Introduction to Political Parties

Unit 6- Evaluating Parties and Candidates

Lesson 1

Political Parties

• A political party is group of citizens or voters with similar views on public issues who 1) work together to put their ideas into action in the government, and 2) work together to elect candidates.

• To know where a party stands on the major issues, the voters can look at the party’s platform. A platform is a written statement of the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on issues.

Major Political Parties - two party system

• Democratic Party

• Republican Party

The Democratic Party

• Major political party, leans "left" on the political spectrum, considered more "liberal"

• Increase funding for social programs (education, healthcare, environment)

• To increase funding you must INCREASE TAXES

• Responsibility of government - government support

The Republican Party

• Major political party, leans more "right" on the political spectrum, and considered more "conservative"

• Increase in military spending

• Reduce government involvement in business regulations

• Responsibility of government - limited government interference

Multiple Choice

Read the tweets and decide which political party these voters are most likely to support?

• Republican party

• Democratic party

• Libertarian party

• Green Party

Multiple Choice

One Democratic Party core belief is _____________________.

• destroy the environment

• help the environment

• no taxes

• not funding social programs

Multiple Choice

One Republican Party core belief is _____________________.

• more taxes

• increase taxes

• less taxes

• no taxes

Multiple Choice

Which spending increase would the Republican Party most likely support?

• Miliatary

• Education

• Healthcare

• Environmental

Multiple Choice

Based on the table, which would voter 1 want the government to do?

• Lower taxes to encourage businesses to run health care.

• Raise taxes in order to increase the amount of oil produced.

• Lower taxes in order to encourage businesses to fund education.

• Raise taxes to create government programs to protect the environment.

Multiple Choice

America has  a ___________ _______________ political system. 

• three party
• one party
• two party
• four party

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

Multiple Choice

In the modern political system, which issue represents a basic disagreement between Republican and Democratic parties?

• the responsibilities of the government

• the supremacy of the U.S. Constitution

• the number of justices on the Supreme Court

• the U.S. being a member of the United Nations

Third Parties

• Third parties are political parties that often form on the basis of one or a few issues

• Do not have the same level of support as the major parties

• Often do not win major elections (e.g. presidential elections)

• Sometimes have their platforms adopted by major parties (they introduce new ideas to major parties)

Libertarian Party

A third party that believes the only purpose of the federal government is to protect

freedom; this party believes in individual freedom.

Socialist Party

A third party that believes people should own and control all businesses through

democratically controlled public agencies (these are agencies

that are created based on the people’s choice/election) or

other groups.

Communist Party

A third party that believes the federal government should control all production and supply of goods. The workers should control their own lives and destinies.

Multiple Choice

What do Third Parties do?

• Introduce new laws
• Introduce new ideas
• They get ignored
• They provide funding 

Multiple Choice

Which political party believes that the government’s only role is to protect individual rights?

• Socialist party

• Republican party

• Democratic party

• Libertarian party

Evaluating Candidates

Students will be able to analyze and/or evaluate the qualifications of candidates for public office based on their experience, platforms, debates and political advertisements.

What should be considered when choosing a candidate?

• Experience- has this person been elected before? Do they have a special background that might help them with the job?

What else should be considered?

• The candidate's platform-the set of ideas and beliefs that a candidate has on certain issues. These ideas might include education, religion, health care, government spending, taxes, and foreign policy.

What should a voter do before voting? Become informed!

• Watch a political debate

• Consider political advertisements in magazines and newspapers, and on television, radio, and websites. 

Watch out for bias!

• Candidates use these advertisements to appeal to voters and to say why they are the best choice.

• Sometimes candidates use negative advertisements to make their opponents look bad.  

Propaganda

• Propaganda is similar to bias and symbolism in that they are all used to persuade. Propaganda relies on appealing to the viewer’s emotion rather than reason to communicate or believe something in a certain way. Propaganda can include the use of symbols, a poster, or a TV commercial.

Multiple Choice

What would be the desired outcome of this propaganda poster?

• a decrease in the manufacturing of weapons

• an increase in the manufacturing of weapons

• a decrease in people enlisting in the United States armed forces

• an increase in people enlisting in the United States armed forces

Multiple Choice

Following World War II, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, leader of the US and Allied military effort, was elected president, despite having little political experience.

Why may have voters considered Eisenhower to be qualified for president?

• Voters favored his military leadership to be a strong qualification.

• Voters favored his knowledge of the law and how he would apply it fairly.

• Voters favored his lack of political experience which would make him less corrupt.

• Voters favored his business experience in hopes it would strengthen the economy.

Multiple Choice

According to the information on the posters, which individual would most likely vote for Aleski Alho?

• A voter concerned with women’s rights

• A voter concerned with an increase in military spending

• A voter concerned with the decline in successful businesses

• A voter concerned about protecting the rights of the accused

Multiple Choice

A national newspaper endorsed Senator Karishma as a presidential candidate.

Why might the newspaper endorse Senator Karishma?

• Senator Karishma owns a beet farm.

• Senator Karishma is an experienced teacher.

• Senator Karishma owns the local radio station.

• Senator Karishma has prior political experience.