SS.7.C.2.8 Political Parties Videos: ****At the end of this lesson, I will be able to do the following: compare current political parties ideas about government. evaluate the impact political parties have on society, government, or the political system. **** Terms I need to know at the end of this lesson. Political Parties Republican Party Democratic Party Communist Party Libertarian Party Socialist Party Political Party Origins: http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/politicalpartyorigins/ Political Parties: http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/politicalparties/ Reading: Political Parties: What Do Parties Stand For? (Mark the text with a purpose!) Are you a Democrat or a Republican? If you can answer that question, you're ahead of the game. For many people, political parties are a puzzle. The dictionary defines them as groups of people "who control or seek to control a government." So much for that dance party! The U.S. does not even mention political parties. President George Washington warned about "the danger of parties". Also, John Adams said the following quote about the division that political parties would bring. There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our. Even with warnings, our United States political system contains many political parties including Libertarian, Democratic, Republican and Communist. The two most prominent political parties are the Democratic Party and The Republican Party. Remember a political party is an organization that seeks to gain political power by electing members to public office so that their political ideas can be reflected in public policies The Party of the People: The Democratic Party is the oldest existing political party in the U.S. Some scholars say that it began when Jefferson founded the Democratic-Republicans in 1792. Jefferson opposed a strong central government. The party later split. Other scholars say that the Democrat Party grew from a branch headed by Andrew Jackson. Jackson, elected President in 1828, believed in a strict interpretation of the and limiting government powers. 1
Today's Democratic Party takes a different stand. Democrats are sometimes referred to as "the Party of the People," attracting immigrants, blue-collar workers, women, and minorities. Democrats tend to take a more liberal or progressive stand on important issues. They believe that the federal government should take a more active role in people's lives, particularly those who are in need, they believe in social programs and also in taking care of the environment. In addition, the Democratic Party supports labor unions. A labor union is an organized association of workers, often in a trade or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests. Some Democratic presidents are Obama, Kennedy and Clinton. One example is of a social program supported by the Democratic Party is during Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency (1933 1945). To pull the U.S. out of an economic depression, Roosevelt started a slew of government programs to create jobs. Other social program supported by the Democratic Party would be programs to help the needy like Medicaid, welfare and food stamps. The Republican Party also known as the Grand Old Party: The Republican Party was formed in 1854, when a man named Alvan E. Bovay brought together antislavery leaders. These leaders opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which would permit slavery in these new territories if the people voted for it. The party's candidate lost in 1856. The Republicans realized they needed more than one issue to win. In 1860, they still opposed slavery in the territories, but also called for a transcontinental railroad and free land to settlers. The candidate that year, Abraham Lincoln, won. What do Republicans stand for today? In general, Republicans tend to take a more conservative stand on issues. They believe that the federal government should not play a big role in people's lives. Most Republicans favor lower taxes and less government spending on social programs. They believe in less government intervention in business and the economy. They are antiunion and would support defense spending. Republicans believe that lower taxes help the economy. Some Republican presidents are Nixon, Reagan and Bush. Role of Political Parties: Political parties have many roles in our political system. Some include nominating candidates, influencing policy, uniting government, informing citizens and creating balance between the minority party and the majority party. Other political parties: Over the last 40 years, Americans have seldom granted their Presidents much freedom to enact their proposals. For example, often times, Republican Presidents have been in the White House, while Democrats have controlled both houses of Congress. The result is what we call a divided government. It makes it very difficult for our representatives to agree and make decisions. Some experts say that this situation can spark trouble. Each party blames the other when things go wrong and can be constantly deadlocked but sometimes the parties can make bipartisan decisions. EXTRA: What does bipartisan mean? While we have a two-party system, there are hundreds of political parties in the U.S like the Communist Party and the Libertarian Party. There are also people who are not linked to any party and run as independents. No third-party or independent candidate has ever been elected President. 2
Other Political Parties DEFINE Please! Libertarian Party: Communist Party: Socialist Party: SS.7.C.2.8 Compare and Contrast 3
SS.7.C.2.9 for ****At the end of this lesson, I will be able to do the following: identify the constitutional requirements to run for federal political office. recognize the requirements to run for state and local political offices. analyze and/or evaluate the qualifications of candidates for public office based on their experience, platforms, debates, and political advertisements. **** Terms I need to know at the end of this lesson. Platform Debate Candidate Figure out the constitutional requirements!!!! Directions: Read the excerpts below from the U.S., Florida, and Florida Statutes. After reading, determine the political office that is being described and in a complete sentence, explain the requirements for that office. 1 U.S Article I, SECTION. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen. 2 U.S Article I, SECTION 3. No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen. 4
3 U.S Article II, Section 1 No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States. 4 FLORIDA Section 15. Terms and qualifications of legislators (a) SENATORS. (b) REPRESENTATIVES. (c) QUALIFICATIONS. Each legislator shall be at least twenty-one years of age, an elector and resident of the district from which elected and shall have resided in the state for a period of two years prior to election. 5 FLORIDA Article IV, Section 5 the governor, lieutenant governor and each cabinet member must be an elector not less than thirty years of age who has resided in the state for the preceding seven years. 5
SS.7.C.2.9 Evaluate the Candidates: Graphic Organizer Take notes from the Powerpoint Presentation 1. 2. Additional Qualifications 3. 4. 6