Political Parties

1
Political Parties

• EQ How are Political Parties organized at the
  local and national levels?

2
Two-Party System

• America has many political parties who nominate
  candidates for elected office.
• However, there are 2 main parties who win most of
  the major elections in America.
• Who is the only U.S. President that was NOT a
  member of one of the two main parties?(1)
• What are Americas two main parties?(2)

3
Two Party System

• (Discuss) Why do you think it is so difficult for
  candidates NOT from one of the main parties to
  win elections?
• George Washington hated the idea of political
  parties because he felt it took power away from
  the people.
• What is the role of political parties?(3)

4
Democratic Party

• Founded in 1792 by Thomas
• Jefferson.
• Most Democrats are considered Liberals.
• Liberals believe in
• Big Government (more programs)
• Small Military (War is NOT the Answer)
• Less focus on Religion
• Pro-Diversity (Fewer Immigration Laws)

5
Republican Party

• Started in 1854 to oppose
• slavery.
• Most Republicans are considered Conservative.
• Conservatives believe in
• Smaller Government (People retain the power)
• Strong Military (PowerPeace)
• Believe America was founded on Religion
• Favor stricter Immigration laws.

6
Political Ideology Spectrum

• Radical Moderate Reactionary
• (Left Wing) (Right Wing)
• Liberal
  Conservative
• Democrats Republicans
• Big Government Small
  Government
• Where do most Americans fall on the Political
  Ideology Spectrum?(4)
• Where do most American Presidents fall? Why?(5)

7
Third Parties

• There are parties other than these
• American Party (1968)
• America First Party (2008)
• America's Independent Party (2008)
• Boston Tea Party (2006)
• Independence Party of America (2007)
• Moderate Party (2006)
• Modern Whig Party (2007)
• Marijuana Party (2002)
• Objectivist Party (2008)
• Party for Socialism and Liberation (2004)
• Peace and Freedom Party (1967)

8
Political Systems of the World

• One-Party System All political officials are
  from 1 party.
• What countries have a One-Party System?(6) Define
  One-Party System
• Multi-Party System Many different parties.
• What countries have Multi-Party System?(7) Define
  Multi-Party System
• (Discuss) What are advantages disadvantages to
  having many parties?

9
What do Parties Do?

• The Democrats and Republicans create a Platform,
  which is a list of issues and where they stand on
  them.
• What are platforms and why are they important?(8)
• Each individual issue is called a Plank.
• What is the Democratic position on Abortion?(9)
• What is the Republican position on
  Immigration?(10)

10
What do Parties do?

• Parties choose candidates they feel will
  represent their platform and who they think can
  be successful in elections.
• What Democrats, other than Barack Obama, ran for
  President in 2008?(11)
• Who is one of the Republican candidates that ran
  for President in 2008?(12)

11
What do Parties do?

• Every Presidential Election (every 4 years), each
  party holds a National Convention.
• At their National Convention, each party
• Officially nominates its President VP
  candidates.
• Rallies party volunteers and loyal voters
• Creates its platform
• Why is it important for a Party to have
  volunteers at the local level?(13)

12
Political Cartoons (1)
13
Political Cartoon (2)
14
Political Cartoon (3)
15
Political Cartoon (4)
16
Party Platform Activity

• Planks (Individual Issues)
• Abortion
• Gun Rights
• Taxes
• Foreign Policy (War)
• Crime Punishment

• Your Partys Position
• ?
• ?
• ?
• ?
• ?

17
Party Platform Analysis

1. What do you think is the 2 most important issues
   to Americans?
2. Why is it important for Political Parties to
   establish a platform?
3. Do all candidates of each party have to follow
   exactly what the platform says?
4. Where on the political ideological spectrum do
   most planks fall?
5. Do you think party platforms play a deciding role
   in elections?

18
Campaigning

• What do you think is the main reason Barrack
  Obama won the 2008 Presidential Election?
• (Brainstorming) List as many characteristics or
  influences that help get candidates elected.
• Examples to get you thinking
• How they look and act
• Their commercials
• The people they have around them
• The issues they talk about

19
Propaganda

• Propaganda refers to methods used by candidates
  and parties to win elections.
• There are 6 types of propaganda
• Glittering Generalities
• Plain Folk
• Bandwagon
• Negative Campaigning
• Stacking Cards
• Image Molding

Write these down and leave a blank line to define.
20
Glittering Generalities

• When candidates fail to be specific about an
  issue or when answering a question because being
  specific may make them look bad or get them in
  trouble with some voters.

21
Plain Folk

• It is important for candidates NOT to seem like
  just another rich politician. They do things to
  make them seem like everyone else.

22
Bandwagon

• Candidates and Parties try to make it seem like
  they are winning in the polls and are obviously
  going to win the election in order to get the
  support of uninformed and uninvolved voters.

23
Negative Campaigning

• Instead of saying positive things about
  themselves, often, candidates resort to saying
  negative things about their opponent.

24
Stacking Cards

• In order to make themselves look good and smart,
  candidates want to make sure they only get
  involved in situations (debates, interviews, town
  hall meetings, etc.) that will shed positive
  light on them.

25
Image Molding Endorsements

• This refers to anything candidates do to
  generally make themselves look good. It can be
  as small as what color suit to wear or something
  as major as getting a famous person to endorse
  them.

26
Propaganda Activity

• Give a specific example for each type of
  Propaganda.