For your information…

Federal judges are nominated by the president, but they have to be confirmed in their appointments by the Senate.

Over the years, there have been many battles between presidents and the Senate over various appointments, particularly judges. Under a quaint-sounding but very powerful tradition, the “courtesy of the Senate”, the Senate will not vote to confirm a federal judge to his post if he is opposed by a senator from the state where the judge is to hold court.

Senior judgeships have remained vacant for years on end because one or two senators disliked a president’s nominees. And there have been dramatic confrontations over appointments to the Supreme Court.

Section 4. Reading assignment.

Read the extract from the book by S.Sheldon “Rage of Angels” on page____. Do the tasks which follow the text.

Unit 4 the elections

Section 1. Read and Study.

TEXT 1

Read the text and answer the following questions.

1. What is to be done by the two major political parties to publicise their candidates before nominating conventions and primaries are held?

2. Why does the existing system of primary elections come in for so much criticism? What makes this system so complicated and what alternative do some critics suggest?

3. Why are national conventions called ‘one of the great spectacles in American politics’? Why does this particular stage of the presidential campaign involve so much political bargaining?

4. Is the presidential candidate given a free hand in choosing his running mate? What is considered ‘good politics’ in this connection?

5. How does each party build support for their candidates after the national conventions?

6. Do the voters actually vote for the President and the Vice President at the November election? If not who do they vote for then?

7. What is the role of the Electoral College?

8. When does the newly elected President take his office?

THE STEPS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CYCLE

The date for the election of the president, always the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every fourth year, was fixed by the U.S. Congress in 1845. On that day millions of American citizens will go to the polling places all over the country to select the next president of the United States. Although elections are held every year – for governors, for national lawmakers, and for state, county and local officials – choosing a chief executive is by far one of the most important processes in representative government in the United States.

Election of a new president climaxes a grueling campaign for the position of chief of state.

Hopefuls seeking nomination by the Republican and Democratic parties, the two major political parties in the United States, often launch their drives as much as two years before voting day arrives. They start their efforts by creating organizations throughout the country in as many states as they can. These organizations staffed by a few paid professionals but mostly by volunteers go to work with vim to publicize their candidate’s name and views and to raise as much money as possible. Campaigns are expensive. Television and radio time must be purchased at ever-rising rates, literature printed and mailed, premises rented, travel costs paid, and banners, buttons, bunting, and other items ordered.

How do Americans choose the final nominees for the two major parties from the list of candidates who declare their intentions?