1. Name the two candidates who have announced their bid for the Democratic presidential primary.

2. List the other probable candidates for the Democratic presidential primary who have not yet announced they are running.

3. Where will the first four of the six Democratic presidential debates take place? Why were these locations chosen?

4. a) Who will set the requirements for candidates to be permitted to participate in the debates?
b) For what reason might an eligible candidate be barred from participating in a debate?
c) Do you think this is a valid rule? Explain your answer.

5. From paragraph 8: “The question is, what threshold will candidates need to reach in order to participate. In the past, candidates often would have to be polling above a certain level in either statewide or national surveys to get a spot onstage.”
What criteria do you think a candidate should meet to be permitted to participate in the debates? Should anyone who wants to be able to run? Explain your answer.

6. a) How did Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton respond to the debate announcement from the DNC?
b) Should all candidates for the primaries be required to participate in all of the debates scheduled? Explain your answer.
c) Hillary Clinton has had a long history in politics. She has been a Senator from New York, the U.S. Secretary of State, as well as first lady of the U.S. and of Arkansas when her husband was governor there. Mrs. Clinton is viewed by many as the likely nominee. Ask a parent: what do you think? Will Hillary be the Democratic candidate? Should she be? Discuss your answers.

OPTIONAL: The Democratic (and Republican) debates will begin almost a year before the candidate is chosen by their party at the convention. When do you think potential candidates should begin campaigning for the 2016 presidential election? When should the national parties begin holding debates? Is the end of this summer too soon? too late? at just the right time? Explain your answer.
Ask a parent the same question.

CHALLENGE: Visit the campaign websites and YouTube pages for candidates running for office in the Democratic and Republican primaries to hear where they stand on the issues.
(To find the candidates’ pages, search for: “‘name of candidate‘ youtube page”)

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS:
List 3 issues you believe are important to consider in this election.
1. What does each candidate say he/she would do to address each issue? (What are each’s solutions?)
2. What actions have each taken (legislation) to support or undermine his/her position on each issue?

Consider this: Some people vote for a candidate based on the person’s age, sex, race or religion. Some vote for a candidate because he/she is an interesting or dynamic speaker, is attractive, or looks like a leader. Before you are eligible to vote, decide that you will vote for a candidate based on his/her positions on the issues.