We’re back with the eighth episode of On the Campaign Trail with Bill Nigut, and it’s sure to catch you and your students up on everything that has happened in the 2016 presidential race since the onset of summer vacation!

“Conventions and Candidates” provides brief overviews of the Democratic and Republican national conventions that occurred in July and the individual that emerged as each party’s presidential nominee. Students will also learn about the history of party conventions, how they have changed over time, and the definition of a party platform.

Lastly, did your students know there are two additional presidential candidates? If not, they will hear about the Libertarian and Green Party presidential nominees and what it will take for them to participate in the first presidential debate on September 26.

“Conventions and Candidates” is aligned to SSCG15 of the Georgia Standards of Excellence for American Government and Civics. Use our discussion questions to help facilitate meaningful conversations with your students, and distribute this Debate Watch Guide to students interested in observing the first presidential debate on September 26.

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		 SSCG15
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

 SSCG1
Episode 3: Do You Qualify Discusses the constitutional and unwritten qualifications for becoming president.  Discussion Questions
 Campaign Activity
 Qualifying People		 SSCG10
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 SSCG15
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

 SSCG10
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		 SSCG15
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

 SSCG15
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 SSCG15
Episode 7: 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.

 Discussion Questions SSCG15
Episode 8: Conventions and Candidates  

Provides brief overviews of the Democratic and Republican national conventions that occurred in July and the individual that emerged as each party’s presidential nominee. Students will also learn about the history of party conventions, how they have changed over time, and the definition of a party platform.

Discussion Questions  Debate Watch Guide

 SSCG15