Political Parties: What do they do?

Role of Political Parties Description Select candidates Parties select candidates, present them to voters and work to win elections Educate voters Parties inform people by presenting information about issues or beliefs through pamphlets, newspapers, rado, tv, speeches, conventions

Roles, continued… Govern Those who govern are chosen on the basis of party; appointments are made with an eye to the party of the potential officeholder Finance campaigns Parties raise funds to ensure that candidates have financial support to run their campaigns

Roles, continued… Watchdog The party that is not in power criticizes the policies of the party in power. This party plays the role of the “loyal opposition.”

Question: Which role of a political party do you think most influences the political process?

Political Parties: Who are they. What do they want Political Parties: Who are they? What do they want? Democrats and Republicans

Andrew Jackson used a donkey to symbolize his working class roots and ever since the Democrats have been known as the part of the donkey.

Democrats Today Today the Democrats are commonly perceived as the party of big government, civil rights, women’s rights, environmentalism, the poor and pacifism (slow to go to war). Currently three major candidates are running in the Democrat primary in search of their party’s nomination for the 2008 election: Hillary Clinton Barack Obama John Edwards

The Republican Party was born amidst tensions between slave and free states in 1850s. They tended to find more support in northern states.

Republicans came to be associated with elephants due to the political cartoons of Thomas Nast in 1874.

Republicans Today! The Republican party today tends to support public policies that limit the size of government and cut taxes. Typically, they also support the War on Terror, are generally opposed to the legalization of abortion (pro-life) and vote against programs to increase the size of the welfare state. Rudy Guiliani Mitt Romney Fred Thompson John McCain

The map below shows the states that were won by the Democrat Presidential nominee Al Gore and the Republican Presidential nominee George Bush in 2000.

What are the differences between Republicans and Democrats today?

The Economy and Taxes Democrats Republicans Are generally in favor of large government and a progressive tax system in which the wealthy pay a larger share than the poor Tend to be against international free trade agreements because they claim that such trade agreements hurt American workers and in particular unions Tend to believe in a balanced budget and are willing to raise taxes if needed Tend to make laws to protect American businesses from international competition Republicans Are generally in favor of a smaller government Generally for free market agreements with other countries, like NAFTA- North American Free Trade Agreement. Vehemently against raising taxes even if it means a budget deficit Tend to believe in global trade and don’t tend to protect US businesses from international competition

National Defense and Security Democrats Tend to cut the military budget Generally want to avoid American military intervention unless supported by the United Nations Tend to believe in diplomacy and are slow to go to war Republicans Believe in a strong military and are willing to pay for it with government money Believe in confronting American enemies with or without UN support Believe in using military intervention when American interests or security is threatened more quickly than Democrats

Entitlements- Welfare, Medicaid, Social Security, Health Care Democrats Generally think that the government should provide a broad safety net (health care, education, welfare, food stamps) for the poor and others. They generally think these policies help the common good and are compassionate Republicans Generally think the government should limit or reduce the safety net for the poor. They believe that private businesses and non-profit charities can provide the same services

Crime and Punishment Democrats Tend to focus on rehabilitation programs over long prison sentences for convicted criminals Usually against the death penalty Focus on rights of the accused Republicans Tend to focus on prison sentences as a deterrent to crime Usually for the death penalty Usually for stiffer penalties for convicted criminals

Environmental Protection Republicans Favor fewer restrictions on businesses in the hopes that wealthier companies will be able to be more environmental Many do not believe global warming is a real threat Democrats Favor stricter regulations on businesses to protect the environment Believe global warming is a real threat

Abortion and Stem Cell Research Democrats Tend to be pro-choice- believe that a woman should always have the right to choose to have an abortion Tend to favor stem-cell research Republicans Tend to be pro-life- do not believe that women have a right to have an abortion and instead call abortion a form of murder Tend to be against stem-cell research

Energy Policy Democrats Focus on researching alternative energy sources for the future Republicans Focus on securing existing energy sources for the present and future

Values- Same Sex Marriage and Civil Rights Laws Democrats Tend to support the right for same-sex couples to marry Republicans Tend to oppose the right for same-sex couples to marry

Education Democrats Oppose using tax money for school choice (vouchers and charters) Republicans Favor using tax money for school choice (vouchers and charters)

Immigration Democrats Favor looser immigration laws Some favor “Amnesty” for illegals already in the country Republicans Favor stricter immigration laws Some favor punishment or deportation for illegals already in the country

Check Out How Each Party Feels About Issues That Are Important to You Check Out How Each Party Feels About Issues That Are Important to You? Which Candidate Do You Agree With? Democrats Republicans