Notebook Check Quiz

After WSMS, you will have a notebook check quiz, so make sure you have everything organized.

Notebook Check Quiz

Once you have finished the notebook check quiz, please work on the pre-test for the next unit.

Pre-test will be #1 in your notebook.

NEW UNIT

Elections & Political Parties

Unit Topics

Today: Political PartiesTomorrow: Campaign financingBias in campaigns & the mediaVoter qualificationsElectoral College

Test around next Wednesday

UNIT 4: ELECTIONS & POLITICAL PARTIES

Political Parties

ARE POLITICAL PARTIES MORE HELPFUL OR HURTFUL TO THE AMERICAN

POLITICAL SYSTEM? EXPLAIN YOUR POSITION.

Take-Home Point

Today’s Agenda

Notebook quiz checkPre-testIntroduction to unit & lessonPolitical parties

Activity & quiz Vocabulary Lecture + notes

Take-home point

Question:

If you were to register for a political party today, which one would you pick? Democrat Republican Independent Third Party (Green, Libertarian, other)

What are some of the reasons for your choice?

POLITICAL ISSUES SPECTRUM

Extremely Liberal

Liberal

Moderate

Conservative

ExtremelyConservative

20

0 40

60

80100

Today’s Vocabulary

Political party: organization of citizens who have similar views of issues & who work to put their ideas into effect through govt action

Political ideology: a basic set of political beliefs about the roles of govt and the individual in society

Two-party system: a political system with 2 strong political parties

Platform: the beliefs of a political party

Today’s Vocabulary

Democrat: 1 of the 2 major political parties in the U.S. who GENERALLY believe in a larger nat’l govt with more programs to help people

Republican: 1 of the 2 major political parties in the U.S. who GENERALLY believe in a smaller nat’l govt and more state rights

Third Party: a minor political party in a 2-party system

POLITICAL PARTIES

Notes

The History of American Political Parties

Nation’s leaders began to divide in the 1790s Strong national govt v. weaker national govt Federalists v. Democratic-Republicans

History of American Political Parties

Democratic Party began in the 1820s

Republican Party began in the 1850s

These are the 2 main parties today, but trends and beliefs changed over time

Functions of Political Parties

Recruit and nominate candidates

Educate the electorate (voters) about campaign issues

Help candidates win elections

Monitor actions of officeholders

Similarities Between Parties

Organize to win elections

Influence public policies

Reflect both liberal and conservative views

Define themselves in a way that wins majority support by appealing to the political center

Differences Between Parties

Stated in their party platform. Examples:

Views on taxes Views on marriage Views on healthcare

Republicans Republicans DemocratsDemocrats

Smaller federal govtAgainst gun controlLower taxesSpend more money

on defense

Larger federal govt to help minorities

Favor fun controlHigher taxes for

supportive programs

Spend less money on defense

Differences Between Parties

Third Parties

A 2-party system characterizes the American political system.

However, third parties do exist. They rarely win but play an important role in politics.

Third parties often introduce new ideas or press for a particular issue.

Sometimes they revolve around a political personality Example: Theodore Roosevelt & the Progressive Party

WE’RE TALKIN’ POLITICAL PARTIES, SO WHERE’S ALL

THE DANCING?!

Political Party Challenge!

Political Party Challenge

Individually or with your partner, you must come up with dance move that symbolizes something we just learned in our notes. Example: Watch Ms. Mitchem.

SCENARIOS

Functions of Political Parties