Political Parties

Political Parties

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What is a political party?

excerpt from iCivics​

Multiple Choice

A political party is a group of _______________________________________________.

• who share the similar beliefs about government.
• who share the similar beliefs about the president.
• who share the similar beliefs about congress.
• who share the similar beliefs about the judicial branch

Political Parties in the United States

• Many are allowed (multi-pary) but two dominate

• Republican Party and Democratic Party

• Independents do not identify totally with either party

Put on the spectrum...​

• The government should take strong action to solve society’s problems—

• The government should not get involved in solving society’s problems—

• The government should leave people and businesses alone to do what they want to do—

• Offer tax breaks to people and businesses who do good things or stop doing harmful or unfair things—

• Pass laws to keep people and business from doing harmful or unfair things

• The government should regulate people and businesses to promote the common good on all issues—

• Pay for government-run programs to help people

Characteristics of Third Parties

• Not always on the ballot (paper that lists candidates running for office)

• States can make rules that make it difficult to get your name on the ballot

• Libertarian Party is third party on 30 state ballots

Multiple Select

Based on the quote, decide how each voter is probably registered.

"I am committed to my political party"

• Independent

• Third Party

• Republican/Democrat

Multiple Select

Based on the quote, decide how each voter is probably registered.

Supporting a party I truly believe in is more important than seeing my candidates win elections

• Independent

• Third Party

• Republican/Democrat

Multiple Select

Based on the quote, decide how each voter is probably registered.

I don't agree with either the Republicans or Democrats all the time, so I don't want to commit to either one.

• Independent

• Third Party

• Republican/Democrat

Multiple Select

Based on the quote, decide how each voter is probably registered.

I don't fully agree with my party's platform, but I want to support a party that has power and influence.

• Independent

• Third Party

• Republican/Democrat

How do you choose a party?

• Each party lists its ideas on how government should handle certain issues (platform)

• Republican and Democratic platforms are similar... Why?

Multiple Select

Which of the following quotes is from the Democratic Party's platform?

• "We will abolish the death penalty, which has proven to be a cruel and unusual form of punishment" p. 16

• "The constitutionality of the death penalty firmly settled by its explicit mention in the Fifth Amendment" p. 40

Multiple Select

“Simplifying our tax code will help the middle class because it will make it easier for small businesses to hire and grow....we should lower our corporate tax rate...so that companies will start bringing their money and their jobs back here from overseas.”

Senator Marco Rubio 2013

Which political party reflects the ideas in the quote?

• Democratic Part

• Republican Party

Multiple Select

Which of the following quotes is from the Republican Party's platform?

• "Traditional marriage and family, based on marriage between one man and one woman, is the foundation for a free society..." (p. 11)

• "[We] applaud last year's decision by the Supreme Court that recognized that LGBT people..have the right to marry..." (p. 19)

Multiple Select

Which of the following quotes is from the Democratic Party's platform?

• "We support a progressive vision of religious freedom that respects pluralism and rejects the misuse of religion to discriminate" ( p. 19)

• "[We] affirm the rights of religious students to engage in voluntary prayer at public school events" (p. 12)

What role of political parties is being described?

• Create Balance

What role of political parties is being described?

• Nominate candidates

What role of political parties is being described?

• Inform citizens

What role of political parties is being described?

• Influence policy

Multiple Select

Party leaders meet with a senator who is not supporting the party’s platform on environmental issues.

• support candidates

• influence laws and policy

• inform voters

Multiple Select

A political party pays for a series of televised attack ads against a candidate from the other party

• influence voters

• create balance

• unite levels of government

Multiple Select

A state governor meets with a city mayor and state senator from the same party to discuss the governor’s policy on education.

• unite levels of government

• support candidates

• inform voters

Multiple Select

A party’s state office runs a phone bank before the election to call party supporters and remind them to support the party’s candidates

• support candidates and inform voters

• create balance

• unite levels of government

Multiple Select

A group of legislators from the minority and majority parties meet to discuss a compromise after a failed vote on a bill.

• influence voters

• create balance

• support candidates

Multiple Select

A party's state office ask party members to write their legislators and ask them to vote "no" on a state tax bill.

• Influence laws and policy

• unite government

• create balance