Congress Certifies Trump’s Election 4 Years After Capitol Riot
Ask students: When must certification of presidential elections take place? Why does Congress need to certify the results of presidential elections?
Congress formally certified the reelection of former President Donald Trump on Monday. It was a routine procedural moment, a striking contrast to the violent insurrection of Jan. 6 four years ago.
View the transcript of the story.
Key Terms
certification - a formal procedure to document an official act, such as the election of a president
Discussion Questions
- When must certification of presidential elections take place?
- Why does Congress need to certify the results of presidential elections?
- Who had the Constitutional authority to preside over (that is, control the ceremony) of certification?
- How did the certification in January 2024 differ from the certification in January 2020?
- What promise has President-elect Donald Trump made about individuals convicted of crimes for actions at the Capitol in January 2020?
Focus Questions
What effect do you think pardoning those convicted of crimes for Jan. 6 will have on how U.S. citizens view elections in the future?
Media literacy: Why do you think the producers of this segment focused on the normal procedure of certification in 2024 more than the events of Jan. 6 2020?
Extension Activity
Four years later, how do you remember Jan. 6, 2020? Do you think your feelings about the day are the same now as when it happened?
Watch the following video and discuss with friends, family or classmates — how do you think public attitudes towards Jan. 6 have shifted in the past four years? What do you think has caused the change?
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of NewsHour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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