1. Q: What are the two parties? A: Democrats and Republicans
C.2.8 Political Parties
The United States is dominated by 2 main political parties- 2 party system
Q: What are the two parties?
A: Democrats and Republicans
Q: Which party is considered left leaning or liberal?
A: Democrats
Q: Which party are considered right leaning or conservative?
A: Republicans
Q: What are political ideologies?
A: political beliefs
Q: What are political platforms?
A: The beliefs of a political party

2. C.2.8 Political Parties Liberal (left) Moderate (middle of the road)
Conservative (right)
Democrat
Republican
The Democrat ‘s Platform
The Republican Platform
More social programs
smaller government role
Tax wealthy and business more
Less taxes
Environmental protection
Less government regulation
Decrease military spending
Higher military spending
Gun control
2nd amendment rights
Same gender marriage
Marriage= 1 man + 1 woman
Outlaw abortion
Woman’s right to choose
Death penalty is OK in murder cases
Death penalty violates 8th amendment
Separation of church and state (establishment clause)
Religion in public places is OK

3. Brainpop
Political Beliefs

4. Tax the wealthy more to help poorer citizens.
Assignment 25, Part 2, Classifying, write L if it is a liberal statement or or C if it is a conservative statement
Tax the wealthy more to help poorer citizens.
Laws should be passed to make it harder to get a gun.
The economy is better off when citizens are taxed less.
Marriage should be 1 man and 1 woman only.
More laws should be passed to protect the environment.
The death penalty is unconstitutional.
Taxes should be used to increase military spending.
Taxes should be used to increase social programs.
The government should ensure laws protect our 2nd amendment rights to bear arms.
Teacher lead prayer in public school should be OK. L L C C L L C L C C

5. Unit 5, Lesson 1 Notes Well known Republican Presidents include:
Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Richard Nixon
Well known Democratic Presidents include:
Bill Clinton, John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt
There are third parties which are smaller political parties.
Third party examples: Green Party, Reform Party, Libertarian Party.
What do all parties agree on?
supporting the Constitution, freedom, democracy
Do people cross party lines on some issues?
yes
A political party’s official written position is called its platform.
What is your ideology?
Your political beliefs
Where do kids usually get their ideologies from?
their family
Slide 2/4

6. Part 4 (survey) Write A or B (5 Points)
On each screen you will see two scenarios.
Write A or B depending on which one you agree with.

7. Question 1- A or B
A. A factory owner should be permitted to decide how much pollution is put into the environment to maximize profits. B. The government should regulate businesses to ensure they do not harm the environment.

8. Question 2- A or B
The government should not pass any laws restricting access to guns. OR
B. The government should make it harder for people to get guns to ensure public safety.

9. Question 3- agree or disagree
A. The government should not get involved in how businesses pays workers. Businesses should be allowed to maximize profits OR B. The government should require businesses to raise minimum wage to ensure all Americans can survive.

10. Question 4- agree or disagree
A. It should be OK for teachers or students to say a prayer into a microphone before a sporting event at school or after the pledge in the morning OR B. Public school and prayer should be separate.

11. Question 5- agree or disagree
Abortion should be illegal in the United States.
OR B. Abortion should be a woman’s choice.

12. Question 6- agree or disagree
A. The government should tax wealthy citizens and poorer citizens at the same rate OR B. The wealthy should be taxed more to help poorer citizens.

13. Question 7- agree or disagree
A. The U.S. Constitution should be amended to say a marriage can only be between a man and a woman OR B. It is OK for same gender people to get married.

14. Question 8- agree or disagree
A. The death penalty should be used in all 50 states for criminals that take a life OR B. The death penalty should be considered cruel and unusual punishment

15. Question 9- agree or disagree
A. It is not the government’s job to ensure all Americans have health insurance OR B. It is the government job to make sure all citizens have access to health insurance.

16. Question 10- agree or disagree
A. The welfare system only makes people more dependent on the government OR B. The government should help US citizens living in poverty.

17. 8 or more A answers= Strong Conservative
Part 4 (survey) Count you’re “A” responses and fill in the box on your sheet. Circle your ideology.
8 or more A answers= Strong Conservative
6 or 7 A answers = conservative
5 A answers = moderate
3 or 4 A answers = liberal
0, 1 or 2 A answers = strong liberal

18. Lobbyist: A person who works for a special interest group.
Unit 5, Lesson 1 Notes
special interest groups: groups who try to influence bills proposed in Congress to get them passed or stop the bill.
Lobbyist: A person who works for a special interest group.
Citizens can also influence the political process by contacting their representative or starting a petition.
Liberal
Conservative
Moderate
Democrat
Republican
Higher military spending
More social programs
Less taxes
Tax wealthy and business more
smaller government role
More government regulation
Less government regulation
Gun control
2nd amendment rights
Same gender marriage
Marriage= 1 man + 1 woman
environmentalist
Increased spending for public schools
Private school vouchers

19. BrainPop
Political Parties

20. C.2.8 PMT Sample Questions

21. PMT Sample Questions