Electing a President: The Process

I watched Electing a President: The Process literally an hour before going to vote in my state's primary election, and it reminded me that this “chore” was actually an exciting privilege. With the 2004 presidential election campaign well underway, this excellent video will be a boon to teachers faced with trying to explain the electoral college, the Bush-Gore election circus of 2000, or even the two-party system to their students. Combining archival footage, historical documents, and contemporary images, the program traces the rocky history of presidential elections in America, examining how the media has affected election campaigns (first with print, then radio, then TV), and how race, class, gender, and religion have all affected the vote. Employing specific examples to illustrate each concept, and tossing in interesting tidbits about past elections and presidents to spice up the script, this program in the four-volume Our Federal Government series takes a potentially dull and confusing topic and presents it in a clear and interesting manner. The other titles in the series (series price: $228) are: The Presidency, The Supreme Court, and The Legislative Branch. Highly recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)