1. Political Platforms and Parties

2. What are Political Platforms?
Political Platform (start at 1:07-2:43) - official stance of a political party to communicate approach to a variety of key issues
Published every 4 years with the Presidential Election cycle
Written by key members of the party and approved at the Convention
Democratic Platform 2012 Changes - Is this democratic? Does this embody the values of the constitution?

3. Party Platforms Plank - Stance on a single topic for the party
Platforms Explained Stop at 2:28

4. How are they used? Guideline to bring the party together nationally
Guideline is the key word, there will be variances within each party regionally
Serve as a talking point in debates and media ads
Changes are often hotly debated and questioned

5. Look at the following images - Which do you think is most accurate? Why?

6. Political Parties
Purpose - to join people with similar views about the government and its role in the lives of people
Function - Support the expansion and success of their beliefs about government and its role

7. What do you need to finish today?
Select individual roles within the group and let Ms. K know
Select 3 main planks and write a 1 paragraph summary of each (1 per group)
This must be different from the official party platform, and reflect your ideas and targeted audiences - AKA don’t copy and paste!
This is due Friday on Classroom
Create a campaign slogan
Select which current (or previous) candidate from your party you hope to most resemble