Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2024 i Cobblestone American History and Current Events for Kids and Children

Have you ever read the U.S. Constitution? If so, you probably found its description of the executive branch of the federal government surprising. Just two members—the president and the vice president—are named. And although the Constitution states some of the basic requirements for who can become president, it describes the job in pretty general terms: The president must swear an oath to “faithfully execute the office.” There’s even less information about the role of the vice president. And there’s no specific mention of the numerous advisors today, whose jobs are to help the president gather information and make informed decisions. The Framers of the Constitution would be quite surprised at the size of the executive branch today. It has experienced some dramatic changes over the past 235 years. With the…

It’s a quiet night in the White House, and the empty Oval Office is lit by moonlight. Somewhere a clock chimes midnight. Slowly, ghostly shapes materialize in the room. One tall figure, dressed in Colonial clothing and with familiar white hair, seats himself behind the president’s desk. George Washington: Gentlemen, make yourselves known. We have work to accomplish tonight. Andrew Jackson (yawning): I hope you have good reason for summoning us. As a man of the people, I keep farmers’ hours, not gentlemen’s. Thomas Jefferson: Nonsense! A gentleman is still a farmer and must tend to his plantation. Now, what brings us here, President Washington? Washington: As you know, it is a presidential election year. It is our responsibility to guide anyone who will sit at this desk. Theodore Roosevelt: So,…

It is rare for both houses of Congress to meet together, but every January, senators and representatives gather together in the House Chamber to listen to the president’s State of the Union speech. The president uses this annual address to describe the condition of the country. The speech outlines the most serious issues facing the nation and proposes legislation. Over time, it has become a way for the president to report to the American people. Also in the audience are the U.S. Supreme Court justices, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (the president’s military advisory board), and the members of the president’s Cabinet. Traditionally, one Cabinet member does not attend. That person goes to an unspecified location to keep the line of presidential succession intact in the event that an unexpected…

Sure, the chief executive is the top banana, but the president doesn’t run the country alone. From policy advisors to White House chefs, literally thousands of people work for the president, both in the executive offices and in the residence. There are also many individuals who assist the president but who don’t get paid, such as volunteers, interns, and of course, the president’s spouse. Here’s a look at how an incredible variety of people help get those many jobs done. The president isn’t expected to be an expert on all things, but he or she is responsible for everything from the nation’s agriculture to its urban development. To help set national policy, the president creates a Cabinet of high-level decision-makers. The Cabinet department heads, called secretaries, are usually the president’s…

Is the White House an office, a museum, or a home? The staff and the past residents of this historic building would tell you that it is all three things, and they remember it as a busy and exciting place to live. During all presidential administrations except George Washington’s, the White House has been the center of activity for the president. In the rooms and offices inside the whitewashed exterior, presidents have completed their day-to-day duties, met with foreign dignitaries, signed bills into law, and negotiated historic treaties. Each president has used the White House as an office in his own way. Because Thomas Jefferson spent the majority of his time in his office, it was the best-furnished set of rooms during the home’s early period. Jefferson was known for…

Public service has been a big part of Jimmy Carter’s life. After serving in the U.S. Navy, this Plains, Georgia, native and his wife, Rosalynn, ran a seed-and-farm supply company. Carter served first as a state senator in the mid-1960s and then won election and served as governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975. As the 39th U.S. president (1977–1981), he had a long list of significant accomplishments. In America, he envisioned a comprehensive energy program. He called for new education programs and new environmental protection laws. Carter’s leadership extended to foreign policy, too. Perhaps his most famous effort was orchestrating a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel and opening U.S. diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. He has long been a champion of human rights around the…

Can you solve this crossword puzzle about the office of the U.S. presidency? All the answers can be found in this issue. The solution is on page 49. ACROSS 1. The chief _____ makes sure the White House residence runs smoothly. 4. To help run today’s large federal government, the president relies on 15 _____ members as advisors. 5. The president’s office is located in the White House’s _____ _____. 8. Today, the National Archives oversees more than a dozen presidential _____ and museums, which preserve and exhibit material related to U.S. presidents. 9. In addition to being the place where the president lives and works, the White House also is a _____ that is open to the public. DOWN 2. One…

“I’m Running for President!” Long before an election, many people announce that they will run for president of the United States. Of course, each of these candidates wants to win, but only one person can be president. Candidates know that to win, they need to get as many people as possible to vote for them. So, they spend time traveling around the country and talking with people. Wherever they go, they tell people what they believe is important and what they will do for the country if they are elected. This is called campaigning. Running for president is expensive, so candidates ask people to give money to help their campaign. And it’s a lot of work, so candidates also ask for help getting their message out to other people. Preparing…

Life in the White House is special. Although the White House serves as an office, a museum, and a public building, it is still the home of the president’s family. Moving into the White House is a monumental process. It also takes place in a short amount of time on Inauguration Day—January 20. As soon as the outgoing president and first spouse say their goodbyes to White House workers and leave for the inauguration ceremonies, the staff is called to action. They quickly pack up and move personal items belonging to the outgoing president to a new location. They then bring in personal furniture, clothes, and pictures for the new president and their family. Under the watchful eye of the chief usher, workers scramble to move furniture, paint walls, hang…

Can you figure out which president matches which fun fact? Answers are on page 49. 1. This man was the first and only bachelor president. 2. This president was the first to be born an American, not a British, subject. 3. He was the first president to wear a beard while in office. 4. These three presidents died on July 4—two in 1826 and one in 1831. 5. This president was the first to use electricity in the White House. 6. He was the first president to fly in an airplane and to travel outside the country while in office. 7. He was the first president born in a hospital. 8. He was the only president who was an Eagle Scout. 9. His presidential face was the first to appear…

The U.S. presidency is an interesting position. The office is designed to work in a system that shares power among the three branches of the federal government. And every four years, there is the potential for a new leader to be elected. The office combines incredible power with a respect for historic traditions. Let’s take a look… LIMITING THE POWER While hammering out the U.S. Constitution, the Founding Fathers did not want any one part of the government to have unlimited power. So, they designed a system of checks and balances. They created three branches—an executive (president and vice president), a legislative (Congress), and a judicial (Supreme Court)—to make up the government that guides the United States. These branches function separately. There are times when they work together and times…

You know,” President Harry S. Truman once said, “I wear a lot of hats.” Truman meant that the U.S. president has multiple jobs. Performing them is a giant juggling act. Here’s a look at the different jobs that one president must fill, with examples of how different presidents have successfully managed them. CHIEF EXECUTIVE. Article II of the U.S. Constitution instructs that the president must “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” To do that, the president sets priorities and makes decisions. The president issues executive orders and makes appointments. And the president heads a huge bureaucracy. Back in 1789, the executive branch had just four departments: State (foreign affairs), War (national defense), Treasury (money matters), and Attorney General (legal matters). Today, approximately 4.1 million people work in 15…

Can you match the president below with the currency on which his likeness appears? In some cases, a president has both a coin and a bill associated with him. (This does not include the presidential dollar campaign—begun in 2007—that is releasing a dollar coin with a new president’s likeness every three months until all deceased presidents are represented.) Answers are on page 49. You may notice that the 10-dollar bill and the 100-dollar bill are not included here. Can you guess why? These two bills feature the faces of Founding Fathers who did not serve as president: Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin, respectively. Franklin D. Roosevelt Abraham Lincoln George Washington Ulysses S. Grant John F. Kennedy Dwight D. Eisenhower Thomas Jefferson Andrew Jackson PennyNickelDimeQuarterHalf-dollar coinDollar coin*One-dollar billTwo-dollar billFive-dollar bill20-dollar bill50-dollar…

More than half of the countries around the world today support a democratic government. But other forms of governments exist, too. Take a look. A monarchy is a “government ruled by a person (a monarch) who usually inherits the role and reigns for life.” The word derives through the Greek word monarkhos: mono, meaning “one” or “single,” and arkhein, meaning “to rule.” A democracy is a “government by the people exercised either directly or through elected representatives.” It comes from the Greek demokratia. In Greek, demos means “people” and kratia means “power” or “strength.” The English suffix cracy has evolved to mean “government” or “rule.” A parliamentary government is a “government in which a national representative body has legislative powers over the state.” In this type of government, the executive…