Answers -- Fun, Facts, and Trivia
February 2004 Issue

The Dirksen Center wants to help teachers teach better by giving them the opportunity to use technology to create, customize, and share online learning activities in their classrooms. The Center wants to help students learn more by bringing educational resources together in one place that provide new ways to learn about Congress interactively.

** CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CONNECTION**

Do your students understand the nature and relationship of congressional elections and organization? Find out by introducing the self-assessment multiple-choice and true-false quizzes posted on Congress for Kids. Find Congressional Election and Organization: Sharing the Power at: http://congressforkids.net/games/Elections_primaries/
2_primaryelections.htm

1. Who was the first incumbent U.S. president to actively campaign on his own behalf while in office?
Answer: William Howard Taft -- The 1912 presidential election was an unusual three-way race. It was between the Republican incumbent Taft, Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson, and former president Theodore Roosevelt, running under the "Bull Moose" party after failing to win the Republican nomination. Taft broke with tradition and openly campaigned on his own behalf, feeling the pressure of two strong candidates. It wasn't enough, though, and this was unfortunate for him. Taft finished a distant third behind Wilson and Roosevelt. Because of this he became the only incumbent president to ever finish third in a bid for re-election.

2. True or False: In off-year, or midterm, elections, voter participation is higher than when there is a presidential contest.
Answer: False -- Voter participation is lower

Answers to the January issue of Fun, Facts, and Trivia link here: http://www.webcommunicator.org/funfactstrivia0104ans.htm

Do you have or know of an online activity you would like The Dirksen Congressional Center to feature on its new Web site for students -- Congress for Kids? The Center is currently seeking online activities that provide new ways to learn about Congress and the workings of the federal government interactively.

If you have questions or suggestions for online activities, contact Cindy Koeppel.