1. Section Outline 1 of 8 Political Parties in Our Democracy Section 1: The Role of Political Parties I.How Parties Help Government II.How Parties Help Citizens Color Transparency: Political Parties Section Reading Support Transparency

2. 2 of 8 Political Parties in Our Democracy Section 1: The Role of Political Parties Main Idea Political parties bring together people who share similar political ideas. Political parties select candidates, provide leadership, and set goals for political action. Key Terms Political party Nominate Platform Planks Canvas

3. How Parties Help Government Political Party —An organization of citizens who wish to influence and control government by getting their members elected to office. 3 of 8 Political Parties in Our Democracy Section 1: The Role of Political Parties Selecting Candidates —Nomination: the naming of a candidate to run for public office. —There about 500,000 elected positions in local, state, and federal government.

4. 4 of 8 Political Parties in Our Democracy Section 1: The Role of Political Parties How Parties Help Government (continued) Setting Goals —Platform: a statement of the party’s official stand on major public issues —Planks: position statements on each specific issue in a party’s platform Providing Leadership —Parties help provide day-to-day leadership in government. Acting as “Watchdogs” —Parties keep tabs on the behavior of members of the other party.

5. 5 of 8 Political Parties in Our Democracy Section 1: The Role of Political Parties How Parties Help Citizens Citizen’s Voices in Government —Parties provide a way for citizens to be heard. Informing Citizens —Party members canvas, or go door-to-door, handing out information and asking people which candidates they support. Involving Citizens —Parties get people involved in the political process.

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7. Political Parties in Our Democracy: Section 1 Color Transparency: Political Parties 7 of 8 1. Who is the man in the cartoon? He is a political candidate who belongs to a political party. 2. What is the cartoonist making fun of, or mocking? At times, the positions of the two major parties seem identical. It is difficult to see the differences in their beliefs.

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