Lights, camera, action! Since media exposure is essential to the success of a politician’s campaign, today’s presidential hopefuls know this phrase all too well. Not only does the publicity allow them to present their stance on issues to a large amount of potential supporters simultaneously, it helps voters identify and distinguish them from their competitors. In the seventh episode of On the Campaign Trail, “Lights, Camera, Action!,” Bill Nigut explains the role the media plays during elections and how this year’s presidential hopefuls are using social media more than ever before. He even provides a brief history lesson about the first televised debate and how it influenced voters.

This episode is aligned to SSCG8 of the Georgia Performance Standards for American Government and Civics. Use our discussion questions to help facilitate meaningful conversations with your students, and check out the chart below to review any missed episodes.

Episode Description Resources GPS
Episode 1: That's Debatable Explains the importance of debates in the political process, their overall structure and how this debate differs from those students will watch during the general election.   Debate Watch Guide
  Debate the Winner
  Debate Discussion		 SSCG7
Episode 2: My Government, My Vote, My Voice Discusses the topic of democracy and provides insight on the difference between representative and parliamentary democracies and their overall contrast to autocracies and oligarchies.

 Discussion Questions
 Guided Notes
 Graphic Organizer

 SSCG19
Episode 3: Do You Qualify Discusses the constitutional and unwritten qualifications for becoming president.  Discussion Questions
 Campaign Activity
 Qualifying People		 SSCG13
Mini Episode: Campaign Update Students will find out where candidates from both political parties stand in national polls and how Iowa’s February 1st caucus and New Hampshire’s mid-February primary may impact those presidential nominees. Discussion Questions SSCG8
Episode 4: Role Call: The Seven Roles of the President Students learn about the seven main roles of our president and the responsibilities attached to each one.

Discussion Questions
Activity Scenarios Graphic Organizer

 SSCG12
Episode 5: Narrowing the Field Host Bill Nigut underscores the purpose of primaries and caucuses, gives details on Georgia’s open primary, and discusses why the state has chosen to participate in the SEC primary. Discussion Questions Hold Your Own Primary
Journey to the White House		 SSCG8
Episode 6: Party Over Here, Party Over There Provides a breakdown of political parties, the different types of party systems, and the overall ideological differences between Democrats and Republicans.

Discussion Questions Party Over Here Activity
Party Over Here Task

 SSCG8
Mini Episode: Campaign Update Campaign Update Inform students about what’s going on in the 2016 presidential election before Super Tuesday with this quick mini episode of On the Campaign Trail with Bill Nigut. Discussion Questions SSCG8