1. Political Parties in America
Directions: Carefully read through the following slides to give you more of an understanding of political parties in America. Answer the questions at the end of the descriptions.

2. What are Political Parties?
Political parties are the main way that we elect people to public office in the United States. The purpose of any political party is to win elections and influence the government.

3. Why join a political party?
A good reason to join a political party is because it supports values and ideas you believe in. Members of a political party share most of the same beliefs about how the government should work.

4. Which Political Party should YOU join?
You can join whichever political party or political movement you want. The two major political parties, the Democratic and Republican parties, dominate the electoral process..
You can choose NOT to join a political party at all. Then you are called an Independent voter and you just vote for the person you think will do the best job, no matter which party they may belong to.
No matter what you believe, get involved! That way you can be sure your government represents you!

5. Political Party Platforms
Directions: Carefully read through both the political party platforms in America. Answer the questions that follow the platform slides.

6. Republican Party Platform
Free market: Means you should be able to buy, sell, and trade goods without too much government involvement.
Low taxes
Pro Small Business, giving people tax breaks to start their own business.
Proactive military and defense. Supports building weapons and technology to protect our nation.
Generally supports closed or tight borders and tracking system for foreign travelers.
Religion is strongly associated with this Political party; much of the party opposes gay marriage.
Pro-Life (against abortion)
Supports the death penalty
Limited gun control

7. Democratic Party Platform
Encourages businesses to stay in America instead of sending them overseas. (Apple Iphone factories, Jordan’s).
Limited military and defense. Believes peace is achieved through relationship building.
Raising taxes for the wealthy and lowering taxes for the middle class.
Believes strictly in separated between church and state. (No prayer in school, keeping God out of the Pledge of Allegiance).
Supports equal rights for women and is generally Pro-Choice.
Strict gun control
Support illegal immigrants ability and right to become citizens and giving them more protections under the law.

8. Directions: Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
What is the purpose of a political party, and why join one?
Even if you do not want to join a specific political party, what can YOU do to make changes or influence the government?
Which political party platform do you align with the most and why? What about that specific party platform appeals to you? (3-5 sentences)
Take a guess, which party do you think you would belong to if you were allowed to vote tomorrow? (Democrat or Republican)