Assignment: Party
Name:
Your assignment is to investigate at least three different political parties.
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Use a search engine on the internet to search for political parties.
For example, you could go to Google and type in "Green Party" and you'll get a list of web sites for local, international, and
national Green Parties. Make sure you choose the site for the U.S. party.
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Highly recommended: The Politics1 website has a wealth of information, including links to web pages related to almost a
hundred different American political parties. Go to www.politics1.com and click on "Political Parties" on the top.
o Colorado Democrats - http://www.coloradodems.org/home
o Colorado Republicans - http://www.cologop.org/
1. What is the official party platform position of each party on the following issues:
Note: At the bottom is a blank row. You will select 1 other issue that you think is important and diagram it like the other issues.
Party Position Issues
Democrats
Republicans
Third Party__________?
Public education
Gun control
Same sex marriage
Government Debt
Abortion
Welfare spending
Taxes
Drug legalization
Immigration
Death penalty
Environment
Issue __________________?
2. Considering the size of the various political parties, it’s important to note that not everyone in a party agrees with every element
of the ‘official’ party position. Describe why you think a person would select one party over another, even though they don’t
agree with parts of the ‘party line’. Think about the benefits of party affiliation and participation in the government.
3. Select one issue that is the most interesting/important to you. Write a paragraph comparing and contrasting the according to
the party position. For example, if one of your issues is immigration your paragraph would answer things like:
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What is the position of the Republican, Democratic, and Party X parties on that topic?
How do they define the problem, and what do they think is the appropriate solution?
Why is it the appropriate solution (what is the underlying philosophical belief; what is the reasoning)?
Is there anything in particular that you learned that was interesting or surprising?
Do you have any general impressions of the different parties as a result of their position? In other words, don't merely
state the party's position--say why!
Issue 1:
4. Create your own third party. Your party must have:

a name and a logo. For example, the Republican Party has an elephant, the Democrats a donkey, the Reform party an
eagle, and the Green party a sunflower. Create a name and describe or show a logo.
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a platform. A platform is a written outline and explanation of what your party believes in and why. Your platform must
have positions under the following topics:
Party Position Issues
Party _____________?
Public education
Gun control
Same sex marriage
Debt
Abortion
Welfare spending
Taxes
Drug legalization
Immigration
Death penalty
Environment
Issue __________________?