U.S. Elections 2012
President Obama's Victory Speech
The U.S. President Barack Obama
[...] Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward.
It moves forward because of you. It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression, the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope, the belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are an American family, and we rise or fall together as one nation and as one people.
(read the article) ---- (leggi l'articolo in italiano)
Governor Mitt Romney's Concession Speech
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I have just called President Obama to congratulate him on his victory. His supporters and his campaign also deserve congratulations.
His supporters and his campaign also deserve congratulations. I wish all of them well, but particularly the president, the first lady and their daughters.
Intervento dell'Ambasciatore David Thorne durante la serata delle Elezioni USA
The U.S. Ambassador David H. Thorne
Roma, 6 novembre 2012
Hotel Excelsior
[...] Il processo elettorale
assume a volte toni stravaganti, ma è un momento chiave in cui i
cittadini esercitano un grande atto di democrazia esprimendo il loro
voto. Poche occasioni nella vita americana sollevano più entusiasmo,
passione e polemiche di un’elezione presidenziale.
(leggi l'articolo)
Resources on U.S. Elections
Free and fair elections are the keystone of any democracy. They are essential for the peaceful transfer of power.
When voters elect representatives, they elect the leaders who will shape the future of their society. This is why elections empower ordinary citizens: They allow them to influence the future policies of their government, and thus, their own future.
The United States has been a representative democracy since the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788 — although the electoral tradition began during the colonial era and had its roots in British history. This book discusses the nature of the modern American electoral process and how it works at the federal, state, and local levels. The process, complicated and sometimes confusing, has evolved to ensure universal suffrage to all men and women who are U.S. citizens 18 years of age or older.
- USA Elections in Brief (.pdf file 3.8Mb)
- Elections and Voting
- Presidential Elections in the U.S. (.pdf file 290Kb)
- Presidential Nominating Process
- Campaign Finance
- Debates
- Voting
Candidates requirements
Each federal elected office has different requirements, laid out in Articles I and II of the U.S. Constitution. A candidate for president, for example, must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years. A vice president must meet the same qualifications. Under the 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the vice president cannot be from the same state as the president.
Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been U.S. citizens for seven years, and be legal residents of the state they seek to represent in Congress. U.S. Senate candidates must be at least 30, have been a U.S. citizen for nine years, and be legal residents of the state they wish to represent. Those seeking state or local office must meet requirements established by those jurisdictions.
The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1951, prohibits anyone from being elected president of the United States more than twice. However, the Constitution does not impose any term limits on representatives and senators in Congress, although various political groups over the years have lobbied for such limits. The term limits, if any, applied to state and local officials are spelled out in state constitutions and local ordinances.
Media on U.S. Elections
The Washington Post - Campaign 2012
CNN - Election Center
The Hill - Campaign 2012
L'Ambasciatore David H. Thorne su LaStampa.it
L'Ambasciatore americano David H. Thorne parla delle elezioni USA sul blog de LaStampa
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