips:
The Constitution requires the Senate approve the president's choices for high-level government positions, like justices of the Supreme Court and Cabinet members.

Mitch Scacchi:
It's common for senators to filibuster the most important and controversial presidential nominees to prevent their appointments.

Christina Phillips:
But the Senate has adapted to this.

Mitch Scacchi:
It's called...[siren noise]...the nuclear option. This is even more complicated than the filibuster itself, which is why it'll probably be a whole other Civics Short.

Christina Phillips:
The nuclear option is basically a procedure that allows the Senate to change its own rules without debate and with a simple majority of 51 votes. The change sets a new precedent for the Senate to follow. The nuclear option has been used controversially to break filibusters.

Mitch Scacchi:
Here's an example. As we mentioned, Senate Rule 22 states that cloture to end a filibuster takes a three-fifths supermajority, or 60 votes. In 2013, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid used the nuclear option for the first time to propose that cloture be invoked instead by a simple majority, or 51 votes, for all presidential nominations except to the Supreme Court. The presiding officer said, no, because that violates Rule 22. A simple majority of the Senate then voted to overturn this decision and change the rules.

Christina Phillips:
Four years later, the nuclear option was triggered again, this time ending a filibuster with a simple majority of 51 votes for a Supreme Court nomination.

Mitch Scacchi:
"And to that historic move in the Senate. Republicans triggering the so-called "nuclear option." That sets up a vote tomorrow now to confirm Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch by a simple majority...."

Christina Phillips:
So why's the filibuster only a feature of the Senate? What about the House of Representatives?

Mitch Scacchi:
Under Article One, section five of the Constitution, "Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings." Basically, the House and Senate get to decide their own rules. The House has set limits on debate, but the Senate, on the other hand, has not.

Christina Phillips:
And what does the future look like for the filibuster?

Mitch Scacchi:
Who knows? There are those who want to keep it, those who want to eliminate it, and those who want to reform it.

"The 60-vote threshold is the reason why huge pillars of domestic policy don't oscillate back and forth every time a different party wins a majority...."

"At the end of the day, we have to end the filibuster. It is just unfair and undemocratic for a minority of the Senate to prevent what the majority of people want in this country...."

Christina Phillips:
Supporters say the filibuster makes the Senate the unique body it was designed to be, helps the Senate resist the whims of public opinion, protects the Senate minority from the tyranny of the majority, and forces bipartisanship and compromise.

Mitch Scacchi:
But its critics say the filibuster undermines the democratic process and representative government, defies the will of the people, provides too much power to the minority party, and is a tool of partisan obstruction and makes it too difficult to get anything done.

Christina Phillips:
What would it take to get rid of it?

Mitch Scacchi:
Besides ratifying a constitutional amendment, there are two ways to reform or get rid of the filibuster. One is for the Senate to formally change its own rules. This would require a two-thirds supermajority vote of senators present, or likely 67 votes. The other is to use the nuclear option. With a simple majority of 51 votes, the Senate could essentially change its rules to allow a simple majority to invoke cloture and break all filibusters.

Christina Phillips:
So it's complicated.

Nick Capodice:
This episode was produced by Mitchell Scacchi, with help from Jacqui Fulton, Christina Phillips, Hannah McCarthy, and Nick Capodice.

Hannah McCarthy:
Erika Janik is our executive producer. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

Nick Capodice:
You can listen to more Civics 101 at Civics101podcast.org. Civics 101 is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and is a production of NHPR, New Hampshire Public Radio.

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Sonix has many features that you'd love including automated translation, transcribe multiple languages, enterprise-grade admin tools, world-class support, and easily transcribe your Zoom meetings. Try Sonix for free today.

Civics Shorts: The Vice President

Is it “the most insignificant office” or is there more to it than that? The vice president is the second-highest ranking officer in American government, the next in line to the presidency, often a close presidential advisor, and almost always in the room when the most important policy decisions are being made in the White House. But what else is there to know about the position itself, its structure, and what the vice president’s job actually entails? Listen here to find out!

Today’s Civics short is designed for middle schoolers but like all sugary cereals it’s also fun for adults.

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VP Civics Short_FINAL.mp3: Audio automatically transcribed by Sonix

VP Civics Short_FINAL.mp3: this mp3 audio file was automatically transcribed by Sonix with the best speech-to-text algorithms. This transcript may contain errors.

Speaker1:
Civics 101 is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Hannah McCarthy:
Hi there, I'm Hannah McCarthy.

Nick Capodice:
Nick Capodice here.

Hannah McCarthy:
And this is Civics 101. Today's latest installment of Civics Shorts is about the vice president of the United States.

Nick Capodice:
This short is created with middle schoolers in mind, but it's also for anyone who wants a quick refresher. All right, Mitch and Jacqui, take it away.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar:
"To administer the oath to our first African-American, our first Asian-American, and our first woman vice president, Kamala Harris, it is my great...."

Mitch Scacchi:
History was made on January 20th, 2021, in Washington, D.C..

Justice Sonia Sotomayor and VP Kamala Harris:
"I Kamala Devi Harris do solemnly swear. I Kamala Devi Harris do solemnly swear. That I will support...."

Jacqui Fulton:
Kamala Harris became the first female, the first African-American, and the first Asian-American vice president of the United States.

Mitch Scacchi:
Her inauguration marked a significant moment in the long history of the vice presidency.

Jacqui Fulton:
But what do we know about the vice president and the office itself? Hi, I'm Jacqui.

Mitch Scacchi:
And I'm Mitch. Today on Civics Shorts, we're talking about the vice president of the United States, the office that John Nance Garner, the 32nd VP, said was not worth a bucket of warm spit.

Jacqui Fulton:
Gross! So what does the VP do and why do we have one? Let's find out.

VP John Adams:
"I am vice president. Yes. And in this, I am nothing. But I may be everything"

Mitch Scacchi:
That was John Adams, our nation's first vice president, from the HBO miniseries "John Adams." He found the office a little tricky to navigate.

Jacqui Fulton:
And it's no wonder why the vice president was an afterthought for the framers of the Constitution. In fact, the Constitution doesn't say much at all about the vice president.

Mitch Scacchi:
Under Article one, section three, the vice president serves as the president of the U.S. Senate, also known as the presiding officer. Despite the lofty title, the vice president can only cast a vote when there's a tie.

Jacqui Fulton:
Most of the time, the vice president isn't sitting in on Senate sessions. The VP usually only presides on ceremonial occasions or when a tie-breaking vote is likely. Recently, these tie-breaking votes have been very important.

VP Mike Pence:
"On this vote the yeas are 50, the nays are 50. The Senate being equally divided, the vice president votes in the affirmative and the nomination is confirmed."

Mitch Scacchi:
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. The vice president has a job in the legislative branch?

Jacqui Fulton:
That's right. With roles in both the legislative and executive branches of government, the Constitution doesn't clearly assign the vice president to a specific branch.

Sergeant at Arms of the House Paul Irving:
"Madam Speaker! The vice president and the United States Senate!"

Mitch Scacchi:
The vice president's most important job in the executive branch is to be prepared.

Jacqui Fulton:
That's because the vice president is first in line to become the president if the president dies, resigns, or is removed from office.

Mitch Scacchi:
This has happened nine times in American history, with eight presidents dying in office and one resigning.

Jacqui Fulton:
Originally, the framers of the Constitution wrote vaguely that "In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President."

Mitch Scacchi:
But the framers never clarified what they meant. They dropped the mic and walked out.

Jacqui Fulton:
So when William Henry Harrison became the first president to die in office, Vice President John Tyler quickly took the presidential oath of office and became president. This was the example that seven other vice presidents would later follow. The whole thing was officially cleared up by the 25th Amendment in 1967, which specified the line of succession to the presidency.

Mitch Scacchi:
This amendment also solved another issue: what to do when the vice presidency is vacant.

Jacqui Fulton:
That's right. The second section of the amendment says if there's no vice president, the president gets to nominate someone to fill the position, but they have to first be confirmed by a majority of both houses of Congress.

Mitch Scacchi:
This is how both Gerald Ford and Nelson Rockefeller became vice president.

President Richard Nixon:
"The man whose name I will submit to the Congress of the United States for confirmation as the vice president of the United States, Congressman Gerald Ford of Michigan."

Jacqui Fulton:
The vice presidency is often seen as a stepping stone to the presidency. In fact, a total of 15 VPs actually became president from their own election or succession. The vice president's final constitutional duty is to receive the electoral ballots cast for president and vice president from the states and to open the certificates, quote, "in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives" for the total votes to be counted.

Mitch Scacchi:
In her role, the VP announces to Congress the winners of the Electoral College.

VP Al Gore:
"George W. Bush of the state of Texas has received for president of the United States two hundred and seventy one votes. Al Gore of the state of Tennessee has received two hundred and sixty six votes."

Jacqui Fulton:
So how do we elect vice presidents?

Mitch Scacchi:
At each political party's nominating convention? The presidential candidate chooses someone to join their ticket and run as their vice presidential candidate.

Jacqui Fulton:
Under the 12th Amendment, the qualifications to be VP are the same as president.

Mitch Scacchi:
This means the vice president must be a natural born citizen of the United States, be at least 35 years old, and have been a resident of the United States for 14 years.

Jacqui Fulton:
The selection of a vice presidential candidate is closely watched and hotly contested. The candidate is often chosen to either balance the presidential ticket or provide the presidential candidate with experience or expertise, or sometimes both.

Mitch Scacchi:
Maybe the presidential candidate is from the Northeast, and it'd be useful to have a vice presidential candidate from the south or maybe the West to appeal to those voters.

Gov. Mike Pence:
"I accept your nomination to run and serve as vice president of the United States of America."

Jacqui Fulton:
On Election Day, the people vote for the presidential ticket of their choice.

Mitch Scacchi:
Based on the results from each state, the Electoral College meets and each elector casts two distinct ballots, one for president and one for vice president.

Jacqui Fulton:
This wasn't always the case. In the early years of the United States, each elector cast one ballot for president with two names on it. The candidate with the most votes became president and the candidate with the second most votes, a.k.a. the first loser, became vice president.

Mitch Scacchi:
If this system was still in place today, Donald Trump would be President Joe Biden's VP.

Jacqui Fulton:
But this system had some problems.

Mitch Scacchi:
In the election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson tied with Aaron Burr, who was supposed to be Jefferson's running mate. To prevent this from happening again, the 12th Amendment was ratified, which is why electors today cast two separate ballots, one for president and one for vice president.

Jacqui Fulton:
The vice presidential candidate who wins a majority of electoral votes becomes VP.

Mitch Scacchi:
As a separately elected official, the president can't remove the vice president from office. Only impeachment can do that.

Jacqui Fulton:
Exactly. But if the president decides to run for reelection, they can always kick the vice president off their ticket if things didn't work out in the first term.

CNN Anchor:
"There is a bold new idea being floated calling for President Trump to ditch Vice President Mike Pence in 2020."

Mitch Scacchi:
Now, how has the vice presidency changed over time?

Jacqui Fulton:
Well, the history of the vice presidency is filled with people who absolutely hated their jobs.

VP Dick Cheney:
"As I say, I think he was proud of the fact that I got to be vice president, but he never passed up an opportunity to gig me on what a worthless assignment it was."

Mitch Scacchi:
John Adams called it "the most insignificant office."

Jacqui Fulton:
Daniel Webster turned down the opportunity to be VP, saying, "I do not propose to be buried until I am dead." Kinda dramatic, right?

Mitch Scacchi:
For much of its history, everyone made fun of the vice presidency, even vice presidents themselves. But that's changed with time.

Jacqui Fulton:
Today, thanks to several key figures, the modern vice presidency has become a much more influential position and is seen as an important part of a president's administration.

PBS NewsHour William Brangham :
"The outsider Carter relied on Mondale as his guide to Washington's political workings, and Mondale expanded the traditional role of vice president from figurehead to partner."

Mitch Scacchi:
Vice presidents have become close advisers to the president, governing partners, congressional liaisons, and representatives of the administration.

Jacqui Fulton:
They even have a seat on the National Security Council, where decisions are made about national security and foreign policy.

President George H. W. Bush:
"The vice presidency has evolved over the years as something important....it's not a power position per se. The only power you got is what the president says you should have, that's all."

Mitch Scacchi:
The vice president's role in the executive branch has expanded over time. Modern presidents have given their VPs more responsibility in their administrations.

Jacqui Fulton:
There's even an office of the vice president and an official residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory.

Mitch Scacchi:
So, yeah, the vice president is cool now.

Jacqui Fulton:
The vice presidency has come a long way from its unique and limited constitutional structure to an office of great importance in the president's administration.

Mitch Scacchi:
And that's all for today. Thanks for tuning in.

Jacqui Fulton:
We hope you enjoyed learning about the V.P..

Nick Capodice:
This episode was produced by Mitchell Scacchi, with help from Jacqui Fulton, Christina Phillips, Hannah McCarthy, and Nick Capodice.

Hannah McCarthy:
Erica Janik is our Executive Producer. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

Nick Capodice:
You can listen to more Civics 101 at Civics101podcast.org. Civics 101 is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and is a production of NHPR, New Hampshire Public Radio.

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Civics Shorts: The First Lady

As long as the United States has had a president, it’s also had a first lady- typically the wife of the current president. While the first lady isn’t an elected position, she still has duties and responsibilities… which we explore in this Civics 101 Short.

Sign up for our Civics 101 Newsletter

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Civics Shorts: The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights is comprised of the first ten amendments to our Constitution. While we may think of the Bill of Rights as fundamental, we almost didn’t have it. So why do we have one? And why did it matter so much? On today’s Civics Shorts, we tackle the Bill of Rights.

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Bill of Rights short final.wav: Audio automatically transcribed by Sonix

Bill of Rights short final.wav: this wav audio file was automatically transcribed by Sonix with the best speech-to-text algorithms. This transcript may contain errors.

Hannah:
Civics 101 is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Hannah:
Hello. Hello. Hannah McCarthy here,

Nick:
Nick Capodice here.

Hannah:
And this is Civics 101. Today, our latest installment of civics Shorts-

Nick:
A teeny tiny refresher on the Bill of Rights.

Hannah:
It's created specifically with middle schoolers in mind, but it's a great refresher for all ages. Enjoy.

Archive:
The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence can live only as long as they are enshrined in our hearts and mind. If they are not so enshrined, they would be no better than money in their glass cases-

Jacqui:
That olden times gentlemen, talking about mummies is President Harry Truman. It's nineteen fifty-two at the unveiling of the Bill of Rights Constitution and Declaration on exhibit at the National Archives for the first time, altogether.

Archive:
But the Constitution is not merely a matter of words. The Constitution is a living clause. It is a growing thing.

Felix:
He has a point. Once the Constitution was written, it could have quickly become out of touch with the Times-

Jacqui:
a dusty old mummy.

Felix:
But the founders had a little trick up their ruffled sleeves to prevent such a cursed fate.

Jacqui:
A way to amend the Constitution written into the very document itself. I'm Jacqui.

Felix:
I'm Felix. And today on Civic Shorts, we're talking about the first ten amendments to the Constitution,

Jacqui:
The Bill of Rights

Felix:
Break that in case of emergencies, protective glass, because here we go.

Jacqui:
Baby America had a proposed law of the land,

Felix:
But the next hurdle would be to ratify it,

Jacqui:
In other words, to get states to agree to go along with it.

Felix:
Each state held a convention to debate and either reject or ratify the Constitution.

Archive:
All those in favor of the ay ay ay ay ay ay.

Felix:
Nine out of 13 states was the magic number needed to agree to the Constitution for it to become the law of the land,

Jacqui:
People in favor of the Constitution, we're called federalists.

Felix:
People who didn't like it were the anti-federalists. For most of the anti-federalists, the deal breaker in the Constitution was that it didn't have a section to preserve fundamental human rights.

Archive:
There is a widespread conviction that there should be a statement of such a right to serve as a basis for court decision.

Jacqui:
They worried that if it wasn't clearly spelled out, that a national government could trample the rights of the people,

Felix:
A president could become like a king, and they'd just gotten rid of one of those in the American Revolution.

Jacqui:
So founder James Madison said to work on finding a middle ground.

Archive:
I have studied upward of 70 proposed amendments to our Constitution.

Felix:
He started with a long list and winnowed it down to 20.

Archive:
We have found 20 which merit prompt attention

Jacqui:
Like the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech.

Felix:
The proposed bill was paying pongs around through the complicated amendment process laid out in the Constitution. First, the House of Representatives, where it was revised, and then the Senate where it was revised again. Then it went to the states to vote on

Archive:
Let's call this meeting to order. There's a whole lot of business on han. And the members of both houses and all those in favor of ay ay ay ay ay.

Jacqui:
Among the rights laid out were freedom of speech and the press and the protections for people accused of a crime.

Felix:
The introduction of the Bill of Rights convinced those opposed to the Constitution to support it. And two years later, the states ratified the Bill of Rights on December 15th, 1791.

Archive:
The first affirms freedom of religion, speech, and press and the right of peaceful assembly and petition. The second the right of states to maintain a militia and the people to keep and bear arms for their security.

Jacqui:
Now, the Bill of Rights didn't magically give everyone fundamental human rights.

Felix:
The folks who wrote the founding documents were white property-owning men, many of them slaveholders. They didn't actually intend for blacks, women, immigrants, or poor people to share the same rights.

Jacqui:
That changed with time

Tom Donnoley:
With the Bill of Rights originally only applied to the national government. And so here with the 14th Amendment, with this generation is looking to say, no, not all of those important rights. They're going to apply to the states as well. Because what we've learned from slavery, what we've learned from the Civil War, is our liberties aren't just threatened by the national government, but they're threatened by the states too.

Jacqui:
Back to President Harry S. Truman.

Archive:
In my opinion, the Bill of Rights is the most important part of the Constitution of the United States

Archive:
At a moment's notice an electrically operated mechanism will safely lower the in-case documents into this massive vault. Both the National Archives has taken every possible precaution for the safekeeping of these historic documents.

Felix:
Resting on the Bill of Rights is more than a piece of paper kept in a high-tech vault. It's important as a symbol and practice to protect our fundamental rights as human beings.

Jacqui:
And this episode was produced by me, Jacqui Fulton and McCarthy Nick Capodice with help from Felix Poon. Erica Janick is the big boss. I'd like to give a shout-out to the best American history teacher of all time, Miss Francis Wall.

Archive:
Hey, girl, what's up?

Tom Donnoley:
My name is Tom Donnelly.

Felix:
For more civic fun, visit us at Civics101podcast.org.

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Civics Shorts: The Constitution

After just six years under the Articles of Confederation, the country was in an economic and political crisis. A committee of anxious delegates agreed to meet in Philadelphia to amend the government. Fifty-five men gathered to determine the shape of the new United States. The result was the Constitution - the supreme law of the land.

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Constitution short final_mixdown.wav: Audio automatically transcribed by Sonix

Constitution short final_mixdown.wav: this wav audio file was automatically transcribed by Sonix with the best speech-to-text algorithms. This transcript may contain errors.

cpb:
Civics 101 is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Nick:
Hello, Civic 101 listeners, Nick Capodice here.

Hannah:
And MacCarthy here. And today we are bringing you yet another installment of civics shorts

Nick:
A bite-sized refresher on the U.S. Constitution. It's created with middle schoolers in mind.

Hannah:
That all ages can enjoy.

Archive tape:
By gum, I'll stand on my constitutional rights. You know, just saying that made me think, do I really know what my constitutional rights are? Do I really know what the Constitution is?

Jacqui:
I'm Jacqui.

Christina:
I'm Christina.

Christina:
Today on Civics 101 Shorts, we are talking about the Constitution of the United States.

Jacqui:
Pull out your pocket, says Constitution, and let's get crack-a-lakin.

Archive tape:
The and our problems, gentlemen, originate from a government that is no more than a mere contract, resting only on the good faith of the individual states. A government too weak to solve our common problems is a government too weak to preserve our union and our liberties.

Christina:
The year was 1787, and we're at the state house in Philadelphia. It's a meeting of the ultimate old boys club,

Jacqui:
The constitutional convention, the Con Con. Very different from Comic-Con,

Christina:
Although some of the founders did wear wigs to my wig.

Computer:
That has an unfortunate over. Can I borrow someone's wig powder?

Christina:
It was a whole 11 years after the United States had declared independence from Britain and four years since they won the Revolutionary War.

Jacqui:
The law of the land at that point was the Articles of Confederation.

Archive tape:
Article for the better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship and intercourse among the people of the different states of this union.

Christina:
The national government was made intentionally weak,

Jacqui:
All of the power lay with the states.

Christina:
And the states were not getting along.

Archive tape:
A government too weak to solve our common problems is a government too weak to preserve our union and our liberties.

Jacqui:
Quarreling over land, taxes and trade, it was tearing the country apart.

Christina:
And almost everyone could see that it wasn't working.

Computer:
This isn't working.

Christina:
So the who's who in baby America gathered in Philadelphia.

Jacqui:
Men like James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin.

Computer:
My friends call me Electric Ben.

Christina:
George Washington presided over the gathering.

Archive tape:
We shall now open discussion on that clause in the Virginia plan.

Jacqui:
Almost everything I've read about the convention mentions how far it was in there and probably stinky.

Computer:
My wig smells like cheese.

Christina:
So many people were cranky.

Archive tape:
Do I understand, Mr. Randall, to call for the complete overthrow of the state government?

Jacqui:
So soon after they began the convention, decided to scrap the Articles of Confederation and start again,

Christina:
This time with a stronger national government.

Jacqui:
Big questions were wrangled with.

Christina:
What power should a leader have, how should an executive be chosen?

Jacqui:
How should states be represented in the new government?

Jacqui:
Some states, like Delaware, were small.

Christina:
And had a smaller population, while others, like Virginia, were big and had a bigger population.

Jacqui:
So should it be based on population or should every state have the same number of representatives?

Archive tape:
Why not abolish all the states? Let us take them up and divide our states into equal areas with equal representation for each area.

Jacqui:
The solution is what's known as the great compromise.

Christina:
It called for two houses of Congress,

Jacqui:
First, the House of Representatives,

Christina:
Which would be based on population.

Jacqui:
Second, the Senate.

Christina:
In which each state would have two senators.

Jacqui:
White supremacy was baked into the Constitution.

Christina:
An abominable compromise was also made the three-fifths compromise,

Jacqui:
Which counted each enslaved person as only three-fifths of a human being.

Christina:
It was agreed to for tax purposes and representation in the House.

Jacqui:
They also agreed to not ban slavery for at least 20 years

Christina:
The men use bits and bobs from already existing documents,

Jacqui:
The original Virginia plan,

Christina:
The Articles of Confederation,

Jacqui:
The Magna Carta.

Christina:
And the philosophy of John Locke.

Jacqui:
They finally hammered out a final draft.

Christina:
Take it away, Captain James T. Kirk.

Archive tape:
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense. Promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty.

Jacqui:
The Constitution established the three branches of government,

Christina:
The legislative,

Jacqui:
Executive.

Christina:
And judicial branches, 39 delegates signed the document.

Jacqui:
The United States Constitution was adopted on September 17th, 1787.

Christina:
It wasn't until 1791 that all the states ratified the Constitution.

Jacqui:
The Constitution isn't set in stone. It's a living document.

Archive tape:
Article five, which provides for amending the Constitution, shows that the man who wrote...

Christina:
It's been amended 27 times.

Archive tape:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free,

Jacqui:
And it will no doubt be amended in the future.

Archive tape:
The freedom of speech.

Christina:
If it was a rigid document, democracy would have fallen apart- as society changes over time. And that's all she wrote, folks!

Computer:
This episode was produced by Jacqui Fulton.Hannah McCarthy Nick Capodice with help from Christina Phillips. Erika Janik is the big boss.

Computer:
Check out our Web site, civics101podcast.org, for more fun.

Christina:
Take it away, Captain James T. Kirk... Is that a Star Trek reference? Don't tell people that. I feel like a lot of people get really angry if you say you don't know Star Trek.

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Civics Shorts: Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is one of our founding documents. But why was the Declaration written and what does it actually say?

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Declaration of Independence final w cpb and credits.mp3: Audio automatically transcribed by Sonix

Declaration of Independence final w cpb and credits.mp3: this mp3 audio file was automatically transcribed by Sonix with the best speech-to-text algorithms. This transcript may contain errors.

cpb:
Civics 101 is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

archive:
All men are created equal, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people that they are absolved from all of the people from.

jacqui:
I'm Jacqui

christina:
I'm Christina.

jacqui:
Today on Civics 101 Shorts, we're talking about the breakup letter heard around the world-

christina:
The Declaration of Independence-

jacqui:
If you know a little something about the founding of the United States. You've probably heard about the nasty breakup it had with Great Britain in the seventeen hundreds.

christina:
But why was the declaration written and what does it actually say?

jacqui:
Put the kettle on and make yourself a steaming cup of East Indian company black tea.

christina:
Let's set the scene for you.

jacqui:
The colonists were angry at Great Britain and it's king-

christina:
George, the third-

jacqui:
for a bunch of stuff.

christina:
But the straw that broke the camel's back was taxes.

jacqui:
For years, Great Britain and its military have protected the colonists, but it became so expensive that they wanted the colonists to start paying their own way.

christina:
The colonists thought this was unfair. They thought they were paying more than their fair share in taxes, especially since they didn't have any representation in parliament.

jacqui:
They had no say in what laws they had to follow. The colonists rebelled. They started boycotting, buying stuff from Great Britain.

christina:
They tarred and feathered tax collectors.

jacqui:
Instead of easing up and playing nice, England doubled down.

christina:
War broke out in 1775.

archive:
The peece died on the Greens of Lexington and Concord. It was murdered again at Bunker Hill.

christina:
The colonists elected delegates to the Continental Congress.

jacqui:
Less than a year later, with constant fighting,most had lost hope of making up with England.

christina:
So Continental Congress got together for a second time.

archive:
They came from all corners of the 13 colonies, by stage by colonial coach, and by horseback.

jacqui:
And a resolution was put forth.

archive:
The following resolution was unanimously adopted. Quote,that these United Colonies, that is, those in rebellion against Great Britain. Are and of a right ought to be free and independent state.

christina:
So five respected men were picked to write a formal declaration of Independence.

archive:
Franklin ,Adams, Sherman ,Livingston, myself, of course.

jacqui:
But as in all group projects, one person really wrote the bulk of it,Thomas Jefferson.

archive:
My name is Thomas Jefferson. When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary.

christina:
It's basically a list of complaints,

jacqui:
A list of all the things that the colonists found unfair and the statement of their rights as citizens.

christina:
All leading up to their right to secede if their rights aren't being met.

jacqui:
Now, Jefferson didn't come up with the entire thing from scratch, parts.

christina:
The ones we tend to remember-

christina:
Were inspired by the work of famous philosophers like John Locke.

archive:
Locke reasoned that in a state of nature, all people seek to have the rights to life, liberty and property.

christina:
And the Virginia Declaration of Independence

archive:
Article number one, that all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights of which when they enter into-

jacqui:
Jefferson waxrv poetic about the natural rights of all people-

christina:
snd slammed King George the third and Parliament.

archive:
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns and destroyed the lives of our people.

jacqui:
It took about three weeks of research and writing before the committee was ready to show the draft to Congress.

christina:
Congress then spent two days editing the document,

archive:
And now there's the next paragraph.

archive:
It is my opinion sir, that the whole passage on the matter of slavery must be admitted.

archive:
And why is it? Why continue what we know is wrong?

archive:
We know it is an abomination.

archive:
If you include this paragraph, you will exclude from our forces those who have most bitterly opposed the case.

jacqui:
Even though the declaration claimed-

archive:
That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

christina:
In reality, they didn't mean all people,

jacqui:
The document was made excluding people,

christina:
Many of the founders were slave owners themselves. Jefferson had deprived over 600 people of their liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

jacqui:
And lined his pockets with money because of their suffering.

christina:
100 years later, abolitionist Frederick Douglass, himself formerly enslaved, gave a speech about the hypocrisy of a celebration of freedom that didn't include people like him.

jacqui:
What to the American slave is your Fourth of July?

archive:
To him, your celebration is a sham. Your boasted liberty an unholy license. Your national greatness, swelling vanity. Your sound of rejoicing are empty and heartless. Your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence. Your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery. Your prayers-

christina:
Black Americans weren't the only ones. Native Americans and women were also not included in the rights and liberties outlined in the Declaration on-

archive:
July four, 1776.

jacqui:
It was actually July 2nd that Congress voted to declare independence.

christina:
On July 4th, 1776.The official wording of the declaration was approved.

jacqui:
Two days later, John Dunlap toward all night, printing out 200 copies of the Declaration of Independence.

archive:
The document went around the country and to the world by the fire of liberty ever higher.

christina:
A month after the declaration was approved and sent around, the founders met in Philadelphia and signed a copy.

jacqui:
Putting their names on it was a very risky move.

christina:
It was high treason.

jacqui:
But Ben Franklin famously said-

archive:
We must hang together, or else most assuredly, we'll all hang separately.

christina:
The signed Declaration of Independence is now housed in the National Archives.

archive:
they are endowed by their creator-

jacqui:
25 of the originals still exist.

archive:
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

christina:
And we celebrate the Fourth of July as Independence Day.

jacqui:
With hot dogs, fireworks-

archive:
Hot dogs from us to any Independence Day party, but when I saw these hot dogs decorated like firecrackers, I knew I had to recreate them...

jacqui:
Sales.

archive:
This fourth, declare independence from the megastores and keep it local at JNR. We have an incredible array of deals with personal...

computer:
This episode was produced by Jacqui Fulton, Hannah McCarthy.Nick CApodice with help from Christina Phillips. Erica Janik is the big boss music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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Civics Shorts: Presidential Nominating Conventions

Presidential nominating conventions are full of razzle dazzle and drama! But what are they? Who goes to them? Where are they held? So many questions! 

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Transcript:

NOTE: This transcript was generated using an automated transcription service, and may contain typographical errors.

Civics 101

Episode: Presidential Nominating Conventions Short 

Nick Capodice: [00:00:02] This is Nick. 

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:03] And Hannah McCarthy.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:05] Presidential conventions are the party of the century. 

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:09] More like the party of every four years.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:12] That doesn't have quite the same ring to it. Either way, nominating conventions are full of razzle-dazzle and drama.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:19] You have an exclusive invitation to listen.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:22] This civic short on presidential conventions is designed with middle schoolers in mind, but it's also for anyone who wants a quick refresher.

Archival Tape: [00:00:30] Chicago is a city divided as thousands of delegates and observers stream into the city for the twenty-fifth Republican convention.

Archival Tape: [00:00:38] This is going to be the craziest convention I ever saw.

Archival Tape: [00:00:41] Someone has been hurt and is being carried out, being wheeled out on a stretcher.

Archival Tape: [00:00:48] `Will the sergeant at arms emforce order in the convention?!

Felix Poon: [00:00:53] Those are clips from the pinnacle of American politics

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:55] The Democratic National Convention, DNC, and the Republican [00:01:00] National Convention, RNC.

Felix Poon: [00:01:02] As you can hear, they get lively.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:05] There have been smoke-filled rooms, bribery, protests.

Felix Poon: [00:01:07] And somewhere in the midst of all that work has to be done.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:13] I'm Jacqui.

Felix Poon: [00:01:14] I'm Felix.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:15] Break out your party hats.

Felix Poon: [00:01:18] Today on civic shorts, we are going to throw down the what, where and why of the presidential nominating conventions.

Archival Tape: [00:01:26] The curtain is about to rise on one of the most momentous meetings in Republican history. And spectators crowd around convention hall. Twelve hundred and six delegates are gathered to hear General MacArthur deliver the keynote address.

Felix Poon: [00:01:43] What are conventions?

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:44] Party conventions take place every four years, typically a few months before Election Day.

Felix Poon: [00:01:50] Conventions are a transition during presidential campaigns.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:54] They mark the shift from the nominating process to the general election.

Felix Poon: [00:02:00] The [00:02:00] presidential conventions have two big functions.

Archival Tape: [00:02:04] One.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:05] They're used to select party candidates.

Archival Tape: [00:02:08] Two

Felix Poon: [00:02:09] They also help a party perfect its platform. More about that in a minute.

Felix Poon: [00:02:16] Where do they take place?

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:16] Like the Super Bowl conventions are held in different cities, often in places where the party is hoping to woo voters. Way back when they were held in churches, meeting halls and even saloons.

Felix Poon: [00:02:32] This year,  will be the first-ever virtual presidential convention.

Archival Tape: [00:02:37] The DNC announcing this year's national convention in August will be largely virtual, amid the pandemic. Delegates were asked to stay home and cast their votes remotely.

Felix Poon: [00:02:49] Who goes to presidential conventions?

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:52] Everybody who's anybody in politics attends the conventions.

Archival Tape: [00:02:54] While the figures of Taft and Eisenhower dominate the convention atmosphere, [00:03:00] elder statesman, Herbert Hoover, only living ex-president, will be heard before the assembly.

Felix Poon: [00:03:08] In 2008, around 84000 people attended the last day of the DNC.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:13] I hate to be one of those lines to the bathroom.

Felix Poon: [00:03:16] The majority of folks are volunteers, activists, news media, invited guests and party officials.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:22] But the important attendees are the delegates.

Archival Tape: [00:03:24] delegates. 

Archival Tape: [00:03:25] Delegates. 

Felix Poon: [00:03:26] Delegates are people who have been chosen to represent their states at the convention. Often their local political leaders, each state picks their own delegates.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:35] The amount of delegates the party has is based on a few different things. Each party has their own special formula.

Archival Tape: [00:03:42] Nearly two thirds 271 captured anywhere from four to seven delegates, depending on the remaining. One hundred forty four pledged delegates are distributed based on it,

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:52] Which is why they have different numbers of delegates.

Felix Poon: [00:03:56] Why are conventions important? What happens at a convention?

Archival Tape: [00:04:00] One [00:04:00] on one half for the minority or for 30 and a half for the administration.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:05] The first order of business at a convention is to perfect their platform.

Felix Poon: [00:04:10] Parties of people who don't all see eye to eye. The convention allows them to work out exactly where they stand on issues while they are all in one place.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:19] This is called the platform. It gives the party clear political positions to stand on. The delegates debate and vote on every single word in the platform. It looks exhausting.

Archival Tape: [00:04:31] So the amendment you have before you strikes a number of words that are struck, striking there in red. You know, it isn't some Martians that are telling us that we should accept the new normal. It's the pundits and the Democrats. This will be the first page of actual content in our platform. I think it's important that we keep voters attention and not turn them off with some sour language.The amendment is adopted.

Felix Poon: [00:04:56]  Second, and this one's a biggie.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:58] Conventions are where political [00:05:00] parties pick their presidential candidate.

Felix Poon: [00:05:03] Presidential campaigns start years in advance of actual election day by the time of the convention. Many candidates have been weeded out and it's down to only a handful of candidates.

Archival Tape: [00:05:14] General Ike is the first chief contender to arrive on the convention scene with Mrs. Eisenhower. And here comes Mr. Republican himself, Senator Robert Taft, the son of a former president. Confident of victory he claims five hundred and four delegates assured.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:30]  This is where the delegates from each state cast their vote for candidates. Back in the day conventions were run by party bosses.

Felix Poon: [00:05:37] Kind of like mobsters.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:39] They would buy votes from the delegates.

Felix Poon: [00:05:41] You vote for my guy and I'll give you five dollars and a box of cigars kind of deal. Ballots were rigged, all kinds of shadiness

Archival Tape: [00:05:49] Gov. William Scranton and his backers attempted a floor fight over the seating of a Negro delegate from Tennessee.

Felix Poon: [00:05:56] It was a struggle to get diverse delegates at the nominating conventions.

Archival Tape: [00:06:01] The [00:06:00] Massachusetts delegation to the Democratic National Convention. People in the delegation properly represent women, young people and minorities. Three group the Democratic Party said had to be involved in the collection of this years presidential nominee.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:15] Rules were implemented to take power away from the corrupt party bosses. It made the nominees shoo-ins before the convention start.

Archival Tape: [00:06:25] Mr. Chairman, delegates and my fellow citizens, I proudly accept your nomination.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:32] So conventions are now largely a ceremonial spectacle.

Felix Poon: [00:06:36] Flashy affairs full of pomp and circumstance to get voters pumped up for the November presidential election.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:43]  Released the confetti and let's get this party started!

Archival Tape: [00:06:47] Thank you for helping us have the best national convention we've ever had!

Nick Capodice: [00:06:57] Voila, there you have it, Hannah, presidential nominating [00:07:00] conventions.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:07:01] Nowadays, they serve two big functions.One, they helped to nail down a party platform. And two delegates officially pick the party's candidate for president.

Nick Capodice: [00:07:12] Cue the credits!

Credits kid: [00:07:14] This episode was produced by Jacqui Fulton. With help by Nick Capodice. Hannah McCarthy. Felix Poon. Christina Phillips. Erika Janik. Maureen McMurray. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions. 

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Civics Shorts: The Judicial Branch

It’s that time of year again - Supreme Court ruling season! The Supreme Court, or SCOTUS for short, came out with a number of major decisions recently. But how does a case get to SCOTUS? And what role do district and circuit courts play in the judicial branch?

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Transcript

NOTE: This transcript was generated using an automated transcription service, and may contain typographical errors.

Judicial Branch Short

Civics 101

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:01] You know, Nick, it's that time of year again.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:03]  Cherry blossom season in D.C.?

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:05] No Supreme Court ruling season.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:09] That's right. They have come out with a bunch of major decisions lately. So today, our latest installment of Civic Shorts is about the judicial branch of the U.S. government.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:18] It's created with middle schoolers in mind.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:20]  But it's also for anyone who wants a quick refresher.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:23] Producers Felix Poon and Jacqui Fulton are on the case. Felix and Jacqui take it away.

Archival: [00:00:30] Good morning. We have breaking news from the Supreme Court. It is a landmark decision for the LGBTQ community.

Felix Poon: [00:00:36] There were some major decisions to come out of the 2020 Supreme Court rulings.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:40] There was one that protects LGBTQ workers from job discrimination.

Felix Poon: [00:00:44] There was another decision on the DACA program.

Archival: [00:00:47] Blocking President Trump's plan to end the program.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:50] That's a program where undocumented immigrants who came into the U.S. as kids are protected from deportation.

Felix Poon: [00:00:56] And another big decision was to strike down a law in Louisiana that made it [00:01:00] harder for women to get an abortion.

Archival: [00:01:01] The Supreme Court has blocked a Louisiana abortion law from going into effect.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:06] The Supreme Court, as the United States or SCOTUS for short, is part of the third branch of the government, the judicial branch.

[00:01:14] And today we're going to talk about the who, what and why the judicial branch.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:18] I'm Jacqui.

Felix Poon: [00:01:19] And I'm Felix.

[00:01:21] Let's get this show on the road.

Archival: [00:01:25] Honorable chief justice and the associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Oyez oyez oyez, all persons having business before the honorable, the Supreme Court, of the United States are admonished to give  their attention for the court is now sitting. God save the United States and this honorable court.

Felix Poon: [00:01:54] So what's the judicial branch and what does it do?

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:56] The judicial branch is made up of state courts and federal courts. [00:02:00] Now, they don't make the laws. They don't arrest you. Their job is to interpret the laws. And judges do that sometimes with a jury, sometimes with doubt.

Felix Poon: [00:02:09] Most cases are going to be in your state court. You stole a car. You've got a divorce. State court.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:15] The state courts are part of the judicial branch. But we're going to focus on the federal courts in this episode. Federal courts are mostly for cases involving the U.S. Constitution or federal law.

Felix Poon: [00:02:26] There's three levels to the federal judicial branch. The district courts, the circuit courts and the Supreme Court. The lowest level are the district courts. There are 94 district courts in the United States.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:39] Then there's a second level. The circuit courts, which are also called appellate courts because they hear the appeals from the lower district courts.

Felix Poon: [00:02:48] Oh, appellate appeal. I get it.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:55] And there's 13 circuit courts, one for the 12 regions of the United States, plus [00:03:00] the federal circuit, which hears appeals in cases of patent law, international trade and other national issues.

Felix Poon: [00:03:07] What circuit are we in, Jackie?

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:09] We're in the First Circuit. That's New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico.

Felix Poon: [00:03:14] The highest level of the judicial branch is the Supreme Court. So how does a case get to be considered by the Supreme Court?

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:22] It's not easy to get your case heard by the Supreme Court.

Felix Poon: [00:03:25] Let's take an actual case. The governor of Michigan is Gretchen Whitmer.

[00:03:29] She closed all the gyms in the state in spring of 2020 because of Corona virus. But some Republican lawmakers weren't happy about that.

Archival: [00:03:37] And Republicans say that she's breaking the law by going around the legislature. The issue went before a judge this morning.

Felix Poon: [00:03:42] The district court judge sided with the Republican lawmakers on this one. So gyms were set to reopen. But Governor Whitmer appealed.

Archival: [00:03:50] The Governor isn't giving up yet. She's taking her case to the sixth court of Appeals. Seven Action News report.

Felix Poon: [00:03:56] And she won.

Archival: [00:03:58] The gym's must stay closed. [00:04:00] Governor Whitmer scoring a late night legal victory just hours before gyms were set to reopen their doors.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:06] The circuit court has no jury. The lawyers argue, in front of a panel of three judges. And in this case, they decided that the lower district court made a mistake in their interpretation of the law. So they ruled in favor of Governor Whitmer.

Felix Poon: [00:04:19] Right. And now those Republican lawmakers could try to take it to the Supreme Court. To do that, they'd have to file a petition for a writ of certiorari.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:27] A petition for a writ of certi-what now?

Felix Poon: [00:04:31] A petition for a writ of certiorari or a cert petition for short.

[00:04:35] It's a written request asking the Supreme Court to hear a case every year, about 8000 requests come in, but only around 80 are accepted. That's just one percent. There are certain types of cases that SCOTUS is more likely to accept, like an issue that the circuit courts disagree about.

[00:04:53] These are called split cases between one or more circuits and another circuit or circuit.

Archival: [00:05:02] A [00:05:00] three-judge panel at the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals bucked the national trend Thursday, upholding four states bans on same sex marriage.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:09] An example of this is the 2015 case Obergefell versus Hodges, in which the Sixth Circuit Court banned same sex marriages.

Archival: [00:05:18] That puts the six circuit court in opposition to four other circuit court rulings.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:23] This conflicted with rulings in other circuits that upheld the right to same sex marriage.

Felix Poon: [00:05:27] Which meant that federal law was applied differently in one circuit than in other circuits. That's why the Supreme Court took the case. Whatever they ruled, it would resolve the circuit split.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:40] So once a case gets to SCOTUS, how do they decide the ruling?

[00:05:44] The Supreme Court takes briefs about the case. Written arguments from each side about why they should win. And they hear oral arguments from both sides. Then they meet privately, then they vote. The senior judge in the majority decides which judge with [00:06:00] a lot of help from their clerks is going to write the majority opinion. So what did they decide in the Obergefell versus Hodges case?

Archival: [00:06:06] There is a right to marriage equality, I repeat, speaking  to you from the steps of the Supreme Court, there is a right to marriage equality. Read just from the bench now, waiting to get the opinions as they come running out of the court, Thomas. So this is a big day.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:19] They ruled in favor of same sex marriage, making same sex marriage a right nationwide.

[00:06:29] And there you have it. The judicial branch.

Felix Poon: [00:06:32] Thanks for tuning in.

Nick Capodice: [00:06:36] One last thing before we go, Hannah. We should remind listeners how judges become judges on these courts.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:06:42] Right. The president appoints them and the Senate confirms them. And the president does that

[00:06:47] for judges at district court and circuit court levels, as well as for the Supreme Court.

[00:06:53] How many district courts are there again?

Nick Capodice: [00:06:55] There's 94 district courts, 13 circuit courts.

[00:06:59] Aha, 12 circuit [00:07:00] courts with twelve regions plus the federal circuit.

Nick Capodice: [00:07:03] And the Supreme Court is the highest court in the land.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:07:06] Precisely.

[00:07:07] This episode is produced by Felix Poon with help by Jacqui Fulton, Hannah McCarthy and me, Nick Capodice.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:07:12] Erika Janik is our executive producer, music and this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

Nick Capodice: [00:07:16] You can listen to more Civics 101 at civics101podcast.org. Civics 101 is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and is a production of NHPR, New Hampshire Public Radio.

Civics Shorts: The Electoral College

The Electoral College has been called “complicated and confusing.” But our Civics Shorts eat “complicated and confusing” for breakfast. This episode explores three Electoral College basics: what is the electoral college, why do we have it, and who are the electors? All aboard!

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Transcript

NOTE: This transcript was generated using an automated transcription service, and may contain typographical errors.

Civics 101

Episode: Electoral College Shorts

Nick Capodice: [00:00:00] The Electoral College has been called complicated and confusing. But our civics 101 short series eats complicated and confusing for breakfast. Today's short is designed for middle schoolers. But like all sugary cereals, it's also fun for adults. Enjoy!

Archive: [00:00:18] I was editor of the yearbook. And that's why I think you should elect me president of the student body. Thank you.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:25] Did you ever run for office in high school?

Felix Poon: [00:00:28] No, I have not.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:29] I ran for class president my senior year. I made campaign posters with my face on Rosie the Riveter.

Archive: [00:00:36] Now there is a girl that it really get my vote.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:38] It was a direct election.

Felix Poon: [00:00:40] Oh, a direct election. That's where the voters cast their ballot directly for the candidate they want.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:46] Yeah. A direct election is only one step. Students filled out a ballot for their choice of class president and the vote went straight to that person.

Felix Poon: [00:00:54] Whoever got the most votes won.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:56] I got one vote. My own.

Felix Poon: [00:01:00] Ahhh

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:00] It's fine. It's fine. I'm over it now.

Archive: [00:01:05] The 1964 presidential campaign has officially launched-. 

Felix Poon: [00:01:09] Presidential elections in the U.S. are not as simple as a student government election. Our presidential election is an indirect election.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:17]  You see, voters aren't really voting for the president.They're voting for someone else. Their state's electors.

Felix Poon: [00:01:28] The Electoral College are the people who cast the official final vote for president and vice president.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:34] I'm Jacqui

Felix Poon: [00:01:34] I'm Felix.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:35] This is Civics 101 Shorts.Today, we're going to shine civic tricornlight on the Electoral College.

Felix Poon: [00:01:43] Hold on to your bedazzled tri corn hat.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:48] Let's play my favorite game. Let's pretend I'm running for the president of the United States. My opponent, the dreaded Felix Poon. Picture this. It's Election Day and you cast your vote for me. 

Felix Poon: [00:02:02] Or me.The votes are tallied up.

Fendall Fulton: [00:02:06] Breaking news, Jacqui has 65 million votes for president, Felix came in with 63 million.

Fendall Fulton: [00:02:14] Yes. Amid defeat. And say hello to your new commander in chief.

Felix Poon: [00:02:19] Not so fast. You won the popular vote, but I won the Electoral College vote!

Fendall Fulton: [00:02:24] Breaking breaking news. Jacqui came in with 227 electoral votes, but Felix got three hundred four electoral votes. Felix has won the presidential election.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:34] No, foiled again.

Felix Poon: [00:02:38] Your vote didn't go directly to Jacqui or me. It was used to determine how many votes we'd receive in the Electoral College. And the number of Electoral College votes we received is what actually determined the outcome of the presidential election.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:52] Why do we have an electoral college?

Felix Poon: [00:02:55] The framers of the Constitution?

Archive: [00:02:57] Now what are they debating about?

Archive: [00:03:01] They're trying to decide who will be the head of the government.

Felix Poon: [00:03:06] As much as we hear about the framers creating this majestic democracy- when it came down to it they didn't actually trust direct democracy.

Fendall Fulton: [00:03:19] They didn't think everyday folks, like you or me, could elect the right president, vice president, or senators.

Archive: [00:03:28] The people will never be sufficiently informed of character. And besides, will never give a majority of votes to one man. They will generally vote for some man in their own state. And the largest state will have the best chance for the appointment.

Felix Poon: [00:03:43] The founders made an extra step in the process, a safeguard.

Fendall Fulton: [00:03:51] What exactly is the Electoral College?

Felix Poon: [00:03:54] Now, despite the name, it's not a college. It's not even a place. It is a group of 538 people who vote for the president and vice president.

Archive: [00:04:04] The proceedings of the California Electoral College are now in order.

Fendall Fulton: [00:04:08] Each state has a different number of electors.

Archive: [00:04:11] Florida with 25 electoral votes. Virginia with 13.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:14] There's an elector for each member of the House of Representatives for that state.Plus, two senators.

Felix Poon: [00:04:20]  D.C., our nation's capital, has three even though it's not a state.

Archive: [00:04:26] U.S. And if you can tell, it is too close to call. It's a very, very tight race.

Felix Poon: [00:04:31] Altogether, there are 538 total electoral votes in the U.S.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:36] The magic number, is two hundred and seventy.

Felix Poon: [00:04:43] Just over half the Electoral College. Whoever rakes in 270 electoral votes officially wins.

Archive: [00:04:49] We're back now. And we want to tell you that Bill Clinton has been elected president of the United States. Bill Clinton well beyond 270.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:00] So the candidates want to rack up as many states where they can get the most votes.I could have won the electoral votes of Vermont. 

Felix Poon: [00:05:08] Three votes. 

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:10] Virginia. 

Felix Poon: [00:05:11] Thirteen votes. 

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:12] And Tennessee. 

Felix Poon: [00:05:13] Eleven votes.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:15] That's three whole states. But if Felix had won just California, he would have way more votes than I did because California is worth fifty five electoral votes all by itself.

Felix Poon: [00:05:30] All right. So who is in the Electoral College?

Archive: [00:05:34] The first order of business is the roll call of electors, Snehal Oggy.

Felix Poon: [00:05:40] They're the who's who they can be, politicians, public servants, celebrities.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:45] Each state has it's own laws and rules on who they pick and how.A lot has changed since the founders put the Electoral College in place.

Felix Poon: [00:06:00] Some people wonder if we still need the Electoral College.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:03] There've been a few times when voters were not pleased with the Electoral College system. I'm thinking of five particular times when candidates won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College vote and therefore the presidential election.

Felix Poon: [00:06:20] Most recently in the 2016 presidential election.

Archive: [00:06:23] I've just received a call from Secretary Clinton. She congratulated us about us on our victory.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:34] It also happened in the election of 2000. Al Gore won the popular vote, but George W. Bush ecked by win with two hundred seventy one votes in the Electoral College.

Felix Poon: [00:06:47] The Electoral College and indirect elections of our president and vice presidents remain a hotly debated part of our democracy.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:54] But as of now, it remains intact.

Felix Poon: [00:06:56] And I won the Electoral College vote in our pretend election. Better luck next time.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:07:00] Oh, there'll be a next time.

Nick Capodice: [00:07:02] Electoral ollege is the process in which we officially elect the president and vice president. State picked electors, cast their vote, and whichever candidate gets 270 or more Electoral College votes wins the whole shebang.

Credits Kid unnamed: [00:07:21] This episode was produced by Jacqui Fulton. With help by Nick Capodice, Hannah McCarthy, Felix Poon, Christina Phillips, Erika Janick, Maureen McMurray, and music by Blue Dot Sessions.

Civics Shorts: The Three Branches

The United States government spreads power across three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Why three branches? What does each branch do that the others cannot? And how do they work together? 

Today’s Civics Short takes a closer look at the who, what, where, and whys of the three branches.

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Transcript

NOTE: This transcript was generated using an automated transcription service, and may contain typographical errors.

Civics 101 Shorts

Episode: The Three Branches 

Civics shorts three branches podcast version.wav

Nick Capodice: [00:00:01] Hello dear listeners, Nick Capodice and Hannah McCarthy here.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:04] Welcome to the latest installment of civics shorts, built with middle schoolers in mind they are fun for the whole family, even that one cranky uncle.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:13]  Today Jacqui Fulton is giving you three for the price of one because this episode is about the three branches of government. Enjoy.

Christina Phillips: [00:00:25] The colonists declared independence from the king.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:27] We declare independence!

Christina Phillips: [00:00:29] Fought a war and became their own nation.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:34] They were finally free and forming their own government. But how could they prevent one person from having all the power again?

Scar: [00:00:42] I am the king. I can do whatever I want.

Christina Phillips: [00:00:45] What to do? What to do? Ah Ha!

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:48] Their answer, separate the powers.

Christina Phillips: [00:00:51] They would create three branches of government, a family.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:56] The branches each have their own jobs, but would all have to work together to get stuff done.

Christina Phillips: [00:01:02] But no one said it had to be pretty.

Archive Tape: [00:01:04] The consequence is friction in colorful language sparks.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:09] I'm Jacqui.

Christina Phillips: [00:01:10] I'm Christina.This is civics one on one shorts. And today we are going to civic-splain the three branches of government. The what's what of the executive, judicial and legislative branches.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:26] Fire up the old projector!

Archive Tape: [00:01:33] The national government is necessarily one big family. But the family squabbles have been long and loud, appearing at times to suggest the imminence of divorce.

Archive Tape: [00:01:44] You, sir, may resign your post.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:49] It sounds like my family.

Christina Phillips: [00:01:50] The three branches struggle for power and step on each other's toes. It's a system of checks and balances.

Archive Tape: [00:01:59] A check means to stop something. A balance means a way of evening things up.

Christina Phillips: [00:02:04] Each branch of government brings something unique to the relationship, special powers.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:09] ,Let's start with the executive branch.

Christina Phillips: [00:02:12] The executive branch carries out and enforces laws passed by Congress. It's made up of the president, the vice president and cabinet members.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:24] The president has many responsibilities.

Archive Tape: [00:02:27] For example, he gives out medals to war heroes. He greets the winners of contest. He's greeted men coming back from the moon.

President Nixon: [00:02:34] I want you to know that I think I'm the luckiest man in the world. I have the privilege of speaking for so many and welcoming you back to earth!

Christina Phillips: [00:02:45] Not only the head of state.The president is the leader of the federal government and commander in chief of the United States Armed Forces.

Archive Tape: [00:02:52] If the president approves the bill, he signs, it then becomes law. The President may veto a bill passed by the Congress.

Christina Phillips: [00:03:01] The president gets help from the vice president. The vice president is also the president of the Senate and takes over for the president if she is no longer able to do the job.

Archive Tape: [00:03:11] In case of the removal of the president from office or his death, resignation or inability to discharge the powers and duties of said office-

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:19]  that brings us to the cabinet.

President Obama: [00:03:22] One of the things I'm most proud of is the cabinet we've assembled. You've got extraordinarily talented people.

Christina Phillips: [00:03:27] The cabinet members are 15 high ranking folks.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:29] Who run agencies that are part of the executive branch, like the secretary of state, the attorney general and the secretary of the Treasury.

Christina Phillips: [00:03:39] The executive branch is powerful.

He-Man: [00:03:44] I have the power! 

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:44] But it doesn't hold all the power- on to the legislative branch!

Christina Phillips: [00:03:50]  The legislative branch is the one that makes the laws.

Archive Tape: [00:03:53] This branch of the government is made up of two houses. The Senate and the House of Representatives. A law may originate in either House, but must be approved by both of them.When a bill is passed by both houses, it is sent to the president.

Christina Phillips: [00:04:12] Each state has two senators. That's 100 senators altogether.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:17] They have the authority to declare war. Here they are responding to President Roosevelt, asking for war to be declared on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Archive Tape: [00:04:29] And now, ladies and gentlemen, we understand that both houses of Congress now have passed the resolution for a declaration of war.

Christina Phillips: [00:04:36] The House of Representatives has 435 voting representatives and six non-voting members.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:43] Each state has a different number of Reps based on population.

Archive Tape: [00:04:48] The first session of the 75th Congress closes before the president's chief bills are passed and a special session threatens.

Christina Phillips: [00:04:54] Lastly, but not leastly the judicial branch.

Archive Tape: [00:05:00] The Constitution set up the president to keep an eye on the Congress, and the Congress to keep an eye on the president, and to keep an eye on both of them something else, a Supreme Court.

Christina Phillips: [00:05:11] The judicial branch decides what laws mean and how to apply them in real life situations.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:16] Or as this guy puts it-. 

Archive Tape: [00:05:18] They sit most days of the year and they look into the Constitution and they decide if something that somebody has done, anybody is legal. Whether you can, for instance, a stage play of naked men and women running around shouting four letter words is constitutional.

Christina Phillips: [00:05:35] I'd watch that play.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:38] The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country and it's part of the judicial branch.

Christina Phillips: [00:05:43] It's made up of nine justices who are nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate.

Archive Tape: [00:05:49] We'll hear argument first this morning in case 189526, Mcgerk Versus Oklahoma. Mr. Gershengorn.

Christina Phillips: [00:05:58] They also decide cases that differ from what our Constitution says. There are lower federal courts that help handle things like appeals, tax, and bankruptcy, lawsuits involving U.S. and state governments, or the Constitution and more.

Archive Tape: [00:06:12] There's much, much more. We also want you to have this six in one...

Christina Phillips: [00:06:17] There you have it. The three branches of government. Executive, legislative and judicial.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:24] Each has a different job to do.

Archive Tape: [00:06:26] If the Congress and the president get to a point where there's a serious dispute on who has the authority to act, then the final judge becomes the third branch of the government. The Supreme Court.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:36] The most important thing is that they work together even if they don't want to.

Archive Tape: [00:06:40] Should we be disturbed by such tension within our government? The fact is that the Constitution permits squabbling but it also permits agreement.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:07:03] All right, Nick, what are the three branches of government

Nick Capodice: [00:07:05] Executive, legislative, judicial. The legislative branch makes laws.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:07:09] The executive branch enforces laws.

Nick Capodice: [00:07:11]  And the judicial branch interprets the laws.You branches better get along with each other now.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:07:16] Don't make me pull this car over.

Will : [00:07:19] This episode was produced by Jacqui Fulton.  With help by Nick Capodice. Hannah McCarthy and Christina Phillips. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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Civics Shorts: The Census

Every ten years the United States government tries to count every person in the country with a census. What is the census? Why does the government need to count people? Who is it doing the counting? Today’s Civics Short takes a closer look at the who, what, where, and whys of the Census.

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Transcript

NOTE: This transcript was generated using an automated transcription service, and may contain typographical errors.

Civics 101 Short

The U.S. Census

Hannah McCarthy : [00:00:00] Hello, dear listeners. Hannah McCarthy here.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:03] Nick Capodice here. Today, we're bringing you our latest installment of Civics Shorts.

Hannah McCarthy : [00:00:07] A bite sized refresher on the United States Census. It's created with middle schoolers in mind.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:13] But anyone with an appetite for learning, and pie, should enjoy official score.

Archive Video: [00:00:18] Keeper of American Development for one hundred and fifty years has been busy but unspectacular United States.

Christina Phillips: [00:00:26] Wht?!, this guy in here. The census is spectacular.

The Count: [00:00:30] One, two, three- ah, the census my favorite time of the decade! Ah Ah Ah 

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:39] I'm Jacqui

Christina Phillips: [00:00:40] I'm Christina.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:42] Today on Civics Shorts we're going to talk about the census.

Bored Kid Counting: [00:00:44] 1440,1441,1442,1443

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:52] The census is so much more than just a head count of every single person living in the United States and territories.

Christina Phillips: [00:00:58] It has a direct impact on all our lives. A lot is at stake.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:04] We're going to give you the what, the who, and the why of the U.S. Census.

Christina Phillips: [00:01:09] Buckle up, buttercups.

Archive Video: [00:01:13] Thousands of operators will sort and tabulate the millions of cards almost entirely with machines, mechanical marvels of accuracy and speed.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:23] First off, what is the U.S. Census? Why do we have it?

Christina Phillips: [00:01:27] Article one, Section two of the United States Constitution says the government has to count everyone in the country every 10 years.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:40] We count each person in all the homes, in all the neighborhoods across the country.

Christina Phillips: [00:01:46] Boomers, Gen Z, babies- everyone counts.

The Count: [00:01:50] Of course, everyone in your home counts.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:53] Other information is collected-. 

Christina Phillips: [00:01:55] Like your name

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:55] Age

Christina Phillips: [00:01:56] Race

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:57] Gender

Christina Phillips: [00:01:58] If you rent or own a home

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:59] your marital status

Christina Phillips: [00:02:01] And more!

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:03] And more!

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:03]  Since 1907 the census has been completed by the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Archive Video: [00:02:12] The Census has presented a steadily broadly picture of the nation in its 10 year inventory. Congress has repeatedly extended the scope of census questionnaires to meet the growing complexity of American life.

Christina Phillips: [00:02:25] Throughout history, the U.S. Census has reflected the values of our society. For example-. 

Baby names video: [00:02:31] Noah, Jacob Mason, William-. 

Christina Phillips: [00:02:34] In the beginning, only the names of the heads of each household were surveyed-. 

Baby names video: [00:02:38] Daniel.

Christina Phillips: [00:02:39] In other words, mostly the men.

Archive Video: [00:02:43]  Ask the supplementary questions only for the member of the household whose name is on the marked line.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:49] Every so often a widow or single mom could get her name in there.

Mildred: [00:02:53] Mildred, spelled m i l d r e d.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:56] But it was rare. Women, children and extended families in the home were recorded as numbers.

Archive Video: [00:03:02] Now, what are the names of the other persons living here with you Mrs. Magee?

Mrs. Magee: [00:03:07]  Well, there's me.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:11] The modern census now counts every single human in the country as their own individual person and records their name.

Christina Phillips: [00:03:21] So why do we have a census in the first place?

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:24] Federal funding and representation!

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:28] I like to think of the census as the way to divvy up two pies, two delicious, hot, fresh out of the oven pies.

Martha Stewart: [00:03:37] Two pies.I just can't stop myself from making pies!

Christina Phillips: [00:03:42] Ok, so let's pretend you're throwing the party, a pie party. All the food is pie.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:45] Oh, my favorite kind of party!

Martha Stewart: [00:03:47] Now, this is a half a recipe of pate brisee. You're going to need about a half a cup of sugar-. 

Christina Phillips: [00:03:53] When you're baking you need to know how many people would be at the party. You also want to know how big a slice to serve each person. Everyone should get their fair share.

Archive Video: [00:04:02] The population of the United States is continually changing in number, location, and composition.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:08] So this census figures out who lives where and how big a slice of pie they should get.

Christina Phillips: [00:04:16] The first pie. I'm going to call this the blueberry pie is political representation.

Census Commercial: [00:04:21] There are 435 seats in the House of Representatives. These get distributed to the 50 states by population, and an accurate census response helps your state get the right amount of seats. States with smaller populations get at least one, while states with larger populations might get more.

Christina Phillips: [00:04:41] The second pie. We're gonna call it the strawberry rhubarb pie.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:45] It's the federal money pie. It's chock full of more than six hundred and seventy five billion dollars.

The Count: [00:04:52]  Counting everyone in your home helps support your neighborhood for the next ten years. By funding, things like schools, hospitals and buses. So count yourself and everyone in your home.

Christina Phillips: [00:05:03] So the census is used to decide how the six hundred and seventy five billion dollars should be divided among communities in the U.S. and territories.

Homer Simpson: [00:05:12] Mmm...Pie. 

Archive Video: [00:05:14] To enumerate and record the required information about every man, woman and child in the United States is an enormous task.

Christina Phillips: [00:05:24] Who are census workers?

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:26] When the census first started in 1790, U.S. Marshals rode on horseback to every house and recorded, surveyed, the menfolk.

Archive Video: [00:05:36] Is there anyone else who isn't here at the present time?

Mrs. Magee: [00:05:39] Well, there's me...

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:41]  Now census workers include people like-. 

Christina Phillips: [00:05:44] Data entry nerds, statisticians and census takers. People who go out into the field house to house.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:53] It sounds like a fun gig!

Christina Phillips: [00:05:55]  Some census takers have reported wild things out in the field.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:00] Chased by a baby lion. 

Christina Phillips: [00:06:04] Census form, eating goats. 

Christina Phillips: [00:06:11] Caught in the middle of a manhunt for an escaped prisoner and escorted by a bloodhound.

Police raid: [00:06:14] Come out with your hands up or the dog will bite you!

Christina Phillips: [00:06:22] Make sure you get counted for the 2020 census.It's easy!

The Count: [00:06:26] In 10 minutes. You can complete the census by calling or going online. Or return your form by mail. Ah, Ah, Ah.

Hannah McCarthy : [00:06:39] So in a pie shell, what is the U.S. Census?

Nick Capodice: [00:06:43] The census counts everyone who lives in the United States.

Hannah McCarthy : [00:06:46] Why a census?

Nick Capodice: [00:06:48] Because the data collected determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. And it is used to distribute billions in federal funds to local communities.

Hannah McCarthy : [00:06:57] Who conducts the census?

Nick Capodice: [00:06:58] The census is conducted by the Census Bureau, which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Hannah McCarthy : [00:07:03] I think you got it.

Noah Snead: [00:07:04] This episode was produced by Jacqui Fulton. With help by Nick Capodice, Hannah McCarthy, and Christina Phillips. Erica Janik is executive producer of Lemon Meringue Pies. Maureen McMurray bakes her classic apple pie, without actual apples. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

Civics Shorts: The CDC

The CDC, or the Centers for Disease Control, has been in the news a lot lately. But what is the CDC? And what does it do? Today’s Civics Short takes a closer look at the who, what, where, and whys of the CDC.

Episode Resources

Explore the CDC website

Check out “The Winged Scourge” for yourself:

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Transcript

NOTE: This transcript was generated using an automated transcription service, and may contain typographical errors.

Civics 101 Short

The CDC

Nick Capodice: [00:00:00] Hello dear listeners Nick Capodice here. 

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:02] Hannah McCarthy here.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:04] This is our second episode of what we're calling Civics Shorts.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:07] They are created with middle schoolers in mind.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:09] But, any human can listen to it of any age and get something out of it.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:13]  Because of the Coronavirus outbreak, and quarantining, and social isolation we thought a Short on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention might be helpful.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:22] So without further ado, the CDC brought to you by Jacqui Fulton. Enjoy.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:30] Do you remember the scene in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs wehre Dopey has the flyswatter?

Disney: [00:00:36] Are there six or seven people in the audience who will volunteer to help us combat this evil? Good. Well, thank you men.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:00:47] Wait, what? I don't remember this scene.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:50] Well, that's because he's actually not from the movie.But is a public service announcement put out by the government starring the dwarfs.

Disney: [00:00:59] Before we can attack the enemy there are certain facts we must know. The first and all important fact is this, the anopheles mosquito must have water to lay her eggs in. All right men now we can begin to fight.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:13] Fight?

Disney: [00:01:15]  Yes, we've got to kill every one in the house.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:18] Dopey is trying to kill a mosquito that's landed on Grumpy's throat with that fly swatter. He lifts up his beard and whacks him in the neck. Grumpy returns the favor by hitting Dopey over the head with a chisel. This video is called Winged Scorge, a public service announcement about the prevention of malaria.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:41] Oh just thinking about this is making me itch.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:44] During World War II 60,000 soldiers died. Not on the battlefield, but from Malaria.

Army PSA: [00:01:52] This is Corregidor, where May 1942 soldiers of the United States Army were humiliated  as never before in their history. Prior to this surrender 85% of our men, 9 out of 10, had already surrendered to a different enemy. Who is that enemy? The malaria carrying mosquito.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:02:13] Okay, it sounds like something had to be done.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:15] In 1946 the government started a new department. Their mission, to get rid of malaria. I'm Jacqui.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:02:24] I'm Jimmy. Today on Civics 101 Shorts, we're gonna give you the who, why, and how of the new malaria fighting department, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- or the CDC?

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:38] The CDC is part of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:02:42] And is headquartered in the ATL, Atlanta, Georgia, once a hotspot for malaria in the U.S.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:48] But the CDC doesn't just work in the United States.They help folks across the world.

CDC Video: [00:02:54] Right here we are trying to get some samples from the bats because there's an outbreak right now. There's a current outbreak of rabies in cattle in this area...

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:03:04]  Because diseases spread.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:06] And the CDC wants to stop them in their tracks-. 

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:03:09] Before they get the chance to infect Americans.So in 1946, when the CDC was created, they swung into action to fight malaria.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:21] They sprayed insecticides, passed out mosquito nets-. 

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:03:25] Provided medication, educated folks on getting rid of any standing water-. 

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:29] In three years malaria was under control in the United States.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:03:33] The CDC moved on to fight the other big health battles at the time.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:36] Sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis.Who. The CDC has super high tech labs, including an insectary.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:03:47] Oh, a lab full of bugs.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:49]  Because insects carry so many diseases.

CDC Video: [00:03:52] Inside the CDC insectary researchers are working on ways to keep people healthy by reducing the transmission or spread of malaria in areas where it occurs. And to ensure this disease doesn't return to the places where it no longer exists.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:04:09] All kinds of people work for the CDC.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:10] Doctors 

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:04:12] Lawyers 

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:13] Communications specialists.My favorites are called Disease Detectives.How.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:04:21]  You've probably seen doctors on TV wearing big hazmat suits.

News Anchor: [00:04:24] Then you've got to get into the suit and get it off without touching any of the dirty surfaces.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:30] Part of their tactics is going into places with breakouts and treating diseases.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:04:36] They track down who's had contact with the disease so they can control the spread of it.

CDC Video: [00:04:42] We can help countries to pick up new threats, to confirm them in the laboratory, to investigate clusters of disease, and ultimately to treat patients and contain a new disease threat before it spreads around the world. Diseases cross borders and what happens...

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:00] But the CDC doesn't just treat diseases.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:05:03] A huge part of their mission is to prevent disease outbreaks in the first place.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:07] The best way to do that is by educating people on how to avoid getting sick.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:05:12] Like with the coronavirus.

CDC Video: [00:05:14] I'm Dr. Nancy Messineo from CDC. It's really important that we protect those who are most vulnerable to Covid 19, and that's older adults and people with underlying illnesses.

CDC Video: [00:05:26] Cover your cough and sneezes. Wash your hands often avoid sharing personal items.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:32] Why. 

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:05:34] People need protection from disease and need scientific information on health threats. It saves lives.Remember all those soldiers dying from malaria? Another thing the CDC does is help you prepare for travel abroad, to know what diseases you might need, vaccinations or medications you'll need before you go.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:01] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tasked with protecting you, our nation and our world. Just ask Dopey while they teach him how to battle malaria carrying mosquitoes.

Disney: [00:06:14] Attaboy Dopey. Kill her good and dead. 

Nick Capodice: [00:06:26] So to summarize, the CDC is an extremely important agency.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:06:30] Who are they? They're scientists and doctors and they do all kinds of different jobs.

Nick Capodice: [00:06:35] And how do they help? They control and treat diseases. They educate people to prevent the disease from happening in the first place.And why do we need the CDC?

Hannah McCarthy: [00:06:42] Because to do everything else we do as Americans we've got to have our health. This episode was produced by Jacqui Fulton with Jimmy Gutierrez. Erika Janik is NHPR's editorial flyswatter. Maureen McMurray runs a wellness blog but I'm not allowed to tell you the name.

Nick Capodice: [00:06:56] And by the way, if you'd like to see the Disney film Winged Scourge with doping in the flyswatter, a link is in the show notes and on our website. It is truly something to behold.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:07:05] Civic shorts are brought to you in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and are a production of NHPR, New Hampshire Public Radio.

Introducing Civics Shorts: Running for President

A presidential election occurs every four years in this country. But how do you actually run for president? Who gets to do it? How do you launch a campaign? What’s the election process? We’ve got answers!

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Transcript

NOTE: This transcript was generated using an automated transcription service, and may contain typographical errors.

Civics 101 Short

Running For President

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:02] Hello, dear far flung listeners. Hannah McCarthy here.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:05]  Nick Capodice here. 

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:07] Life has changed pretty drastically for most of us in the past couple of weeks. As we all try to figure out new ways of working, of learning, of parenting, of just plain talking to each other. Civics 101 is also going to adapt to the times.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:23] We're going to be asking you what you want and what you need in the coming weeks so we can answer your most pressing questions and arm you with information. Understanding how this country works has never been more important. We'll be answering you directly, releasing new content and keeping this community close and informed. To that end, we're asking any and all teachers out there to fill out the shortest survey ever to guide our production in the coming weeks. It'd be a huge favor to us. It's at the top of our Web site, Civics 101 podcast dot org. 

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:53] Also, as part of this effort we'll be featuring the occasional Civics short, from our lovely and talented producer Jacqui Fulton. Jacqui's kicking off the Shorts project with a quick and dirty on how to run for president.

Nick Capodice: [00:01:05] Alright let's go.

President John F Kennedy: [00:01:12] John Fitzgerald Kennedy, do solemnly swear-. 

Judge: [00:01:14] That your reaction to the offer from president of the United States, I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:22] Have you ever dreamed about being president.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:24] Oh my god, who hasn't?

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:26] I'm Jacqui

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:27] I'm Jimmy.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:28] This is Civics 101. We're going to tell you how to become president of the United States in five easy steps.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:35] Step one, you've got to meet the qualifications to run. So, were you born in the U.S.?

Jacqui Fulton:[00:01:40] Yes.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:41] Have you lived in the U.S. for the past 14 years?

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:44] Yep.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:44] Are you 35 or older?

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:45] How dare you, sir?! 

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:01:47] Congratulations then you can officially run for president.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:50] I already have my announcement speech ready. Hi! I'm running for president of the United States of America. I promise you a puppy in every house. Vote for me, Jacqui. 

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:02:03] I'm more of a cat kind of guy.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:04] Well, fine fine. I can throw a kitten in there for you.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:02:09] Step two campaigning. This is where you give a lot of speeches and you work on your message. Maybe you want to add cats to your platform?

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:17]  Yes.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:02:18] There will be a bunch of other people in the race too. 

News Anchor: [00:02:20] Former Vice President Al Gore. Senator Barack Obama. Governor Bill Richardson. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton...

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:26] And all of these candidates will need a lot of money.

News Anchor: [00:02:31] And June 18th at the Washington Convention Center he raised a whopping twenty one and a half million dollars.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:37] Commercials, bumper stickers, signs, rallies, they're not free.

Nick Capodice: [00:02:42] The more popular you are, the more money people give to you.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:45] And the more money people give to you, the more popular you are.

Tamara Keith: [00:02:48] And when someone writes them a check- sends them a dollar, sends them $50- they can mark them down, not just as a supporter, but as a voter.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:02:57] So, if you're the most popular and you have the most money, you're also the most likely to win the presidential race.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:04] These days it can cost up to a billion dollars to run. Hey Jimmy will you give me a dollar?

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:03:10] Sure,I'll give you a dollar.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:12] OK, how 900 million more dollars?

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:03:16] I'm going to get back to you on that one. I still need to  look over your platform.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:20] That sounds fair.Sometimes campaigns run out of money.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:03:25]  And then it's game over.

Kamala Harris: [00:03:28] My campaign for president simply does not have the financial resources to continue. I'm not a billionaire. I can't fund my own campaign.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:36] So how does it get down to just me and the other person facing off?

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:03:40] That's step three, presidential primaries.

News Anchor: [00:03:45] The primary elections in New Hampshire for delegates to the Democratic and Republican national conventions find candidates and campaign managers pulling no punches. This is the first real popularity test for the favorites.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:00] I think of the primaries as a small state election before the big national election. Not every state does a primary. Some do caucuses where people get together in a room and try to convince each other that their candidate is the best. But most states do primaries.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:04:16] And there are two big political parties in America, the Democrats and the Republicans.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:21] Each state holds its own primary election. So voters in each state can pick the one candidate they want to keep running for their party.

News Anchor: [00:04:30] New Hampshire hasspoken. And when the balance were totted up it was a clean sweep for General Eisenhower on the Republican side. And for Senator Estes Kefauver heading the Democratic slate.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:41]  Step four, the party's hold nominating conventions.

Chairman: [00:04:44] May we have order please?

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:04:46] The conventions are like big splashy pep rallies that lasts for days.

Chairman: [00:04:50] There will be time for tooting of horns and other noisemakers later on.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:04:54] By this time the candidate for each party is usually decided.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:58] Thousands of people pack an arena and listen to speeches. On the very last day another vote is taken.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:05:06] Only special voters called delegates participate here.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:10] Delegates from each state stand together in a group.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:05:13] And one by one they announce their results.

Delegate: [00:05:15] The state of New Mexico, a land of enchantment, cast 5 Governor Reagan and 1 vote for Gov. Nelson Rockefeller.

Chairman: [00:05:25] The chair declares that the nominee of this convention for the presidency of the United States is Gerald R. Ford.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:36] Step 5, election Day. This happens in November.

News Anchor: [00:05:39] A record number of Americans, upwards of sixty seven million, go to the polls to elect a thirty fifth president of the United States.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:47] Surprise! I'm the new president elect!

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:05:55] It would be sad if you lost in your own daydream.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:58] True, but it was a close race. Jimmy, because you've been my biggest and only supporter, I nominate you as my Secretary of Feline Affairs.

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:06:09] Aw!

Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:09]  Congratulations!

Jimmy Gutierrez: [00:06:11] Meow. Aw hey buddy.Meow.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:06:20] Think you got it Nick?

Nick Capodice: [00:06:22] I think so. First of all, qualify. Then campaign. Run in the primary. Win that nomination. And then the all important election day.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:06:32] Easy. Just kidding.It's very very difficult. Many thanks to Jacqui Fulton for this Civics Short. And to Jimmy Gutierrez for all of his help. Music in this Short by Blue Dot Sessions. You can listen to all of what Civics 101 has to offer at Civics 101 podcast dot org.

Nick Capodice: [00:06:48] Civics 101 is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It is a production of NHPR, New Hampshire Public Radio.