US Government

to conduct a presidential election

eine Präsidentschaftswahl durchführen

constitution

Verfassung

the framers

die Schöpfer

declaration of independence

Erklärung der Unabhängigkeit

to pass an amendment

Eine Änderung verabschieden

electoral college

The voters of each state (+District of Colombia) vote for electors to be authorized constitutional members in a presidential election.  Wahlmännerkollegium

electoral votes

Wählerstimmen, Wahlmännerstimmen

electors

Wähler

popular vote

Votum, Volksabstimmung

census

Volkszählung

to cast a ballot

eine Stimme abgeben

to dismantle sth

eine Sache einstellen

to abolish sth

etwas abschaffen

to ratify sth

in Kraft setzen

segregation

Rassentrennung

women suffrage movement

Frauenwahlrechtsbewegung

amnesty

The act of an authority (e.g. government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals

campaign

Kampagne

Primary (for democratic candidates)

 (primary vs caucus => depends on states)

An election where voters select candidates for an upcoming general election. Winning candidates will have delegates sent to the national convention as their party’s U.S. presidential nominee. =Vorwahl

Caucus
(= party within a party, e.g. black caucus)

A meeting of the local members of a political party to select delegates to the national party convention. A caucus is a substitute for a primary election.

Delegate
(= one of the electoral votes)

A person authorized to represent others as an elected representative to a political party conference.

political party

politische Partei

national convention

(= nomination of official candidates)

A convention of a political party usually composed of delegates chosen by state primaries or conventions and meeting primarily to nominate candidates for (vice-)president

running mate (= vice presidential candidate)

Vizepräsidentschaftskandidat
“to be on someone’s ticket”
(e.g. Harris on Biden’s ticket)

to be inaugurated

in das Amt eingeführt werden

Inauguration

Amtseinführung

safe states

where nothing that any candidate does is going to change the outcome; those states get completely ignored

battle ground states / swing states

where a candidate can move enough votes to switch all of the electors from that state from one part to the other – candidates focus all of their attention on the interests of voters in those states; 80% of Americans DO NOT live there