1. Minor Parties & Political Spectrum

2. Warm Up
How many sides are there to any given argument? Take the topic of abortion, for example. Is there only pro-choice or pro-life? What about… Civil rights? Economy? Illegal immigration? Health care? Taxes? Write your thoughts and opinions on any or all of these topics. Where do you stand on these issues?

3. Third (Minor) Parties!
Minor Parties have been around since the county’s founding
A Third Party is any party which is not one of the two major parties
While they are all different, they all agree on this: neither major party is meeting certain needs

4. Types of Third Parties
Single-Issue Party - Focuses exclusively on one issue: social, economic, or moral; Liberty Party, Free Soil Party
Ideological Party – Focuses on how to change society overall; Socialist Labor Party, Communist Party USA, Libertarian Party
Splinter Party – Splits away from one of the major parties because of a disagreement; TEA Party, Bull Moose Party

5. What is their Purpose?
Greatly influence the outcome of national elections
In 1912, Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party pulled enough votes away from the Republican Party that the Democrats won.
In 1968, a similar occurrence occurred with Richard Nixon.
In 1992, Bill Clinton.
This has happened with many more elections in our nation’s history.

6. Different Third Parties in US
Socialist Workers Party – communist party in favor of aiding in strikes and Cuba
Libertarian Party - a liberty party in favor of liberty
Green Party – social-democratic party in favor of “green” policies
Constitution Party – a nationalist party in favor of original intentions of Constitution

7. Minor Parties Documents
Look through your document folders. There are 4 different type of political parties.
Each person in the group should take 1 and study it.
After 10 minutes, the group will take turns sharing information about the different parties. This information will go in your notes.

8. Socialist Worker’s
Green Party
Constitutionalist Party
Libertarians

9. Where do you Stand?
The front of the class is going to be the new political spectrum.
I will read a few of the hot topics of our day, and you will move somewhere along that spectrum!

10. Take A Stand Abortion Taxes Religious Liberty Economy Education
Health Care
Marriage

11. Check On Learning What is one thing all Minor Parties agree upon?
Why are Minor Parties significant?
What is the Libertarian Party in favor of?
What is the Green Party in favor of?
What are the three different types of Minor Parties?