Hook

Yossi - Imagine you lived in North Korea and you couldn’t vote for who was the 

leader of your country.  

Zoe: That would be crazy! And what about the fact that if you were to need to 

have a trial you wouldn’t be able to have the fair trial you wish to have.  

Yossi: Also, there would be unfair rules about the government and who could be 

apart of it. 

Intro

Zoe: Now that we have these thoughts to think about, hello! I am Zoe 

Yossi: and I am Yossi. 

Zoe: In our video today, we will be talking about the American principles of 

trials, voting, and holding office. We have a lot to talk about, so let’s jump right 

into it. 

Trials

Yossi: There are a few main topics we would like to talk to you about today 

relating to trials in America. There is the Grand Jury, the Trial Jury, and we will 

also talk about when you have a judge versus a 12 person jury. 

Zoe: Wait, so what is a grand jury? 

Yossi: Well, a Grand Jury is where a policeman would go if they have some 

situational evidence on a possible criminal. The Grand Jury would tell them 

whether or not they could convict the criminal. 

Zoe: Oh. That makes sense. So what’s the Trial Jury? 

Yossi: Good question Zoe. A Trial Jury is used to decide whether or not a person 

would be convicted of a crime or civil wrongdoing. 

Zoe: So if I was a policewomen, and I had some evidence that you had committed 

a crime, I would go to the Grand Jury to see if you could be convicted? 

Yossi: Yep, but hopefully I wouldn’t have committed a crime. 

Zoe: And then once I was able to convict you, I would go to a Trial Jury to find out 

what your punishment would be? 

Yossi: Yep, but let’s just not imagine that. 

Zoe: So when would there be a judge versus a 12 person jury? 

Yossi: Well, it depends on how major of a crime it is. For smaller crimes, such as 

shoplifting, there would most likely only be a judge who decides the punishment 

or fine, whereas for a bigger crime, such as murder, there would probably be a 

jury of 12 people. 

Zoe: Wait, then why is there still a judge in this case? 

Yossi: Oh, they are just there to keep control. 

Zoe: Oh okay. So who are these 12 people? 

Yossi: They are supposed to be a jury of your peers. 

Zoe: Oh, so would there be like a bunch of 20 year old female Jews if that’s what I 

was? 

Yossi: No, it is not a literal peer, but a peer in the sense that they are a similar 

demographic to you, such as somebody else who lives in California and has had 

similar life experiences to you. 

 

Voting

Zoe: When it comes to Voting there are many different parts to it, starting with 

the Civil Rights Voting Laws and Amendments, which are the laws that allow 

people to vote.  

Yossi: Wait so from the very beginning anyone could vote? 

Zoe: Actually Yossi, women only gained the right to vote in the early 1900’s, 

thanks to the 19th amendment. Another example is that in the 1800’s Congress 

passed the 15th Amendment which allowed African American men to vote. 

Moving on.. After someone is allowed to vote there are general laws and 

amendments that help make sure the people get to keep their rights. 

Yossi: Wait, so what happens if I speak hungarian but I am still a citizen of 

America? 

Zoe: Well, a crucial part of that would be that no matter what skin color or 

language a person speaks, if the are registered to vote, the people at the voting 

booths must help the person vote.  

Yossi: Can I vote? 

Zoe: Actually you can’t because the 26th amendment says that a person has to be 

18 to vote, so NO!! Lastly a huge part of voting is gerrymandering. 

Yossi: Gerry what?!?!?! 

Zoe: Gerrymandering!! 

Yossi: Which is… 

Zoe: Gerrymandering is when one party manipulates the other party by dividing 

the area where the other party lives to only make certain citizens vote. Also by 

doing that, the party is trying to gain an advantage so their ideas are used. This is 

no longer legal. 

Holding Office

Yossi: There are many rules for becoming a person in government in America. 

Zoe: Wait, so could I run for President? 

Yossi: No Zoe. You would have to be at least 35 years old. You have to be born in 

America, so you’re good on that part of it. Also, you have to have been living in 

America for at least the past 14 years. 

Zoe: Wait, what does that mean? 

Yossi: Well, that means that even if you were born in America and are older than 

35, if you had been living in Paris for the past year, and then had come back to 

America, you could not run for president, but you would have to wait 14 more 

years. All of these rules are the same for a vice president. 

Zoe: Well, what about a senator? 

Yossi: Well, you have to be at least 30, have had nine years of citizenship in 

America, and you have to be living in the state that you are running for in. 

Zoe: So if I was an immigrant, I could run for senator? 

Yossi: Yep. 

Zoe: Wait, so how about the house of representatives? 

Yossi: Well, they have to be at least 25, have had citizenship for at least seven 

years, and they also have to be living in the state that they are elected in. 

Zoe: Wow, so awesome! 

Summary

Yossi: With all this new information, let’s sum it up. 

Zoe: So, let’s start from the beginning. 

Yossi: A Grand Jury is for a policeman who wants to convict somebody of 

something that they have evidence for, and the Grand Jury tells them whether or 

not they can do so. 

Zoe: When somebody has already been convicted, a Trial Jury decides what their 

punishment will be. 

Yossi: Also, a 12 person jury is used for bigger crimes, and one judge is for 

smaller crimes. 

Zoe: Now onto voting, remember how there are certain laws and amendments 

that both help someone be able to vote and laws and amendments that keep 

people able to vote. 

Yossi: And don’t forget about how gerrymandering is where one party splits up 

voting areas for their advantage. 

Zoe: For holding office, there are various age rules and citizenship rules. 

Yossi: Also, where you were born, and where you are currently living both affect 

whether or not you can take the position of a senator, house of representative, or 

president. 
Zoe: Thanks for listening to our video! 

Yossi: Hit that red button just below, and help us gain some more subscribers! 

Zoe: That’s all for now! We’ll see you next time on YZ network.   
 Hook
Yossi - Imagine you lived in North Korea and you couldn’t vote for who was
the leader of your country.
Zoe: That would be crazy! And what about the fact that if you were to need
to have a trial you wouldn’t be able to have the fair trial you wish to have.
Yossi: Also, there would be unfair rules about the government and who could
be apart of it.

Intro
Zoe: Now that we have these thoughts to think about, hello! I am Zoe
Yossi: and I am Yossi.
Zoe: In our video today, we will be talking about the American principles of
trials, voting, and holding office. We have a lot to talk about, so let’s jump
right into it.
 Trials
Yossi: There are a few main topics we would like to talk to you about today
relating to trials in America. There is the Grand Jury, the Trial Jury, and we will
also talk about when you have a judge versus a 12 person jury.
Zoe: Wait, so what is a grand jury?
Yossi: Well, a Grand Jury is where a policeman would go if they have some
situational evidence on a possible criminal. The Grand Jury would tell them
whether or not they could convict the criminal.
Zoe: Oh. That makes sense. So what’s the Trial Jury?
Yossi: Good question Zoe. A Trial Jury is used to decide whether or not a person
would be convicted of a crime or civil wrongdoing.
Zoe: So if I was a policewomen, and I had some evidence that you had committed
a crime, I would go to the Grand Jury to see if you could be convicted?
Yossi: Yep, but hopefully I wouldn’t have committed a crime.
Zoe: And then once I was able to convict you, I would go to a Trial Jury to find out
what your punishment would be?
Yossi: Yep, but let’s just not imagine that.
Zoe: So when would there be a judge versus a 12 person jury?
Yossi: Well, it depends on how major of a crime it is. For smaller crimes, such as
shoplifting, there would most likely only be a judge who decides the punishment or
fine, whereas for a bigger crime, such as murder, there would probably be a jury of
12 people.
Zoe: Wait, then why is there still a judge in this case?
Yossi: Oh, they are just there to keep control.
Zoe: Oh okay. So who are these 12 people?
Yossi: They are supposed to be a jury of your peers.
Zoe: Oh, so would there be like a bunch of 20 year old female Jews if that’s what I
was?
Yossi: No, it is not a literal peer, but a peer in the sense that they are a similar
demographic to you, such as somebody else who lives in California and has had
similar life experiences to you.
 Voting
Zoe: When it comes to Voting there are many different parts to it, starting
with the Civil Rights Voting Laws and Amendments, which are the laws that
allow people to vote.
Yossi: Wait so from the very beginning anyone could vote?
Zoe: Actually Yossi, women only gained the right to vote in the early 1900’s,
thanks to the 19th amendment. Another example is that in the 1800’s
Congress passed the 15th Amendment which allowed African American men
to vote. Moving on.. After someone is allowed to vote there are general laws
and amendments that help make sure the people get to keep their rights.
Yossi: Wait, so what happens if I speak hungarian but I am still a citizen of
America?
Zoe: Well, a crucial part of that would be that no matter what skin color or
language a person speaks, if the are registered to vote, the people at the
voting booths must help the person vote.
Yossi: Can I vote?
Zoe: Actually you can’t because the 26th amendment says that a person has
to be 18 to vote, so NO!! Lastly a huge part of voting is gerrymandering.
Yossi: Gerry what?!?!?!
Zoe: Gerrymandering!!
Yossi: Which is…
Zoe: Gerrymandering is when one party manipulates the other party by
dividing the area where the other party lives to only make certain citizens
vote. Also by doing that, the party is trying to gain an advantage so their
ideas are used. This is no longer legal.
 Holding Office
Yossi: There are many rules for becoming a person in government in
America.
Zoe: Wait, so could I run for President?
Yossi: No Zoe. You would have to be at least 35 years old. You have to be
born in America, so you’re good on that part of it. Also, you have to have
been living in America for at least the past 14 years.
Zoe: Wait, what does that mean?
Yossi: Well, that means that even if you were born in America and are older
than 35, if you had been living in Paris for the past year, and then had come
back to America, you could not run for president, but you would have to wait
14 more years. All of these rules are the same for a vice president.
Zoe: Well, what about a senator?
Yossi: Well, you have to be at least 30, have had nine years of citizenship in
America, and you have to be living in the state that you are running for in.
Zoe: So if I was an immigrant, I could run for senator?
Yossi: Yep.
Zoe: Wait, so how about the house of representatives?
Yossi: Well, they have to be at least 25, have had citizenship for at least
seven years, and they also have to be living in the state that they are elected
in.
Zoe: Wow, so awesome!
 Summary
Yossi: With all this new information, let’s sum it up.
Zoe: So, let’s start from the beginning.
Yossi: A Grand Jury is for a policeman who wants to convict somebody of
something that they have evidence for, and the Grand Jury tells them whether
or not they can do so.
Zoe: When somebody has already been convicted, a Trial Jury decides what
their punishment will be.
Yossi: Also, a 12 person jury is used for bigger crimes, and one judge is for
smaller crimes.
Zoe: Now onto voting, remember how there are certain laws and amendments
that both help someone be able to vote and laws and amendments that keep
people able to vote.
Yossi: And don’t forget about how gerrymandering is where one party splits
up voting areas for their advantage.
Zoe: For holding office, there are various age rules and citizenship rules.
Yossi: Also, where you were born, and where you are currently living both
affect whether or not you can take the position of a senator, house of
representative, or president.
Zoe: Thanks for listening to our video!
Yossi: Hit that red button just below, and help us gain some more
subscribers!
Zoe: That’s all for now! We’ll see you next time on YZ network.