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WorksheetsWhat is the President?
Total questions: 75
Worksheet time: 38mins
Who is the Head of State of Ireland? Fill in the blank: The President of Ireland is the Head of State (the “top representative”) but not the one who makes all the laws.
The President of Ireland
The Prime Minister of Ireland
The Speaker of the Dáil
The Chief Justice of Ireland
What are the main roles of the President of Ireland? Fill in the blank: The President has mainly _______ roles: representing Ireland abroad, signing bills into law, greeting foreign leaders.
Ceremonial and symbolic
Executive and legislative
Judicial and administrative
Military and economic
The President of Ireland can refuse to sign a bill and ask the Supreme Court whether it’s constitutional (i.e. allowed by the Constitution).
True
False
How long does the President of Ireland serve per term? Fill in the blank: The President serves ___ years per term, and can serve a maximum of two terms.
7
4
5
6
Where does the President of Ireland live? Fill in the blank: The President lives in ___
Áras an Uachtaráin in Phoenix Park, Dublin
Leinster House, Dublin
Buckingham Palace, London
The White House, Washington D.C.
Who was the first President of Ireland in 1938?
Mary Robinson
Douglas Hyde
Michael D. Higgins
Mary McAleese
Who was the first female President of Ireland in 1990?
Mary McAleese
Mary Robinson
Douglas Hyde
Michael D. Higgins
Who was the second female President of Ireland, elected in 1997?
Mary Robinson
Mary McAleese
Douglas Hyde
Michael D. Higgins
Who is the current President of Ireland, re-elected in 2018 and finishing his time in office in 2025?
Douglas Hyde
Mary Robinson
Michael D. Higgins
Mary McAleese
Fill in the blank: The 10th President of Ireland will be chosen in the ______ election.
2025
2023
2027
2029
When did Michael Higgins become president?
2005
2011
2018
2020
What are the names of Michael Higgins' two dogs?
Bród and Misneach
Oscar and Max
Finn and Charlie
Rex and Toby
Michael Higgins often speaks about caring for the environment, social justice, and _______.
culture
technology
finance
sports
Which of the following is NOT an interest of Michael Higgins?
Art
Poetry
Equality
Cooking
Human rights
Michael Higgins represents the country to the world.
True
False
Where does Michael Higgins plan to move back with his wife once the new President is elected?
Galway
Dublin
Cork
Limerick
When is voting day?
Friday, 24 October 2025
Monday, 20 October 2025
Saturday, 25 October 2025
Thursday, 23 October 2025
Who can vote?
All Irish citizens who are 18 years or older and who are on the electoral register.
Only Irish citizens over 21 years old.
Only residents of Ireland regardless of citizenship.
Only people who own property in Ireland.
How do candidates get on the ballot?
A candidate must be a citizen of Ireland, be at least 35 years old, and be nominated by either 20 members of the Oireachtas or by 4 county/city councils.
A candidate must be born in Dublin and nominated by the President.
A candidate must be at least 21 years old and nominated by 10 members of the Oireachtas.
A candidate must be a resident of Ireland for 10 years and nominated by 2 county councils.
What voting method is described in the image?
First-past-the-post
Instant runoff / Single Transferable Vote
Proportional representation
Plurality voting
In the described voting method, what happens if no candidate gets over 50% of first-preference votes?
The candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes get transferred to voters’ next preference.
A new election is held with all the same candidates.
The candidate with the most votes automatically wins.
All candidates are eliminated and voting starts over.
In the Instant runoff / Single Transferable Vote method, voters rank candidates in order of preference.
True
False
What is one rule about campaign spending mentioned in the image?
There is a spending limit for how much each candidate can spend campaigning.
Candidates are not allowed to use any personal funds for campaigning.
All campaign spending must be done in cash only.
Candidates must spend the same amount of money on each event.
Candidates receive reimbursement for costs if they get a certain share of the vote.
True
False
Who is the Independent candidate backed by left/green parties?
Catherine Connolly
Jim Gavin
Heather Humphreys
Fill in the blank: Catherine Connolly has been involved in ______ and social issues.
public
economic
medical
environmental
Fill in the blank: Catherine Connolly emphasizes issues like ______ change and housing in her campaign focus.
climate
policy
economic
technological
Which candidate is from Fianna Fáil?
Catherine Connolly
Jim Gavin
Heather Humphreys
Jim Gavin is well known for his sporting background as the former manager of the ______ Gaelic football team.
Dublin
Kerry
Mayo
Cork
Fill in the blank: Jim Gavin argues he can be a '______' president, bring people together, and represent Ireland abroad.
unifying
controversial
divisive
silent
Which candidate is a member of Fine Gael?
Catherine Connolly
Jim Gavin
Heather Humphreys
Heather Humphreys is a long-time politician, a TD for ______-Monaghan, and has held ministerial roles.
Cavan
Louth
Galway
Kerry
Fill in the blank: Heather Humphreys says she will represent all citizens, focus on culture, diplomacy, and ______.
unity
finance
technology
sports
Why is the 2025 election notable according to the passage?
Because it is the first election since 1990
Because only three candidates made it to the ballot — the smallest number in a presidential election since 1990
Because Maria Steen won the election
Because Conor McGregor ran for president
Fill in the blank: Some people tried to run (e.g. Maria Steen), but failed to get enough _________.
nominations
votes
supporters
signatures
Conor McGregor considered entering the 2025 presidential election but withdrew.
True
False
Why did Jim Gavin resign from the race?
Because a journalist found out about the unpaid rent money and revealed it.
Because he was offered a better job elsewhere.
Because he was not feeling well.
Because he wanted to spend more time with his family.
On what date did Jim Gavin resign from the race?
1st of October
5th of October
10th of October
15th of October
Read the passage below and answer the question: Jim Gavin forgot to pay back some extra rent money — but didn’t say anything about it at first. Then a journalist found out and spilled the beans! He then resigned from the race on the 5th of October. However, because it was after the deadline, his name will still appear on the ballot paper. This just shows that being honest isn’t only important during elections, it’s super important all the time if you want people to trust you.
True
False
Why is honesty important according to the passage?
Because it helps people trust you, not just during elections but all the time.
Because it makes you popular among your friends.
Because it guarantees you will win every election.
Because it allows you to avoid all responsibilities.
Why is the President considered a symbol of Ireland’s values?
Unity, fairness, representation
Wealth and power
Military strength
Economic growth
What does the election show in action?
Democracy
Monarchy
Dictatorship
Anarchy
Fill in the blank: Even though the President does not run the government, he or she signs laws, can refer laws to the Supreme Court, and has influence through speeches, moral leadership, and represents Ireland _______.
abroad
locally
privately
secretly
Which important issues can the election help highlight?
Climate
Equality
Housing
Sports
What is civic engagement about according to the passage?
Getting people, especially young people, to care about democracy
Increasing taxes
Building new schools
Traveling abroad
The main role of the President of Ireland is:
To act as the head of state
To lead the government
To make laws
To manage the economy
One presidential term in Ireland lasts for how many years?
4 years
5 years
6 years
7 years
The maximum number of terms a President can serve is:
Two
One
Three
Four
The name of the President’s official residence is:
The White House
The Capitol
The Pentagon
The Supreme Court
The current President of Ireland in 2025 is:
Michael D. Higgins
Mary McAleese
Bertie Ahern
Enda Kenny
Select the correct names of Michael D. Higgins’ famous dogs.
Bród and Síoda
Max and Bella
Oscar and Daisy
Finn and Molly
The 2025 presidential election is taking place on which date?
November 4, 2025
October 14, 2025
December 2, 2025
September 30, 2025
The minimum age required to vote in a presidential election in Ireland is:
16 years
18 years
21 years
20 years
The voting method used to elect the President is called:
First-past-the-post
Proportional representation
Electoral College
Single transferable vote
One of the three confirmed candidates in the 2025 election is:
John Smith
Emily Carter
Michael Brown
Sarah Lee
One thing a presidential candidate must do to get on the ballot is:
Collect signatures from voters
Win a televised debate
Serve in Congress
Be endorsed by a former president
The President is important for Ireland, even though they don’t make laws, because:
they represent the country and uphold the Constitution.
they decide the country's laws.
they run the government day-to-day.
they control the courts.
What is the main role of the President of Ireland?
To represent Ireland and carry out ceremonial and symbolic duties.
To make laws for the country.
To manage the country's finances.
To lead the government as Prime Minister.
How long is the term of the President of Ireland?
7 years
4 years
5 years
10 years
How many terms can the President of Ireland serve?
Two terms
One term
Three terms
Unlimited terms
What is the official residence of the President of Ireland?
Áras an Uachtaráin
Leinster House
Dáil Éireann
Bunratty Castle
Who is the current President of Ireland?
Michael D. Higgins
Enda Kenny
Mary McAleese
Bertie Ahern
What are the names of the President's dogs?
Bród and Misneach
Max and Bella
Charlie and Luna
Oscar and Daisy
When is the next Irish presidential election?
24th October 2025
15th March 2026
10th November 2024
5th May 2025
What is the minimum age to become President of Ireland?
18 years old
21 years old
25 years old
35 years old
What voting system is used in Irish presidential elections?
Preferential voting / Instant runoff / Single Transferable Vote
First-past-the-post
Proportional representation by party list
Borda count
Name one person who can officiate the inauguration of the President of Ireland.
Catherine Connolly
Jim Gavin
Heather Humphreys
Leo Varadkar
How can a candidate be nominated for the Irish presidency?
Be nominated by 20 Oireachtas members OR 4 local councils
Be nominated by the Prime Minister alone
Be nominated by any Irish citizen
Be nominated by a majority of the Supreme Court judges
List one way the President of Ireland represents the people.
The President represents the people, signs laws, speaks on important issues, and shows Ireland’s values.
The President manages the country’s finances and sets tax rates.
The President leads the police force and enforces laws directly.
The President appoints all teachers and decides school curriculums.
Which of the following is a possible Halloween-themed candidate you could create for the 'Meet the Candidates' activity?
A friendly vampire
A summer beachgoer
A famous astronaut
A winter snowman
Which method allows you to rank candidates in order of preference for the Halloween activity?
Rank Your Votes
Pick a Name from a Hat
Vote by Applause
Assign Random Numbers
Preferential voting in this activity involves eliminating the lowest candidate and transferring votes to find a winner. What does this process describe?
A system where the lowest candidate is eliminated and votes are transferred until a winner is found.
A process where only the first-choice votes are counted to determine the winner.
A method where all candidates are given equal votes regardless of preference.
A system where the candidate with the most first-choice votes wins immediately.
Which of the following is NOT a required element when inventing your own Halloween-themed candidate?
Favorite Halloween candy
Name
Costume
Slogan and promises
What is the main purpose of designing a campaign poster for your Halloween candidate?
To promote your candidate in a fun and creative way
To criticize other candidates
To create a scary story
To collect signatures for a petition
Presenting your candidate to the class involves:
Introducing their background and qualities.
Ignoring their achievements.
Focusing only on their weaknesses.
Not preparing any information.
