Participation in Government

What is your ideology?

Take the opinion quiz

• Read each of the statements and decide if they are true or false.

• The way you view these statements will help us to determine what ideology you have!

First Amendment

• The First Amendment gives us the freedoms of speech, press, assembly, religion & petition.

• It is our responsibility as citizens to make our voices heard (peacefully) so that our elected representatives know how to represent us!!

Complete the survey.Ideology survey.mht

Are you liberal or conservative?• Give yourself two points if you responded

the following ways:

1.T 2. T 3. F 4. F

5. T 6. F 7. F 8. T

9. F 10. T 11. T 12. T

13. F 14. F 15. F 16. F

17. T 18. F 19. T 20. T

21. F 22. F

Tally Your Score

• 0 – 16

• 17 – 27:

• 28 – 44:

You are a LIBERAL

You are a MODERATE

You are a CONSERVATIVE

What does that mean?

• Ideology:– a set of beliefs that allow you to view

public policy issues in a CONSISTANT manner; how a person views issues

– This tells others in general what your beliefs are and how you base your opinions.

Types of Ideologies

• LIBERAL:

– A person who believes that Gov't should ACTIVELY and PEACEFULLY promote social reform [change] within the existing system.

– a.k.a. lefties, left wings, bleeding hearts, doves

– Ex) The Clintons, Pres. Barack Obama, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Michael Moore

Types of Ideologies• CONSERVATIVE:

– A person in favor of the STATUS QUO, the norm, who is CAUTIOUS about new policies and who generally feels that the gov’t should stay out of the affairs of private citizens & businesses.

– a.k.a. rightists, right wings, Neanderthals, & hawks

– Ex) Pres. Bush, John Roberts, Rush Limbaugh, Sara Palin

TYPES OF IDEOLOGIES

• MODERATE:– A person whose attitudes and

opinions are SOMEWHERE BETWEEN those of a liberal and a conservative.

– a.k.a. Middle-of-the-road, fence riders

– Ex) Sen. John McCain, Justice Stephen Breyer, Rudy Guiliani

MORE TYPES OF IDEOLOGIES• RADICAL:

– Someone who favors RAPID, fundamental change in the existing social, economic, or political order; willing to use PHYSICAL force

• Ex) Black Panthers, Malcolm X,

Aggressive Environmental Groups

• REACTIONARY:– Someone who actively pursues a RETURN to

a previous gov’t or state of affairs; willing to go to extremes and use physical force

– Ex) KKK, Neo-Nazi Groups, Islamic Extremists

Spectrum of Ideology

LEFT RIGHT

MODERATES

LIBERALS CONSERVATIVES

RADICALS REACTIONARIES

Where do most Americans fall?

41.4% 17.3% 15% 3%12.3%9%2%

Black Panthers KKK

Democrats Republicans

LIBERAL-CONSERV NOTE SHEET.mht

Two people of the same gender should have the right to marry.

Same-Sex Marriages

Gun Control

Death Penalty

Abortion

Conservative View

Liberal View

Questions Behind IssueIssue

Right to choose what to do with one’s body

Life can be taken from those who take life.

Gun ownership should be more restricted.

Social Security

Public Assistance Programs

Health Care

Environment/Energy

Illegal Immigration

Issue Questions Behind Issue Liberal View

Conservative View

Illegal Immigrants should be given the opportunity to become citizens

The US government should expand oil operations (drill in the US) “Drill baby Drill”

US should provide assistance to those that can not work.

The US gov’t should not withhold money from my check.

The gov’t should provide some health care for those who can not afford it.

Discuss with your group which topic you would like to learn or share

your opinion about. First come first serve.

CREATE A POSTER :•LIBRARY LAB MONDAY ONLY to create your headings, find picture/cartoons, and type up your opinion.•CLASS TIME on TUESDAY ONLY to put it all together.•PRESENTATIONS by the whole group ON THURSDAY -Minus 1/3 if you choose not to show up on Monday.

POSTER REQUIREMENTS

• POSTER TITLE (topic) and definition of the topic.• Three Color Maximum, Title 4”, SUBTITLES 3” Text

Font 36 pt, Cartoons/Photos 3 x 5 (1/4 or ½ of a full sheet)

• Explanation of a LIBERAL’s viewpoint • QUOTE(s) from a famous liberal on this issue

w/Picture of that person• Explanation of a CONSERVATIVE’s viewpoint• QUOTE(s) from a famous conservative on this issue

w/Picture of that person • POLITICAL CARTOONS depicting this conflict (extra

credit if you can find a liberal cartoon and a conservative cartoon or create your own)

• Each group member must WRITE A STATEMENT OF YOUR OWN VIEWS on this issue, put your full name after your view.