1. What they stand for and Who they represent… Political Parties in the United States

2. UEQ and LEQ UEQ: Why is the political party system an important part of the government, voting process, and being a citizen in the United States today? LEQ: How do political parties contribute to the well being of the United States government and United States citizens?

3. Vocabulary Political Party Nominate Platform Plank Canvas Candidate

4. Do Now Electing the President or a member of the U.S. government is not an easy process, sometimes taking nearly two years. However, when it comes time for a political election, people are responsible to vote for a particular person. Question: How do people prepare themselves to vote for a particular person during an election? List three possible ways they prepare themselves Citizens Journal: Read over the “Civics in the Real World” entry on page 589 and answer the Citizens Journal questions at the bottom of the page. Question 1: Answer in full detail, provide 2 examples Question 2: Describe two ways you will find out

5. Music Video Warm Up Watch the short music video created during the 2008 election in an effort to get people to vote. After the video is over answer the questions below. What issues must a person consider and think about when he or she goes to vote? (List four) Why must a person think about these issues when they choose a particular party or who they will vote for? How can your vote and the votes of other American citizens impact the issues presented to you in the video? Rock The Vote: Against Me Music Video

6. What is A Political Party??? What are America’s two political parties?

7. Political Parties Highlighter Reading As you read, find the answers to the questions below in the short article on political parties. Highlight the answers as you read. Questions 1. “What is a political party?” 2. “Why were the founding fathers worried about the parties?” 3. “What parties existed in the past and exist today?” 4. “How are political parties similar and different?” 5. “Why do third parties exist?”

8. Political Parties Highlighter Reading As you read, find the answers to the questions below in the short article on political parties. Highlight the answers as you read. Questions 1. “What is a political party?” 2. “Why were the founding fathers worried about the parties?” 3. “How does the Constitution limit parties?” 4. “What are the checks and balances?” 5. “How are political parties similar and different?” 6. “Why do third parties exist?”

9. Not a Political Party

10. Political Party Citizens want many things from government… Protection Clean Environment Fair Treatment at Work Equal Laws Working in groups, government workers can provide citizens with necessary items they want and need. Political Party Group of citizens who influence and control government by getting people elected to government jobs.

11. Thomas Jefferson on Parties Thomas Jefferson once said… Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depositary of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves. Call them whatever name you please, they are the same parties still and pursue the same object. The last one of Aristocrats and Democrats is the true one expressing the essence of all." What is Thomas Jefferson trying to say? Break the quote down and translate it into sections….

12. Political Parties Today

13. Four Ways Parties Help Government Do you know how political parties help the government? Complete the four sectioned graphic organizer using pages 591 to 592. Make sure for each section to provide enough detail that if you gave the graphic organizer to a person they could easily understand each way that a party helps government.

14. Way One???

15. Select Candidates Nominate Each political party picks/names a person to run for a government job. Each party finds and nominates each person. Today 500,000 positions in government that people are picked by parties to run for. Only members of parties can run for government jobs, if not, they will usually not get a government job.

16. Selecting Candidates Democratic National Convention Republican National Convention

17. Way Two???

18. Setting Goals Each party creates a list of positions or issues and sets goals for how they will solve them. Platform Statement by a party A parties official stance (good/bad, agree/disagree) on a major issue Example: Legalize Abortion Plank Statements about what will be done on different issues that relate to a platform. Example: Abortion; every mother will legally have a choice

19. Platform Education Voting

20. Plank

21. T-Chart Contrast Poster Using the Platform and Plank Handout for the Democrats and Republicans, create a T-Chart on the long white poster paper, like the one on the next slide, which you will use to show differences on issues between Democrats and Republicans. Choose four issues and list them on either side of the T- Chart, but leave plenty of room to write down planks for each issue. You will have to come up with the platform for both parties on the issues that you pick, use the planks to help you come up with the platform

22. Platform and Plank T-Chart DemocratsRepublicans Platform for Crime: Crime Prevention Planks: 1.Crack down on gangs and drugs 2.Tougher Punishment 3.DNA Testing Platform for Abortion: Stop Abortion Planks: 1.Ban Abortion 2.Alternatives to abortion 3.Human Life Amendment

23. Way Three???

24. Leadership Political Parties provide daily leadership in local, state, and national government. Needed to make laws Needed to make programs to help citizens If a political party controls the executive branch of government (presidency, governor) the party shapes the government and country. Presidential Leadership

25. Leadership

26. Way Four???

27. Watchdogs Do you hate when people watch every move you make? How would you feel if people told others about what you did? Political Parties watch each other for problems. If there is a problem a party will tell the public Telling the public makes sure changes are made and everyone is honest and working.

28. Watchdog When a Politician Lies...

29. Three Ways of Helping Citizens Way One Way Two Way Three

30. Post It Note Exit Ticket Using the post it note that I have given you, write down your answer to the LEQ on the side white board. In your answer be sure to include examples from the notes on how political parties help government and citizens. Take the post it note as you leave and stick on the “Bearcats, Exit Ticket” Poster aside of the door.