POLITICAL PARTICIPATION UNIT 7 Write down notes in yellow

Political Parties a political party is a group of people who share similar ideas about the role of government They promote their beliefs and work to get their members elected into positions in the government

Role of political parties Make citizens aware of public issues Finance political campaigns Write a platform expressing their political ideas and future plans Help legislators to organize and pass their legislative programs. Every 4 years, hold a National Convention to nominate their candidates for President & Vice-President Platform: a public statement of the principles, objectives, and policies of a political party

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXp3ksU3QoE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3u1Y0vhtYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Udfr9HcNDk 1st video 2012 Democratic Convention introduction of President Obama…play as much as you want 2nd video 2012 Republican Convention – Mitt Romney accepting nomination…play as much as you want 3rd video 2012 green Party Convention - Jill Stein accepting nomination…play

Impact of Political Parties on Government and Society Positive Effects of Political Parties (ROLES) Negative Effects of Political Parties Representation: Political parties represent the views of the voters Division: Political parties divide Americans. Participation: Political parties offer opportunities for citizens to participate in government and politics. Bias: Political Parties present biased (unfair partiality or favoritism) views of the issues. Candidates: Political parties find and select candidates for elected offices. Pressure: Political parties pressure legislators and other elected officials to follow their party’s program against their own beliefs. Campaigns: Political parties manage and finance election campaigns. Distraction: Elected officials can spend more time supporting their party, raising money and trying to get re-elected than they do on the work of government. Voting: Political parties encourage people to vote. Self-Interest: Political parties act to win votes, rather than doing what is really best. Have students cut out table on page 280 of Blue Book and put in their ICN’s. Then have them highlight most important effects.

Impact of Political Parties on Government and Society Positive Effects of Political Parties (ROLES) Negative Effects of Political Parties Education: Political parties educate the voters by informing them about the issues. Stalemate: Divisions between competing political parties often prevent government from getting things done. Debate: Political parties offer alternatives and encourage debate. Monopolistic: Political parties raise large sums of money for campaigns, making it hard for independent candidates to compete. Legislation: Political parties help members of local, state and federal lawmaking bodies organize themselves into groups on behalf of a legislative program. Watchdogs: Political parties serve as “watchdogs” by criticizing what opposing parties are doing. Bridges: Political parties serve as bridges uniting members of the executive and legislative branches of government. Compromise: Political parties sometimes encourage members to compromise their views.

Two party System In the United States, we have a two party system: The two major parties in the U. S. are the Democrats Republicans There are more then two political parties in the U.S. but almost all elected government officeholders have come from these two political parties. They are also the two largest political parties in the U.S.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtGgreHgvfo

Democrats Founded in 1824 Color: Blue Animal: Donkey The now-famous Democratic donkey was first associated with Democrat Andrew Jackson's 1828 presidential campaign. His opponents called him a a donkey, and Jackson decided to use the image of the strong-willed animal on his campaign posters. Later, cartoonist Thomas Nast used the Democratic donkey in newspaper cartoons and made the symbol famous.

Democrats Liberal, or on the left. They are concerned with equality, cooperation and social progress. President Obama

Famous Presidents who were Democrats Franklin D. Roosevelt

Democrats John F. Kennedy

Democrats Bill Clinton

Democrats Political Platform Favor government intervention to promote greater social justice and to achieve equality of opportunity. Will tolerate tax increases, especially on the wealthy to support domestic programs and investment in the U.S. infrastructure: Schools & Universities Roads & Public Works Projects like bridges, dams, etc. Support Obamacare – making health care more affordable thru government subsidy Support strict gun control Support increased regulations to help protect natural resources Support Decrease military spending

Republicans Founded in 1854 Animal: Elephant Color: Red Nast invented another famous symbol—the Republican elephant. In a cartoon that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1874, Nast drew a donkey clothed in lion's skin, scaring away all the animals at the zoo. One of those animals, the elephant, was labeled “The Republican Vote.” That's all it took for the elephant to become associated with the Republican Party.

Republicans Conservative, on the right. Mitt Romney was the Republican candidate for the 2012 Presidential election.

Famous Presidents who were Republicans Teddy Roosevelt

Republicans Ronald Regan

Republicans George H. W. Bush

Republicans Political Platform Support Increase spending on the military Support Less government interference in citizens lives Support fewer government regulations on businesses Support private businesses. Support cutting federal support (money) on social programs, give more responsibility to states for these programs. Support lower taxes for everyone Support a strong foreign policy Support Private healthcare Strong supporters of the 2nd Amendment, Less gun control

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lt- f3QQ7-A

What is a third party? a political party formed by citizens with strong feelings about particular issues Green Party – the environment…. The Tea Party – excessive taxes

third PARTIES The Socialist Party The Communist Party The Libertarian Party The Green Party

The Socialist party Developed in reaction to the Industrial Revolution and the horrible working conditions it produced. Favor more public services, public ownership of utilities and some industries.

The communist party A movement that started in Europe in the 1840’s by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Believe capitalists exploit workers; revolution is needed to achieve change. Capitalism: an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, characterized by the freedom of capitalists to operate or manage their property for profit in competitive condictions

The libertarian party Wishes to maximize human freedom and to reduce government and taxation. Support smaller government, states’ rights and lower taxes. Support personal privacy and the right to carry guns.

The Green party The Environmental Party. Wants to reduce exploitation of the natural environment exploitation: the use of something, especially for profit.

The TEA party Began in 2009 – Grassroots political activity No central leadership. It is a loose affiliation of national and local groups that determine their own platforms. Extreme right wing (conservatives) of the Republican Party Primary Goal: Limit the size of government and reduce U.S. debt and federal budget deficit by reducing government spending. Opposes Obamacare, abortion, gun control and illegal immigration. Strong supporters of 2nd Amendment, prayer in school Avoid foreign military involvement and being drawn into unnecessary conflicts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbyFeFhUTmI

Assignment Democrat Republican Create a double bubble Map comparing and contrasting the two major political parties. Democrat Republican