American Presidency Series
Join the Free Library for a series of compelling provocative programs that examine the untold stories of, unconventional approaches to, and contemporary concerns about the world's most difficult job. The 2016 American Presidency Series will blend education and entertainment for the whole family, offering lectures and analysis about the presidency and leadership along with enriching programs for children in our neighborhood libraries.
Guides
Links
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2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia
Philadelphia will be on center stage this July as it plays host to the 2016 DNC from July 25–28. Stay informed, find fast facts about our city, volunteer, and much more through the city's site all about the event. -
Ballotpedia
Ballotpedia is an online encyclopedia covering elections at the federal, state, local, and territorial levels of government. It contains neutral, accurate, and verifiable information on government officials and the offices they hold, political issues, and public policy. -
Commission on Presidential Debates
"The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) was established in 1987 to ensure that debates, as a permanent part of every general election, provide the best possible information to viewers and listeners." Look for a link to Debate History for facts about historical presidential debates. -
Committee of Seventy
Philadelphia is home to an amazing resource for voters, those interested in the political scene, and anyone with a question: the Committee of Seventy. The Committee is the city's only independent "good government" organization, with a vision of "better government citizens can trust." Visit their site to brush up on the latest issues, figure out how to plan your candidacy for office, or to find your polling place. They also have maps and lists of all the local elected officials. -
Crowdpac
Wondering where the candidates stand on issues that are important to you? Not sure whom to choose? Check out Crowdpac. This handy site helps you learn the ins and outs of all the candidates’ views and even allows you to build your own ballot in advance of the election. Crowdpac is a non-partisan group working to “make it easier for citizens to learn about politicians, and to find and support political candidates that match their priorities and beliefs.” -
FactCheck.org
FactCheck.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania dedicated to monitoring the factual accuracy of statements made by major U.S. political figures and helping voters make informed decisions. -
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is the independent regulatory agency charged with administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law. This site includes data on campaign contributions to candidates, along with maps that show where contributions originated. -
League of Women Voters of Philadelphia
The League of Women Voters of Philadelphia provides a one-stop portal for non-partisan information on voting, election information, civic education, and civic participation. -
Surviving Thanksgiving
Dreading the post-election Thanksgiving dinner table conversation this year? Here are some survival tips. Good Luck! -
The American Presidency Project
A very complete electronic source of everything you ever wanted to know about the Presidency from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Includes audio and video clips back to the Hoover Administration, Executive Orders and Proclamations, Transcripts of Debates back to 1960, and much more. -
The Electoral College
The Electoral College was established by the founding fathers as a compromise between election of the president by Congress and election by popular vote. The people of the United States vote for the electors who then vote for the President. -
The History of Televised Presidential Debates
Essays, interviews, and guides to the role of debates in presidential races, including video of debates since 1960. -
The Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials from 1952 - 2008
Fascinating look at the presidential campaign commercials of yesteryear. -
The Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials from 1952 - 2012
Fascinating look at the presidential campaign commercials of yesteryear. -
The Rendell Center
The Rendell Center is a civic engagement and education nonprofit offering "opportunities for educators and students to develop the knowledge, practices, and dispositions of engaged citizenship." It trains teachers and students by building curriculum, creating pedagogical tools, and offering engaging programming all in the name of increased literacy of citizenship and civics. -
U.S. Elections and Politics
The United States presidential election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2016. The Pennsylvania primary is Tuesday, April 26, 2016. How do you register to vote? Where do you go to vote? Who is running for office and what are the policies they stand for? Follow the link to our series of pages on U.S. Elections and Political resources. -
Vote Smart
Vote Smart allows voters to scrutinize candidates voting records, issue positions, interest group ratings, public statements, campaign finances, and biographical information.
American Presidency by explore
The 2016 American Presidency Series will blend education and entertainment for the whole family, offering lectures and analysis about the presidency and leadership along with enriching programs for children in our neighborhood libraries. Check out these supplemental reading suggestions, recommended by our expert librarians!
Presidents of the United States by explore
Under the United States Constitution, the President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States. As chief of the executive branch and face of the federal government as a whole, the presidency is the highest political office in the United States by influence and recognition.
U.S. Elections and Politics (25 items)
This list offers a comprehensive exploration of the intricate world of American elections and politics. Covering a wide range of topics, from historical perspectives to contemporary issues, these titles provide valuable insights into the complex web of the U.S. political system.
Electronic Resources
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Gale OneFile | High School Edition (formerly InfoTrac Student Edition) *
Content for high school students from magazines, journals, newspapers, reference books, and rich media (images, audio, video) covering a range of subjects, from science, history, and literature to political science, sports, and environmental studies.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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NewsBank Hot Topics
Trending news and topics for your next assignment! Covers current events, business & economics, civics, government, & politics, social issues, science, technology & health, sports, arts & literature, and people in the news. *Chrome browser not supported.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Upcoming Events
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James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations… more details
Tue, January 7, 2025 4:30 PM
Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library
125 South 52nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139-3408
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James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations… more details
Tue, January 14, 2025 4:30 PM
Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library
125 South 52nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139-3408
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Author Talk: Ken Kalfus
Join us in conversation with local author and journalist Ken Kalfus. Three of his books have been named New York… more details
Sat, January 18, 2025 3:00 PM
Falls of Schuylkill Library
3501 Midvale Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19129-1633
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James Baldwin Reading Group
"The People of Philadelphia Read James Baldwin" is a citywide series of book clubs at several locations… more details
Tue, January 21, 2025 4:30 PM
Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library
125 South 52nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139-3408
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Blog Posts
30 Libraries Will Serve As Polling Places for the November 5, 2024 Election
General Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024 , and 30 of our neighborhood libraries will serve as designated voting locations. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Remember: anyone in line by 8:00 p.m. can…
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A Smithsonian Curator on the Lead-Up to the U.S. Civil War
On Thursday, October 10 , in the Fourth Floor Skyline Room at Parkway Central Library , the Social Science and History Department will host Jon Grinspan , curator of political history at the Smithsonian Institution’s National…
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Freed Between the Lines: It's Banned Books Week!
September 22–28 is Banned Books Week 2024, and this year's theme is "Freed Between the Lines." This important observance began in 1982 in response to a surge in book challenges in libraries,…
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Get Involved at the 2024 Philly Civics Fair
In light of the upcoming United States Presidential Election and to conclude the "Power Up!” series , the Free Library of Philadelphia will present the 2024 Philly Civics Fair and Speakers Panel at Parkway Central…
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Power Up! for Civic Awareness with the Free Library
September is Civic Awareness Month — a time to engage with our community, learn more about our civic responsibilities, and participate in initiatives that make a difference. In honor of this month, the Free Library of…
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Your Vote, Your Voice at the Free Library
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the United States has an upcoming election . Have you ever wondered how the election system works here in Philadelphia? You can learn about it at one of three upcoming programs…
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Book Release and Author Visit: Jennifer C. Berkshire and The Education Wars
School may be out, but the future of public education is still in session. Pennsylvania courts recently deemed the state’s underfunding of public schools unconstitutional . The State House is poised to consider an education…
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Don't Forget to Register to Vote by Monday, October 23
Did you know that Pennsylvania makes it easy for you to register to vote? You can find voter registration forms at public libraries, state park offices, state-run Veterans Homes, and many other places. This is part of a big effort to…
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Let Freedom Read: It's Banned Books Week!
October 1–7 is Banned Books Week , and this year's theme is " Let Freedom Read! " This important observance began in 1982 in response to a surge in book challenges in libraries, schools, and bookstores with the…
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Let's Talk: Philly D.A.
Philadelphians, we need to talk! Join your neighbors at eight Free Library of Philadelphia libraries between May 23 and June 30th, to watch and discuss individual episodes of the award winning PBS documentary series Philly D.A. . We…
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Frenemies: The Strange Friendship of JFK and Richard Nixon
The 1960 presidential campaign was close, hard-fought, and left both sides feeling embittered. Kennedy’s final margin of victory was less than 115,000 votes out of nearly 70 million cast. Nixon was convinced that the Kennedy…
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Trust No One: Joe McCarthy and the Politics of Fear
Lies. Alternative facts. Demonize and Destroy Your Opponents. Does this sound familiar? Former Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (R-Wisconsin) has been dead for 63 years, but the political tools and techniques that he pioneered are as fresh as…
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Voting by Mail? Avoid "Naked Ballots"!
Updated Tuesday, October 20, 2020 12:15 p.m. Spanish and Chinese translations have been added to this blog post. In the real world, small technical details count for a lot. How many checks were never cashed because the person who wrote…
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Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote Exhibition Opens Fall 2020
As we find ourselves weeks away from Election Day, consider this question: Who was the first person in your family to vote? The stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights is…
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Defying Putin: The Dangers and Opportunities in Opposing Russia’s President
Bad things happen to people that Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, dislikes. Currently, Aleksi Navalny, the most important leader of Russia’s opposition, lies in a German hospital bed struggling to recover from a cup of…
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The Picture of Health: The Strange Case of John F. Kennedy
During the critical first presidential debate in 1960, the difference in the physical appearance of the two candidates could not have been sharper. Vice President Richard Nixon looked like a man who belonged in a hospital. The…
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A Dying Man Runs for President
If ever a man simply wore himself out while serving his country, Franklin D. Roosevelt is his name. First elected during the depths of the Great Depression in 1932, he was still on the job twelve years later in the midst of World War…
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President Eisenhower, Senator McCarthy, and "The Junketeering Gumshoes"
During the years that Dwight Eisenhower served as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, he had to contend with some of the most demanding and difficult personalities on two continents. The shortlist included Franklin D. Roosevelt ,…
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Race in the United States: Social Justice Virtual Workshops for Teens
Updated Friday, July 10, 2020 4:59 p.m. "The Social Justice Symposium Teen Planning Committee supports the Concerned Black Workers of the Free Library of Philadelphia ! CBWFLP Response to DEI/Board of Trustees' letter We are…
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"I Voted" Stickers from Our Special Collections
It's Primary Election Day in Philadelphia! If you've signed up in Pennsylvania to vote by mail , you should have already received your ballot with its easy-to-follow instructions, enclosure envelope, and mailing envelope. The…