iCivics Political Parties

Open Ended

Why do you think political parties play an important role in a democracy like the United States?

Open Ended

What are the two major political parties in the United States?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes a political party?

• A group of people who share similar political views and work to influence the government

• A group of people who organize parties with ice cream and cake

• A group of people who only vote in local elections

• A group of people who avoid discussing government issues

Multiple Choice

Which of the following are symbols for the two major political parties in the United States?

• Donkey and Elephant

• Lion and Tiger

• Bear and Eagle

• Horse and Mule

Fill in the Blank

According to the text, about ___% of Americans identify as politically independent.

Multiple Choice

The United States has a two-party system.

• True

• False

Open Ended

What challenges do third parties face in gaining ballot access in the United States?

Open Ended

Why do you think states have rules about ballot access? Can you think of any ways in which these rules might be unfair?

Multiple Choice

Which document describes a political party's views on major issues facing the nation?

• Platform

• Constitution

• Manifesto

• Bill

Multiple Select

What are some ways political parties support their candidates during an election season? Select all that apply.

• Raising money

• Educating voters

• Urging people to vote

• Ignoring candidates

Fill in the Blank

Political parties work at all levels of government—national, state, and local. Fill in the blank: Political parties work at the ___, state, and local levels of government.

Open Ended

Explain the difference between a majority party and a minority party in the U.S. Congress or state legislatures.

Multiple Choice

In the U.S. Congress and most state legislatures, Republicans and Democrats are split into a majority party and a minority party. Is this statement true or false?

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

How does the political party affiliation of a president or governor influence the development of public policy?

• It has no influence on public policy.

• It usually aligns with the party's platform and goals.

• It only influences foreign policy.

• It prevents the president or governor from vetoing laws.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements about joining a political party is correct?

• You must join a political party to vote.

• Joining a political party is required to participate in all elections.

• You can vote for anyone you want even if you join a political party.

• You cannot participate in primary elections if you are not a party member.

Open Ended

Explain why it is important to consider information from sources other than political parties when learning about candidates and issues.

Open Ended

What are some advantages and disadvantages to joining a political party?

Fill in the Blank

A set of statements describing a party’s views on major issues is called a ___.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following are correct definitions for the terms 'Majority Party' and 'Public Policy'?

• Majority Party: Political party with the most elected members; Public Policy: The stand the government takes about how issues should be handled.

• Majority Party: A political party other than Republican or Democratic; Public Policy: Allowing a political party to put a candidate on the ballot.

• Majority Party: A person running for political office; Public Policy: A candidate whose name a voter must hand-write on the ballot.

• Majority Party: Set of statements describing a party’s views on major issues; Public Policy: A person’s ideas about how government should run.

Multiple Choice

Which voter statement best reflects the perspective of a Third Party supporter?

• I am committed to my political party.

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

• Seeing my party candidates win elections is less important than supporting a party I truly believe in.

Multiple Choice

Based on the statements provided, which voter would most likely identify as an Independent?

• I am committed to my political party.

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

• Seeing my party candidates win elections is less important than supporting a party I truly believe in.

Open Ended

How do the statements from the voters in both images reflect the challenges and motivations for supporting third parties in the U.S. political system?

Open Ended

After learning about political parties, what is one question you still have or something you would like to know more about?