Name ___________________________ Date _______________

U.S.A. President Vocabulary

elocution training in, or the art of, public speaking.

bipartisan a cooperative effort by two political parties.

an informal meeting of local party members to discuss candidates and choose delegates to
caucus the party's convention.

a leader whose impassioned rhetoric appeals to greed, fear, and hatred, and who often
demagogue spreads lies.

an attempt by a Senator or group of Senators to obstruct the passage of a bill, favored by

the majority, by talking continuously. Because there is no rule in the Senate over how long
filibuster a member can speak, a Senator can prevent a bill from coming up for a vote by talking
endlessly.

incumbent a current officeholder .

Liberal. The labeling system originated from the seating pattern of the French National
left-wing Assembly, which put liberals on the “left,” moderates in the middle, and conservatives on
the “right.”

a group seeking to influence an elected official, or the act of doing so. The term originated
lobby in the 17th century, when people waiting to speak with legislators at the English House of
Commons waited in a large atrium outside the legislators' hall, called the lobby.

a journalist who seeks out the scandalous activities of public officials. Derived from the Man
muckraker with the Muck Rake, a character in John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress," who could
never look up, only down.

platform The positions that a party adopts, and stands on, at the beginning of an election campaign.

poll A survey used to gauge public opinion concerning issues or to forecast an election.

A state election in which party members vote for a candidate from within their party. The
primary vote determines how many of that state's delegates each candidate gets.

Government paperwork and procedures that are slow and difficult. Stems from an 18th-
red tape century British practice of binding official papers with a reddish twine.

the right or power of one official authority or body, esp. the chief executive, to reject or
veto cancel something enacted by another, such as a law or budget authorization approved by a
legislature.

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United States President Biographical Data Form

Do the Research!

Directions: Pick a President and write a short biography about his life using the
following guidelines.

Name of President:_______________________________

Year of Birth: ________________

Place of Birth: ___________________________

Political Affiliation:_______________

Year Elected:________

Term(s) Served:_________

Name of Vice President:____________________

Political philosophy (beliefs):

_________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Describe accomplishments during

presidency_________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Year of Death (if applicable): ____________________

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

President Cryptogram
Directions: Unscramble the words by placing the correct letter in the shaded
boxes. Use the numbered boxes to complete the answer to the riddle.

RIDDLE:

Who was the only President born on July 4th?

OEMDGAUEG MAYIRRP BOBYL

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

5 2 6

SRIITUBLEF UASUCC PLLO

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

3 1

CUBMTNNEI EDEAPRT TEOV

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

4 7

ANSWER:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

United States Presidents

Facts
Directions: Fill in the information requested.

Name of President:

Place of Birth:

Year Elected:

1.

Political Party (Democrat,

Republican, etc.)

1.

Vice President
1.

Term Served (How many and what

years)
1.

Key Events During Presidency (List

important historical events with the
years they occurred
Powered

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

President Group Creative Writing

Directions: As a group, you have 25 minutes to write a brief story using the words/phrases
below.

veto demagogue lobby poll

elocution filibuster muckraker primary

bipartisan incumbent platform red tape

caucus left-wing

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

If You Were There During Lincoln's Presidency

Directions:

Pretend that you lived in Lincoln's lifetime. Compose a letter to President Lincoln
to help him through the difficult times in his life. Some things you can write about
include his economic hardship and life as a child, his struggle with slavery, or his
concerns about the Civil War.

Date:________________________

Dear President Lincoln,

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Sincerely,

____________________________________

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 Name ___________________________ Date _______________

President Maze Worksheet

Help the president find his home.

Start Finish

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

Presidents Who Are Noteworthy

Directions: Tell what each of the following presidents is noted for:

George Washington

Thomas Jefferson

1.

Abraham Lincoln

1.

Andrew Johnson
1.

Theodore Roosevelt

1.

Franklin Roosevelt

Harry S. Truman

1.
John F. Kennedy

Richard Nixon

Bill Clinton 1.

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

President Acrostic Poem

An acrostic poem is one where you choose a word or name and use each letter in the name as
the beginning of a word or line that tells something about that person or topic.

Example: An acrostic poem using the word "friend."

Frank from my class

Really helped me when I got hurt. He ran to the nurse and got

Ice for my leg

Even when I lost

Nelly my pet frog, his mom

Drove us all around looking for her.

Write an Acrostic Poem using the word below.

P
R
E
S
I
D
E
N
T

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

President Vocabulary Quiz

Directions: Match the vocabulary words on the left with the definitions on the right.

a private meeting of leaders of a political party to

1. left wing choose candidates or determine policy, or such a
group itself.

a leader, esp. a speaker or politician, who attempts to

persuade and to gain a following by appealing to the
2. poll
emotions and prejudices of the public, rather than by
rational argument.

a long narrow strip of material, usu. of plastic, cloth, or

3. platform
paper, sometimes having adhesive on one side.

any of several colors that resemble the color of blood;

4. muckrake
the first color on the spectrum.

the casting of a ballot or the recording of votes in an

5. bipartisan
election.

6. lobby currently holding an office or position:

composed of, representing, or supported by two parties

7. primary
or factions, esp. two political parties.

to investigate and expose misconduct or corruption,

8. tape
esp. of political or business leaders.

9. caucus most essential or prevalent; main; chief:

a level, raised surface used as a stage for speakers or

10. incumbent
the like.

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

11. veto training in, or the art of, public speaking.

a faction of a political party or other group that

advocates liberal reform or radical, revolutionary
12. red
change, esp. in the social, political, or economic order.
(Cf. right wing.)

the right or power of one official authority or body, esp.

the chief executive, to reject or cancel something
13. elocution
enacted by another, such as a law or budget
authorization approved by a legislature.

a hall or foyer inside the entrance of a hotel, theater, or

14. filibuster
other large building, often used as a waiting room.

15. demagogue the practice or an instance of impeding or delaying

(demagog) legislative action, as by making long speeches.

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 Name ___________________________ Date _______________

President Reading Comprehension

Worksheet

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions below.

President Bush's education bill survived a double-barreled assault on Wednesday as the Senate upheld
a requirement for annual math and reading tests and preserved an experimental program that would cut
regulations in hopes of improving student performance.

The votes signaled that the bipartisan coalition behind the measure remained intact after last week's
historic mid-session Senate shift to a Democratic majority. After a marathon debate lasting more than a
month, final passage is expected as early as today.

Expecting final approval, Education Secretary Rod Paige said he hoped House and Senate negotiators
could begin a "summer school session" and wrap up a final compromise quickly "so we can get school
started with a smile."

Annual math and reading testing for students in the third through eighth grades is the cornerstone of
Bush's effort to improve student achievement. Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., led the effort to add an
amendment to make them optional by the states, rather than mandatory.

_____________________________
1. What conditions does President Bush's
_____________________________
education bill call for?
_____________________________

_____________________________
2. Which political party seems to be
_____________________________
favoring this bill?
___________________________

____________________________
3. At the time of this article, were there
more democratic or republican Senators?
_____________________________

4. What is the overall goal of President Bush's education bill? Explain your answer.

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

If You Ran for the Presidency and Won!

Step 1

Pretend that you were running for the presidency. Prepare a campaign speech
and highlight the important things that you would wish to accomplish if elected.

Problems to be addressed:

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Promises, if elected:

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Step 2

If elected, list the responsibilities and powers of your presidency.

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

Step 3

Tell what leadership characteristics you will need to be effective and to succeed
as president.

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Step 4

What will be your legacy?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

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 Name ___________________________ Date _______________

Mount Rushmore Presidents

Do the Research!
Directions: Name the Presidents who are represented on Mount Rushmore. In
the space provided, tell why you think these presidents were chosen.

1.)

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

2.)

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

3.)

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

4.)

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

Presidents Word Search Worksheet

Directions: All words are positioned left to right.

S O N C R K W A N H V E T O Z Y U L K R E J F
I W Q E C J A L L G L W J R F O N Z S Q C E Q
R E R X I G U Q A Y C Y U I N C U M B E N T I
O X I N X Z C G B D F R S K S L Q S V N A T T
Z Y O R Q B F L H P L O J E E H L O B B Y A Z
U O C Q B N R L E I S N J U N G Y X K X H E P
N F I L I B U S T E R Z M D Z C S K Y M U I W
P R I M A R Y N J B S K I O S C G P G O E T K
H J D E I T E Z B R X L E N U S T O X L A X O
X I P L A T F O R M V N Z V Y L S A W O A Y J
T Q L G O B U C S W E H G O E A K K X I U Y R
T C A U C U S J B M E L O C U T I O N I K V L
A R E D T A P E U X P W D E M A G O G U E M
U Z Q P O L L X J C C M Q M U C K R A K E R F
B I P A R T I S A N Y O W L E F T - W I N G V
R G G M J O E A K G F K G C J Y E X N Z H H A
Z M O K W Z R B K X K X S P F Q L G A G F D O
R R W Q H Y X K N K N Z M U F G Q K V A S I N

RED TAPE PLATFORM FILIBUSTER PRIMARY

BIPARTISAN DEMAGOGUE VETO LOBBY

INCUMBENT LEFT-WING ELOCUTION

MUCKRAKER CAUCUS POLL

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

Comparing President Washington and President Lincoln

VENN Diagram

President
President Lincoln
Washington

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

Comparing Presidents

VENN Diagram
Pick two different presidents and compare them.

President President
___________ ___________

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

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Name ___________________________ Date _______________

Answers to Cryptogram

OEMDGAUEG: Demagogue

MAYIRRP: Primary

BOBYL: Lobby

SRIITUBLEF: Filibuster

UASUCC: Caucus

PLLO: Poll

CUBMTNNEI: Incumbent

EDEAPRT: Red Tape

TEOV: Veto

Riddle: Coolidge

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