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Welcome to the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election section. This section is a resource for learning about the U.S. election process and current candidates.

Don't forget to register to vote!

Meet the Presidential Candidates
	Barack Obama--the 2008 Democratic Party Nominee. Obama is also the first African American to be a major party's presumptive nominee for President of the United States. He is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Obama worked as a community organizer and practiced as a civil rights attorney before serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in November of 2004.
	John McCain--the 2008 Republican Party Nominee. McCain graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958 and became a naval aviator. He nearly lost his life in the Vietnam War, when he was captured from 1967-1973. He retired from the Navy as a captain in 1981 and, moving to Arizona, entered politics.

Meet the Vice-Presidential Candidates
	Joe Biden--the 2008 Democratic Party Vice-Presidential Nominee. On August 22, 2008, Barack Obama's presidential campaign announced that Biden would be Obama's running mate for the 2008 US Presidential election. He is the senior Senator from Delaware. According to the Obama campaign, "Joe Biden has fought every day over the course of his life in public service to improve the lives of middle class families."
	Sarah Palin--the 2008 Republican Party Vice-Presidential Nominee. On August 29, 2008, in Dayton, Ohio, Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, announced that he had chosen Palin as his running mate. She is the governor of Alaska. Palin has described the Republican party platform as "the right agenda for America," adding "individual freedom and independence is extremely important to me and that's why I'm a Republican."

More Resources

This brochure was developed by Elizabeth Stanton at the U.S. Embassy Singapore and is an excellent resource for teachers or others who want to know more about the elections!

An e-Publication from the State Department entitled "Elections in Brief."

Visit news sites for more information on several topics:

America.gov: U.S. Elections The U.S. government's site for election coverage and information. Features webchats, political blogs, and online articles.

Visit CNN Politics for updated polls and a "political ticker" blog.

MSNBC's Political News "Decision 08 Dashboard"

The Charters of Freedom
See awesome images and learn about the Declaration of Independance, the Constitution, and other important documents in American History!!

Patriotic Melodies
Patriotic Melodies is part of the Performing Arts Encyclopedia Web site which was released by the Library of Congress in December of 2003. The site presents the history behind the songs and offers free sheet music for the artistically inclined. A great resource for teachers, students, and a unique look at American History!

Library of Congress
One of the most comprehensive sites on the web for American history and actually, almost anything you want to learn about. They hold massive online archives of exhibits, maps, prints, photographs, sound recordings, motion pictures, and primary and secondary documents. There is also a teacher's page with links to a learning page, performing arts encyclopedia, and more!

U.S. Government e-Publications

EducationUSA - A great online resource for information on studying at a US College or University

Study in the USA - Request information from and search for US English as a second language programs

USNEI Information forInternational Students - A comprehensive list of online resources from the U.S. Department of Education

Student Aid on the Web - The U.S. Department of Education's site for free information on preparing for and funding education beyond high school

U.S. Visas - Information on U.S. student visas

The Japan U.S. Educational Commission (English) - JUSEC 's Educational Information Service (EIS) provides support staff for the scholarship programs and responds to inquiries from Japanese and Americans about study and research opportunities in both countries

The Japan U.S. Educational Commission (Japanese) - JUSEC 's Educational Information Service (EIS) provides support staff for the scholarship programs and responds to inquiries from Japanese and Americans about study and research opportunities in both countries

The State Department's Students Abroad Page - A useful resource for students traveling abroad

Already Studied in the United States? The Embassy would like to help Japanese and Japan-based graduates, former students, and prospective students of U.S. educational institutions network to share information and experiences, by posting on our website a list of U.S. alumni/ae clubs or associations in Japan. If your U.S. alma mater has an alumni/ae group in Japan, please let us know by clicking here. If you are interested in studying in the United States in the future, we have a wealth of information on our "Study in the USA" page.

Voting Abroad - All American citizens living abroad are reminded that 2008 is a general and presidential election year in the United States. Deadlines for Registration and Absentee Ballot Requests are rapidly approaching. Don't miss your chance to vote!!

ACS Newsletter - Sign up for the American Citizen Service's free monthly email newsletter. You will receive by email public announcements on safety and security issues in Japan and news from the embassy!

Check out these and other American Citizen Services (ACS) at the ACS website. It is the guide to the Embassy's services for Americans living in and traveling to Japan and includes information on everything from passports to depositions!

Welcome to our currently featured state section! We will periodically feature a state here for educational and travel information. The currently featured state is Washington. Washington is located in the Northwest of the U.S. and is famous for it's variety of landscapes and urban life. The state capitol is Seattle, a coastal city with a vibrant downtown and waterfront. For information in Japanese, click on any of the pictures to go to tabifan's Seattle, Washington site. We also recommend Junglecity's Japanese language site for reviews and recommendations of upcoming events, cafes, and stores in Seattle.