Election

[Frank]

Though most of you don't know, yesterday was Canada's federal election. I'm just curious, what's the political system in the country that you live in. For Canada, we're a constitutional monarchy. The queen really doesn't have much power though. Not sure what it is for Australia and I'm confused on how the US system works. Care to explain?

[Frank]

lol featured?

[Mrs. Hokanson (Mrs. H) UMAHS]

Thanks Frank for starting this discussion...curious to see who from the US responds to you.  So what positions were up for elections?  At what age can you vote?  Are students really involved in the political process or more as a result of your parents?

We have local, state, and federal elections all on different schedules...will let the kids fill you in on more :0

[Frank]

Voting age is 18. It was the federal elections. Usually, the parties Liberals and Conservative (kinda like Dems and GOP) are dominant but this year it was interesting in the way that the NDP smashed the Liberals and have around 1/3 of the total seats. Usually 1/10 for them. Anyhow, for Canada, we elect Members of Parliament that represent the Parties and through them, they elect the PM.

[Christina D UMAHS 4A]

I'm from the US and I was wondering what kind of stuff do you already know about the US government? Is there something you really want to know about or just everything?

[Frank]

 

Well, I guess it's mainly like how you elect the president. Do you elect a representative or cast directly to who you want to be the president?

[Alexis R UMAHS 10B]

We are a democracy so we/any US citizens 18 years or older can vote. The person with the most votes wins. The votes are directly towards the winning president.  

I am also from the US, let me know if this helps of if you need more info. :)

[Frank]

wait

so are senators and MP votes different?

wonder if we can get an Australian on this?

[Alexis R UMAHS 10B]

Yeah senators are voted at a different time. I don't what MPs are though, care to elaborate???

 

[Frank]

ohhh,

our senators are not voted in and instead we elect MPs

 

[Timothy Cheung]

Basically, we vote for MPs (stands for Member of Parliament) in our own individual ridings, and they all belong to a party.  Whoever wins in the riding gets a seat for their party, and whichever party has the most seats in parliament, that party's leader becomes PM.

[Frank]

thx for saying that tim.

[Jeff W UMAHS 2A]

We don't vote directly to our president. We have an electoral college and whoever we voter for, they're supposed to pick.