1. Review! Review! Review!
What is the meaning of the phrase “We the People?”
What is the system of government in which the three branches can limit each others’ powers?
How can the executive branch check the other branches?
How can the legislative branch check the other branches?
What are the powers of each branch of government?

2. Political Participation
EOC Review
Political Participation
Ms. Croy
7th Grade Civics

3. Goals Identify the platforms of the major U.S. Political Parties
Identify the methods used to participate in the political process
Analyze political communications

4. What are America’s current political parties?
The U.S. has a two party system. Each political party has a platform which explains their core beliefs on current issues.
Democrats (Liberal)
Favors more government support for social programs, like Obamacare
Favors more government regulations
Supports increased taxes to pay for government services
Republicans (Conservative)
Favors private businesses
Supports lower taxes
Favors less government regulations.

5. What are third parties?
Third parties are political parties that are not one of the main two parties. They often:
Bring attention to social issues or those not covered by the main parties
Lack the resources/support to be elected
Major Third Parties include:
Libertarian Party
Socialist Party
Communist Party
Third parties played a major role in the Bush. V. Gore Election, when a third party candidate earned votes that may have gone to Al Gore.

6. How do we evaluate candidates running for office?
Qualifications
Age, amount of years as a citizen, citizenship status
Experience in government and Education
Their platform/political party
Debates and political advertisements

7. What methods do we use to influence and monitor government?
Individuals
Run for office
Petition the government
Attend Meetings
Participate in elections through voting and campaigning
Interest groups –
Groups of people who share a common interest and try to get policies passed in their interest
Hire lobbyists to get laws passed
Donate to campaigns through Political Action Committees

8. What methods do we use to influence and monitor government?
Media
Act as a watchdog by exposing government wrongdoings
Provide information to the public
Influence public opinion through advertisements
Bias
Presenting a one-sided argument, or favoring one side over another
Involves only showing one perspective
Symbolism
Using images to appeal to a certain idea/emotion

9. What are the propaganda techniques?
The use of techniques to encourage people to act a certain way or support a certain idea
Bandwagon – encourages people to go along with the crowd
Card-stacking – shows only the positive aspects of one side
Glittering generality – using general words/phrases
Plain folks – sends a message that a person is just like you
Endorsement/testimonial – using a celebrity spokesperson to show support.

10. Propaganda

11. Political Participation
SWBAT understand the political process and analyze political communications
Political Parties
The U.S. has a ______ party system. Political parties disagree on the role and responsibilities of government
Interest groups
_____________________________________________________
_________________
Represent interest groups and contact lawmakers hoping to influence their policymaking
__________________
Party that prefers more government involvement, is more liberal, and wants to use taxes to fund government services
Party that prefers less government regulation, is more conservative, and wants to reduce taxes for businesses
A series of statements (planks) describing the party’s core beliefs and its positions on various issues
Third Parties
Often bring attention to social issues, but lack the resources to be elected. Third parties played a major role in the ____________________________ election (200)
Media that uses carefully crafted messages to manipulate people’s actions. This form of media often shows _________ (preference)
Propaganda that shows all the positive aspects of a side
Propaganda that uses a spokesperson to show support to the public
Propaganda that sends the message that a person is just like you
Propaganda that encourages people to go along with the rest of the crowd 2
Groups of people who share a common interest, and try to pass policies in their interest
Lobbyists
Democratic
Republican
Platform
Bush v. Gore
Propaganda
Bias
Card-stacking
Endorsement
Plain Folks
Bandwagon

12. Which issue represents a basic disagreement between Republicans and Democrats
The responsibilities of government
The frequency of elections
The legality of the U.S. Constitution
The support for U.S. military
Which individual activity is used to directly influence legislative decisions?
Watching political debates on TV
Discussing political issues at work
Collecting opinions for a yearbook
Gathering signatures for a petition