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GOVERNMENT & ELECTIONS

Background and Context

These Government & Elections resources will help students develop a thorough understanding and make connections between historical events, current conversations, and current policy proposals surrounding the issue. This section includes all of the context and content previously included in Close Up’s public policy chapters.  

 

U.S. Government in Context

What are the ideas and institutions that make up U.S. government? Learn More >

U.S. Elections in Context

How does the U.S. electoral system work? Learn More >

Current Issue Debates

Current Issue Debates are framed by a central question and followed by historical context, an overview of both sides of the topic, and discussion questions to facilitate deliberation in the classroom.

 

2024 Election Toolkit

Access resources on the candidates, the issues, and electoral processes! Learn More >

2024 Primaries and Caucuses

Should Iowa and New Hampshire have first-in-the-nation voting status? Learn More >

Voting by Mail

Available for Middle & High School

Should all states conduct elections entirely by mail? Learn More >

The Electoral College

Available for Middle & High School

Should states join the National Popular Vote pact? Learn More >

Voter ID Laws

Available for Middle & High School

Should states require voters to present a government-approved ID? Learn More >

Understanding the Media

When we refer to “the media,” what do we mean? Learn More >

Gerrymandering

Should the federal government mandate that states end partisan gerrymandering? Learn More >

Youth Voting

Available for Middle & High School

Should the voting age be lowered to 16? Learn More >

2022 Midterm Elections

Available for Middle & High School

What are midterm elections and what's at stake in 2022? Learn More >

Videos from Policymakers

Brought to you by ASP HOMEROOM, through a collaboration between Close Up Foundation and A Starting Point, these supplemental videos are an introduction to policy areas that provide an opportunity for students to hear different perspectives directly from lawmakers.

 

Voting Rights

State Representatives Jasmine Clark (D-GA) & Robert Dickey (R-GA) 
April 16, 2021

Electoral College Certification

Congressman Jodey Arrington (R-TX)
January 6, 2021

Shaping the Future of Information, Technology & Media

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
October 26, 2020

Lesson Plans

These ready-to-use Government & Elections lesson plans can be utilized in conjunction with any of our resources to enhance the quality of student discourse in the classroom. Our supplemental Civic Readiness Guide provides a recommended lesson plan sequence for using our Current Issues resources.

 

Additional & Archived Resources on Government & Elections

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US Foreign Policy in the Next Four Years

Videos | November 13, 2020

 During this Close Up Conversations webinar Close Up’s, Joe Geraghty, discusses ‘US Foreign Policy in the Next Four Years’ with Ambassador Richard Schmierer, Chairman of the Board, Middle East Policy Council. Foreign policy is consistently one of the biggest issues going into any election, and there are implications whether there is an administration change or […]


Building Bridges – Controversial Elections in American History

Podcast | November 13, 2020

This episode of Building Bridges looks at the three of the most controversial elections in American history.


Building Bridges – John Lewis

Podcast | November 2, 2020

This episode of Building Bridges looks at the three-decade partnership of the Close Up Foundation and the Civil Rights icon, Representative John Lewis of Georgia.


LGBTQ Equality: Past, Present & the Election

Videos | October 28, 2020

 During this Close Up Conversations webinar, available on-demand, Close Up’s, Mia Charity, discusses ‘LGBTQ Equality’ with Bob Witeck, President of Witeck Communications, Inc. Communications and strategy expert Bob Witeck will discuss LGBTQ rights, focusing on his decade in the Senate, and on the role of corporations in advocating change and acceptance based on his 27 years working with […]


Election 2020: The Electoral College – Wise or Outdated?

Post | October 15, 2020

What is the Electoral College?  In 2016, more than 138 million people voted in the general election, but only 538 of them directly voted for president and vice president.1 The reason that both of these statements can be true is the existence of the Electoral College. The Constitution says that rather than voting directly for […]


The Art of Political Storytelling: How Leaders Win Hearts

Videos | October 15, 2020

During this Close Up Conversations webinar, available on-demand, Close Up’s, Eric Adydan, discusses ‘The Art of Political Storytelling’ with Kenny Cunningham, COO of Article III Project.


Political Violence and the 2020 Election

Post | October 13, 2020

Journaling Task: Reflecting On Political Violence On October 8, the FBI announced that it had thwarted a plot led by a right-wing militia to kidnap and potentially assassinate Governor Gretchen Whitmer, D-Mich.1 Whitmer, in an op-ed published in the Washington Post, laid some of the blame at the feet of President Donald Trump, writing: I’m […]


Building Bridges – The History of the Presidential Debates

Podcast | October 8, 2020

This episode of Building Bridges looks at the history of televised Presidential Debates going back to the Nixon-Kennedy debates of 1960.  We will drill down on the role of the moderator, the 16-year gap in the debates, and we will also look at some of the most fascinating moments in the last 60 years of televised presidential debates.


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