The White House

2

Washington

Washington District of Columbia

Capital city of the United States

Became the capital on June 11, 1800

Located between the states

of Virginia and Maryland

Georges Washington

(1732-1799)

1rst President of the United States

1789-1797

1

2

3

Separate powers

23

THREE BRANCHES = THREE SEPARATE POWERS

LEGISLATIVE EXECUTIVE JUDICIAL

CHECKS AND BALANCES

1

4

The Congress

• Passes federal laws

and controls the budget

• Controls the executive

• Can impeach the President

• The House of Representatives

represents the interests

of the individuals

• The Senate represents

the interest of the state 1

The CAPITOL

Bicameral system = Two houses

The House of Representatives + The Senate

1

5

The Supreme Court

1

The judicial branch

The pediment

• Checks federal and state laws

• Rules on disputes between states

• May interpret treaties signed by

the President

The Chief Justice is the highest judicial officer

in the country

The Columns

6

The White House

The President :

• Head of state

and head of the executive

• Commander in chief

of the armed forces

• Makes treaties with other countries

• Appoints ambassadors

Supreme Court judges

and Secretaries of State

• Administers U.S laws

The executive branch

•The US system is called a “presidential

system”

•The president has a stronger role than in

most democracies

1

Chateau de Rastignac

(Dordogne-France)

Portico

7

History of the White House

3

1

2

War of 1812:conflict between the

United States and the British empire

In august 1814 the British burn WashingtonDC

George Washington’s

presidential residence in

Philadelphia

The South Portico of the White

House

8

Let’s visit

The South Lawn

where ceremonies for visiting heads of state take place

West Wing East Wing

Pennsylvania Avenue

9

How is the President elected ?

Primary election

delegates of political parties vote for

a candidate’s nomination (the « nominee »)

The ticket

the nominee and his running mate run together

as candidates for President and Vice-President

The « winner-take-all » system

The ticket which receives the largest number of votes

In a state gets all the electors of the state

1

The electoral college

in each of the 50 states the voters choose « electors »

who promise to vote for one of the tickets

10

Election

President and Vice President elected for 4 years

The president can be elected

for a second term but not for a third

The election takes place on

the Tuesday following the first Monday

in November

The inauguration of the President

takes place in January

The Seal

Olive branch The shield 13 arrows

Clouds

11

Official Life

2

1

President Barack Obama confers with

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in

the Oval Office

State dining room

Receptions / formal dinners with

heads of states

3

Attends ceremonies

Delivers speeches

Meets the staff

Signs acts and bills

Travels

12

Family life

2

1

Private dining room

Cosy

Comfortable

Luxurious

President John Kennedy with family and pets

Fireplace

Picture

Armchair Deckchair

Mantelpiece

13

Mister Presidents

In January 2009, President of the United States of America, George W. Bush

invited then President-Elect Barack Obama and former Presidents George H.W.

Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter for a Meeting and Lunch at The White

House. Photo taken in the Oval Office at The White House.

2. What year was the White House set on fire by the British?

a: 1814 - b: 1914 - c: 1944

14

WHITE HOUSE QUIZ

1. How many rooms are there in the White House?

a: 54 - b :108 - c : 132 - d : 166

3. What is the name of the president’s office?

a: the round office - b: the square office - c:the oval office

4. Which first lady has a garden named after her?

a: Eleanor.Roosevelt - b: Jacky.Kennedy - c: Barbara.Bush

5.Which of these facilities is not available at the W.H.?

a: swimming-pool - b :bowling-lane - c: ice-skating rink

6. Which of the following presidents never lived at the W.H?

a: G.Washington - b: A.Lincoln - c: G.Bush

1. 132

2- 1814

3. Oval Office

4- J.Kennedy

5. Ice-skating rink

6. G.Washington