Warm-up
Write 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
•Tax credits
•Funds for
schools
•Strong
national
defense
•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
Roles of
Political
Parties in the
U.S.
Lesson #2
Daily Objectives
1. Name 4 roles or functions of political
parties.
2. Explain how the 2 major parties are
similar and different.
3. Describe third parties.
Political parties play a key role in
government and provide
opportunities for citizens to
participate in the political process.
CE.5a
Roles/Functions of Political Parties
• Select the
best person to
run for office
• fundraising
Recruit and
nominate
candidates
Educate
the
electorate
about
campaign
issues
Help
candidates
win
elections
Monitor the
actions of
officeholders
• Advertise
using media
sources
• Acts as a
“watchdog”
What role of political
parties does this
picture represent?
Educate
voters
about
campaign
issues
CE.5a
What role of political
parties does this
picture represent?
CE.5a
Recruit and
nominate
candidates
What role of political parties does
this picture represent?
• Help candidates
win elections
CE.5a
Monitor the
actions of
officeholders
CE.5a
What is a Watchdog ?
I’ll be watching
you!
CE.5a
The party
that lost
the
election
watches
the party
in power
for any
mistakes
or misuse
of power
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.
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.
CE.5b
How do they do this?
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
CE.5b
• 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=0YOhrpvjYg&feature=related
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
CE.5b
2. Reflected in the way they
campaign
Explain
or
describe
this
cartoon
CE.5a
All political parties want to
strengthen the country, but they
often disagree over how to achieve
their goals.
You
are
wrong!
CE.5a
NO…
You
are
wrong!
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?
As the 3rd
Party
candidate
I promise
to…
1. They
introduce
new
ideas
CE.5b
Examples of 3rd parties
George Wallace in 1968 (American Independent Party)
Socialist,
Communist, and
Libertarian Parties
Prohibition Party in 1892
2. Work for
only one
particular
cause or
issue
CE.5b
Third Parties have
influence
Major parties often
take on the ideas of
third parties
George Bush (Republican), Ross Perot
(Reform), & Bill Clinton (Democrat) during
1992 Presidential debate
In 1992, both the
Republican and
Democratic Parties
took on Perot’s
reform government
ideas about reducing
the deficit
3. Revolve around a political
personality
CE.5b
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.
How much
do you
remember
?
CE.5b
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 Assessment
Get 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.
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
CE.5a
Hamilton
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.5b
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.5a
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.5b
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
CE.5a
Homework
Complete 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 Party
For the remaining class time...
Get together with one or two other
classmates.
Create your own third party
Complete the top part of the
worksheet and turn it in
Illustrate a T-shirt to advertise your
issue
Cut it out and tape it in the hall.