Welcome to The Dirksen Congressional Center's Communicator - a web-based e-newsletter providing educators with news and ideas to improve the understanding of Congress -- http://www.webcommunicator.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. Monthly Feature - Participate in DebateWatch!
2. Monthly Theme - Elections: Nominating Conventions
3. Featured Grant-funded Project
4. News and Views from The Center
5. Trivia -- Nominating Nonsense
6. Postscript Information

1. PARTICIPATE IN DEBATEWATCH!

How can teachers promote participation in democracy and help avoid student apathy in the political process? Have your students watch and discuss the presidential debates. DebateWatch, a voter education program of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), brings people together to watch the televised debates, talk about what they learned, and (if they choose to) share their reactions online with the CPD. Participating is easy and fun! Anyone can participate including students, young adults, or retirees. DebateWatch events can take place in big venues, such as a school gymnasium, or in your classroom - you decide! Log onto to http://www.debates.org to sign-up to participate in your democracy.

2. ELECTIONS: NOMINATING CONVENTIONS -- During the 1860 Republican Party Convention when Abraham Lincoln was nominated on the third ballot, one observer compared the scene to "all hogs ever slaughtered in Cincinnati giving their death squeals together," which illustrates why many used to consider America's presidential nominating conventions the most interesting and colorful part of the election process.

The conventions try to show both Republican and Democrat parties at their very best because the media coverage of the events is immense if not on the major networks then on cable. Are these conventions still a vital part of the American political structure? That is open to debate.

The first National Republican Convention assembled in Philadelphia in 1856. Their platform stated that Congress had the right abolish slavery. Learn more about how the Republican National Convention began. Find A History of the Republican Convention in Philadelphia at : http://www.aboutgovernment.org/print_elections.htm. Learn about all the political conventions in Philadelphia's history. Find Philadelphia Convention City at: http://www.aboutgovernment.org/print_elections.htm.

In early years, such as the national convention in Charleston, SC, when the Democratic Party split over the issue of slavery in 1860, platform issues could be controversial. However, at recent conventions debate over the party platform has been minimal. Officially adopting a party platform that outlines the party's goals and views on important domestic and foreign policy issues is an important, formal purpose of the national convention. Review the political party platforms from 1840 to the present. Find Political Party Platforms - The American Presidency Project at: http://www.aboutgovernment.org/print_politicalparties.htm.

The Democratic National Committee spent four days this past July in Boston confirming their nominees for president and vice president. Explore Boston's role in the 2004 Democratic Convention. Find About the Convention - Boston 2004 at: http://www.boston04.com/about_the_convention.asp.

At the end of August, the Republican National Committee convened in New York City to formally support incumbents President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Read about all of the political conventions that have occurred in New York City. Find NYC's Historical Past at: http://www.aboutgovernment.org/print_elections.htm.

Political conventions are about more than just choosing candidates. Every four years these national meetings also help party members confirm ideals and establish their party's platform, or what positions they take on key issues. Read about each candidate's background and experience on the Republican ticket, the Democratic ticket, and the Independent ticket. Find Democracy - Candidates and Parties at: http://www.congresslink.org/print_current_campaign2004.htm.

Besides the national conventions featuring plenty of red, white, and blue balloons, speeches by long-winded party leaders, and news coverage, the speech each candidate makes to accept his party's nomination sometime remains in the memories of Americans watching. When a presidential nominee makes an acceptance speech, it marks the first time that they have, as a candidate, the widespread attention of the people who will be voting in November. They have the chance to show the American public how they speak, how they present themselves personally, and what their visions are for the nation's future. Read the text, listen to the audio, and watch the video of presidential nominee acceptance speeches from 1932-2000. Find Acceptance Speeches at: http://www.aboutgovernment.org/usgov_exec_presidents.htm.

Introduce your students to a lesson plan where they will learn to understand the process by which candidates are nominated for U.S. president by the Democratic and Republican parties. After completing this lesson they will identify and understand differences between primaries and caucuses and key terms and issues related to the primary season. Find The Presidential Nominating System at: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/history/primaries_12-19.html.

Introduce a little on-line fun to your students to help them better understand the candidates and national conventions. Have them read the text found at: http://www.congressforkids.net/Elections_candidatesatcon.htm and then click Show What You Know next to the red star. Have them complete the interactive quiz, Conventions: The Delegate and Candidates. Want more? Click the Conventions: The Delegates and Candidates, Part 2 button at the bottom of the page to play an online matching quiz.

3. FEATURED GRANT-FUNDED PROJECT

The Dirksen Center is a proud supporter of America's Legislators Back to School Week - September 20-24, 2004 -- http://www.ncsl.org/public/backsch.htm. Sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures, this program is designed to teach young people (the nation's future voters and leaders) what it's like to serve as an elected official - the processes, the pressures, and the debate, negotiation, and compromise that make up a representative democracy.

For more information about America's Legislators Back to School Week, contact Karl Kurtz, Jan Goehring, Amy Barse, or Joyce Johnson at (303) 364-7700; or send an email to BTSW@ncsl.org.

4. NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE CENTER

** Congress in the Classroom® 2004 -- A Success! **

The key element to The Dirksen Center's national, award-winning education program, Congress in the Classroom® is the participation and collaboration among the teachers who attend the program.

Congress in the Classroom® is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information on teaching about Congress. The 2004 program theme was Election: 2004.

Read what our participants had to say about the 2004 program: http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm#what.

5. NOMINATING NONSENSE

1. What United States Senator quoted Alfred Lord Tennyson in his speech to the 1980 Democratic National Convention in New York City after losing his bid for the presidential nomination?

2. Who was the last Democratic presidential candidate to require more than one ballot to receive the nomination? At what convention did this event take place?

3. Who were the Republican and Democratic nominees for president and vice president in 1960 and 1988?

Answers to the August issue of Fun, Facts, and Trivia: http://www.webcommunicator.org/funfactstrivia0804ans.htm.

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