Narrator it is Early Morning of the first tuesday in november. This is an american city, a city that is not very large, not very rich, not very old. It is situated in the western part of the United States, in california. Its name is riverton. The woman in the car is mrs. Dawson, one of rivertons 15,000 residents. She is principal of Public School number two, but today there will be no classes held here, for this is election day. This classroom is one of the 130,000 places the country over in which american citizens are going to cast votes today. This is the table where the voters names will be checked. The locked ballot box and the polling booth. Here it is, in the privacy of this curtained space that americans vote every four years on the first tuesday after the first monday in november, to choose the national government. Here come mrs. Dawsons colleagues on the election secondf rivertons precinct, each representing one of the Major Political parties. Mr. Schwartz, a republican, works for the streetcar company. His wife is a democrat. They have known each other for years. First, they remove the last traces of their campaign activities, their party buttons. Then, they take the oath. Theou swear to defend constitution of the United States of america, to the best of your ability, so help you god . I do. I do. Narrator this makes them responsible for seeing that voting here today takes place according to the laws of the land. And now, the polls are open. Here comes the first voter. No wonder he is first, he has been up since 4 00 delivering milk. Good morning, everybody. You are the very first one. Right on the dot. Always like to get the republicans a temporary lead. [laughter] narrator that is as far as we can go. Remember, this is a secret vote. No one ever sees another person mark his ballot. However, if we did have miraculous powers, if we were able just this once to follow bill johnson, this is what we would see. He votes first for the chief executives, the president and Vice President of the United States. Next, he votes for a senator from his state, then a representative from his district. This man is casting his vote for a government of his own choosing under the constitution of the United States. This is the way it is set up. There are three branches of the United States government. The executive branch, or president , the legislative branch, or congress, and the judicial branch, the Supreme Court. The duties of each branch are established in the constitution. Lets see how they work. The president is the executive head of the nation. He initiates all important policies such as treaties with other governments and the conduct of national affairs. He is the commanderinchief of the army and the navy, an important consideration in a wartime election. The Vice President is the president s legal successor. The president keeps him informed on matters of state and policy. The Vice President by custom sits as a member of the president s cabinet. The cabinet members are the heads of the executive departments of the government, such as the state department, war department, treasury department, department of the interior, labor, commerce and so on. The cabinet advises the president on matters of policy. The powers of the president and his helpers are limited, for this is a government not of men, but of laws, based upon the constitution. Congress makes the laws. It is a parliament which, unlike many democratic parliaments, has no direct connection with the executive branch. This branch of government is made up of two houses, the senate and the house of representatives. A law may originate in either house, but must be approved by both of them. When a bill is passed by both houses, it is sent to the president. If the president also approves the bill, he signs it. It then becomes law. The president may veto a bill passed by the congress, but congress may still, by a two thirds majority, make the bill law. Although the chief responsibility of congress is that of making laws, certain other responsibilities are delegated to the two houses. In the senate, or upper house, as it is called, each of the 48 states of the nation is represented by two elected members, making a total membership of 96. Small states and large have equal representation in the senate. The senate has two important functions aside from lawmaking duties. To pass on important president ial appointments and to approve or reject all treaties with other nations initiated by the president. When a treaty is under consideration, the members of the senate express their opinions, either of approval or of disapproval, and then a vote is taken. If two thirds of the Senate Approves of a treaty, it is in effect. In the house of representatives, or lower house, each of the 48 states is represented in proportion to its population. The more populous states have a greater number of members in the house of representatives. All measures dealing with the appropriation of money for the nations use originated and are controlled by the lower house. The money appropriated is turned over to the president for expenditures, and the president , with the aid of the cabinet, spends the money in a manner decided upon by the congress, whether it be for purposes of of. E or war. Although the congress of the United States makes the laws, its powers are also limited by the constitution. As a check on both executive and legislative branches of the government, there is a third branch, the judicial. The Supreme Court, whose members are appointed for life by the president. The Supreme Court protects the constitution by violation from congressional laws or executive orders. The three branches, executive, legislative and judicial, each with some power, none with all the power, check and balance each other in the manner intended by the framers of the constitution, so that the ultimate power rests always in the hands of the voter, bill johnson. Having voted for the federal government, he must also choose a governor for his state, members of the state assembly, county judges, all the minor offices and various legislative amendments. When bill johnson is finished, he has elected an entire government from top to bottom, that is, if the majority of the voters think the way he does about it. It is not only here in riverton where voting is heavy today. All over the country, people are conscious of the momentous issues facing their nation and the world. This is their way of expressing their conviction of how and by whom these issues should be met. The two major president ial candidates, both like all the other citizens, one in new york city describes himself as a lawyer. The other, up in the country where he lives gives his , occupation as farmer. For those who cannot come to the polls, an absentee ballot is provided and the voting is supervised by the local notary. This is the same kind of ballot that in this wartime election is sent to members of the armed forces at home and abroad. These ballots are returned to be counted in their respective states. Here in riverton, the line grows longer. The citizens are following the constitutional provision. Elections are held on schedule, rain or shine, panic or prosperity, peace or war. That was part of yesterdays history lesson. When mrs. Dawson reminded her pupils of the election in 1864, with the nation in the throes of civil war, Abraham Lincoln was opposed in a Bitter Campaign by one of his own generals. The people chose to reelect mr. Lincoln. In 1916, during the first world war, an election was held. And now again, in 1944. Early in the summer, nominating conventions are held. At these traditionally noisy political jamborees, the chosen delegates of each major party meet to select a candidate for the presidency and the vice presidency of the United States. Now, the candidates have been chosen. And the campaign is on, from president to local sheriff. For three months through the , late summer and fall, wherever people come together, issues and demand are discussed and argued about. Some feel this isnt altogether a good thing, that a lot of time and energy are wasted this way. It may be, but that is the way americans like to do it. They like to give everybody the right to speak that is interested enough to do it. Even the small fry. Every attempt is made by all parties to influence the peoples thinking. All over the country, week after week, 140 million citizens take part in the great debate. Business, professional and civic groups endorse one candidate or the other. For the first time in american history, organized labor takes an active part in the campaign. Radio plays a greater role than ever. Time on the air is paid for by all parties and distributed evenly among them, giving the party in office no advantage s opponent. It is estimated that in the last days of the 1944 campaign, 50 million americans heard speeches from the various candidates. Now, all that is over, the heat and excitement. The votes are cast. Americans have agreed to accept the will of the majority, whatever it may be. Apparently, even the Younger Generation has declared peace. Now, the election board begins its last duty, the counting of the votes. The figures are checked and double checked. Then, they are telephoned to headquarters. Hello . This is mrs. Dawson, seventh precinct, ready to report. Narrator from coasttocoast, city byby precinct city, state by state, the results are reported. All over america tonight, the people are waiting to learn whom they have chosen to govern them for the next four years. Towards midnight, the final results are announced. A nation of 140 million has elected a government. Naat
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