Warm-upWrite today’s date and the question on

your warm-up page. Then answer the question.

Explain how political parties developed in the United States?

Have your homework out ready to be checked.

Vocabulary…Your Vocabulary List should follow this order:

Political party Two party system

Ballot Third party Platform Apathy Recruit

Polling place Nominate electorate

Compare and Contrast the Republicans and Democrats

• Tax cuts for all• Tax credits for

businesses• Less govt involvement• Funds for private

schools• Be isolated in foreign

affairs• Health insurance

should be a local issue• Decrease social

security• Smaller govt

• Tax cuts for low and middle class

• Tax credit for elderly, college, environment

• Pay for school programs

• More govt involvement

• More funds for public schools

• No religion in schools• Keep troops around

the world• Solve international

conflicts• Invest in social

security• Larger govt

• Tax cuts• Tax credits• Funds for

schools• Strong

national defense

Roles of Political

Parties in the U.S.

Lesson #2

Daily Objectives1. Name 4 roles or functions of political

parties.2. Explain how the 2 major parties are

similar and different.3. Describe third parties.

CE.5a

Political parties play a key role in government and provide

opportunities for citizens to participate in the political process.

Roles/Functions of Political Parties

• Acts as a “watchdog”

• fundraising

• Advertise using media sources

• Select the best person to run for office

Recruit and nominate

candidates

Educate the

electorate about

campaign issues

Monitor the actions of

office- holders

Help candidates

win elections

CE.5a

Educate voters about campaign issues

What role of political parties does this picture represent?

CE.5a

Recruit and nominate candidates

What role of political parties does this picture represent?

What role of political parties does this picture represent?

• Help candidates win elections

CE.5a

CE.5a

Monitor the actions of officeholders

CE.5a

What is a Watchdog ?

The party that lost

the election watches the party in power for any

mistakes or misuse of power

I’ll be watching you!

Movie Time!“The Best Man” is a 1964 movie starring Henry Fonda. It is about

a man seeking his party nomination to run for president.

As you watch this clip: 1. Can identify the names of the presidents in the opening

credits? 2. Do you recognize any of the roles of political parties,

especially in the opening scenes?

You will only watch about 6-7 minutes of this clip.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbJoI6yToc4

A two-party system characterizes the American political process. Our two parties are the Democrats and the Republicans.

CE.5b

Similarities and Differences of

Political Parties

CE.5b

Similarities Between Parties

They try to reach as many people as possible, so they appeal to the “middle of the road” group.

How do they do this?

CE.5b

1. Reflect both liberal and conservative views

CE.5b

2. Define themselves in a way that wins the majority support by

appealing to the political center

• After watching this short video, explain how the candidate has :

• 1. appealed to both conservative and liberal views

• 2. appealed to the political center or moderates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YOh-rpvjYg&feature=related

CE.5b

3. They organize to win elections

CE.5b

4. Influence public policies

CE.5b

Differences Between Parties

CE.5b

1. These are stated in the party’s platform

Platform

2. Reflected in the way they campaign

CE.5a

Explainordescribethiscartoon

CE.5a

All political parties want to strengthen the country, but they

often disagree over how to achieve their goals.

Youarewrong!

NO…Youarewrong!

What happens if you do not believe in what one of the two majors parties stand for?

You can join a third party!!

Third Parties are sometimes called minor parties. They rarely win elections But they play an important role in public politics.

How do 3rd parties then differ from the 2 major parties?

CE.5b

1. They introduce new ideas

As the 3rd Party

candidate I promise

to…

Examples of 3rd parties

Strom Thurmond and the Dixiecrat Party

ran on a segregationist platform in 1948

Theodore

Roosevelt and the

Progressive Bull

Moose Party in

1912

Prohibition Party in 1892

James Weaver the Populist Party

George Wallace in 1968 (American Independent Party)

Socialist, Communist, and Libertarian Parties

CE.5b

2. Work for only one particular cause or issue

George Bush (Republican), Ross Perot (Reform), & Bill Clinton (Democrat) during

1992 Presidential debate

Third Parties have influence

Major parties often take on the ideas of third parties

In 1992, both the Republican and Democratic Parties took on Perot’s reform government ideas about reducing the deficit

CE.5b

3. Revolve around a political personality

No minor third party as ever come close to winning the presidency

Only eight third party candidates have won any electoral votes

Only five, including Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 and Ross Perot in 1992 have won more than 10% of the popular vote

What do shooting stars and third parties have in common?

Once the major parties incorporate their ideas, third parties burn out

• Political Parties form and function at all 3 levels of government federal, state and local.

CE.5b

How muchdo you

remember?

Fact or Opinion__________Party members sometimes pass out pamphlets and fliers about their candidates.

__________It is illegal to force someone to vote a certain way.

__________Calling voters is a great way to remind them about the election.

__________It is ok to spread false rumors about an opposing candidate.

__________Political parties organize debates to discuss issues.

__________There are two major parties in the US

__________Political parties recruit and nominate candidates at the local, state, and national levels.

__________ It is easier to register in person than at the DMV.

__________ People with voter apathy do not care about government issues.

Quick Check AssessmentGet a sheet of scrap paper.

Put your name on it.

Number it 1-9.

Be ready to answer the questions on the following slides.

This is an assessment not a grade! But it will be recorded and used for remediation purposes.

CE.5a

1. The leaders of the first two political parties in the United

States were __________. 

a.  George Washington and John Adams  

b.  Thomas Jefferson and George Washington  

c.  John Adams and Alexander Hamilton  

d.  Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton

CE.5b

2. The American political system is best described as a…

a. one-party system.

b. two-party system.

c. three-party system.

d. system with multiple parties.

CE.5a

3. The series of statements expressing a party's principles,

beliefs, and positions on election issues is called a

__________.

a.  plank  

b.  platform  

c.  floor  

d.  soap box

CE.5a

4. The party that is out of office watches the actions of the other party for

mistakes or misuses of power. This is called being a ____

a.  poor sport  

b.  watchdog  

c.  progressive  

d.  plank

CE.5a

5.One purpose of political parties is to …

a. Cast electoral votes

b. Administer literacy tests

c. Set the age for voting

d. Recruit and nominate candidates for

public office

CE.5b

6. The primary role of a third party is to…

a. keep the best candidate from winning.

b. inform the public about the shortcomings of the other parties.

c. highlight an outstanding candidate in order to gain name recognition for the next election.

d. introduce new ideas or to push for a particular issue.

CE.5b

7. People must listen to both political party platforms to…

a. attend party meetings.

b. identify differences between the

parties.

c. discuss politics regularly with one’s

neighbors.

d. influence the opinion of others.

CE.5a

8. All political parties want to strengthen the country, but they often disagree over…

a. How to achieve their goals

b. Who gets to go first

c. Who gets to be on television

d. Where to park their cars

CE.5a

9. Nominating candidates for public office is the main function of:

a. The executive branch

b. Congress

c. Political parties

d. Campaign volunteers

HomeworkComplete the assignment that is

handed out on the half sheet of paper on the roles of political parties.

It will be checked for a grade next class.

Create a 3rd PartyFor the remaining class time...Get together with one or two other

classmates. Create your own third partyComplete the top part of the

worksheet and turn it inIllustrate a T-shirt to advertise your

issueCut it out and tape it in the hall.