1. Political Spectrum Notes

2. What are political parties and why do we need them?
A political party is a group of people who join together and work to get candidates elected to political office.
Members of a political party have some similar ideas about government and issues.
They allow our voices to be heard on the issues we individually support.
What are political parties and why do we need them?

3. Political Parties Partisanship – allegiance to a political party
Set goals and agendas based on ideas and issues of concern.
Partisanship – allegiance to a political party
Bipartisan – both parties working together
Political Parties

4. Believes the National Government should be active in helping individuals and communities promote health, education, justice and equal opportunity.
Liberals believe in large governments
Democrats
Liberal

5. Believes the role of the Government in society should be limited and that individuals should be responsible for their own well being.
Conservatives believe in small government
Republicans
Conservative

6. How did Political Parties develop???
Back in the day…Washington warned against political parties but they naturally formed with the argument on whether or not to ratify the Constitution (Federalist v. Anti- Federalist)
Then Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson formed the fist two political parties.
Democratic Republicans (Thomas Jefferson)
Believed in small government
Federalist (Alexander Hamilton)
Believed in large government
How did Political Parties develop???
Becomes a tradition after that. Smaller parties can’t seem to gain enough support to change the system.

7. Two Party System Democrats
More Expansive view of the power of the Federal Government
Support raising and spending $$$$ to address Social Ills on a national level.
Favor Federal regulation to business practices
Republican
Support limiting federal powers and protecting power of State and Local Government
Conservative approach to taxation and spending
Oppose Government interference with free enterprise
Two Party System

8. Economy Democrats Republicans Regulate No Gov. intervention
Increase Taxes for the wealthy, cut taxes for the middle class “Fair Share”
“Pump Up”
Taxes help people through programs
No Gov. intervention
Cut taxes across the board to stimulate the economy and help families
“Trickle Down”
Taxes hurt the economy
Republicans
Economy

9. Environment Democrats Republicans Conservation Conservation w/Business
Honor hunting and fishing with heritage with more conservation lands
Reject choice of healthy economy vs healthy environment
Against off-shore drilling
Conservation w/Business
Private Property ownership key to environmental agenda
Cap and trade market- based air pollution reductions
For off shore drilling
Environment

10. Energy and Oil Democrats Republicans No Kyoto
Billions from oil and gas subsidies to alternative research and development
Develop renewable energy and efficient vehicles
No Kyoto
No mandatory emission controls
Tax incentives for energy production
Support use of coal, oil, fracking, as well as alternative energy

11. Guns Democrats Republicans Gun Owners Rights
No frivolous gun lawsuits, no federal gun licensing
More public land for hunting
Gun Control
Reauthorize assault weapons ban, close gun show loophole
Strengthen gun control to reduce violence
Guns

12. Abortion Democrats Republicans Pro Choice
Supports Stem Cell and other medical research
Its your right to chose even if you can’t pay.
Choice is fundamental and a constitutional right
Pro Life
Want to amend the Constitution and ban abortion.
Promote adoption and abstinence
Want to add Human Life Amendment to the Constitution

13. Civil Rights Democrats Republicans
no racial or religious profiling
strengthen parts of Patriot Act & change others
marriage at state level – no Fed gay marriage ban
abolish “don’t ask, don’t tell”
hate crime laws – include gays
affirmative action
ERA & equal employment
Patriot Act used to track terrorist activity
Want to amend the Constitution to ban same- sex marriage
Believes homosexuality is incompatible with military service (Don’t Ask Don’t Tell)
affirmative access without preferences
support advantage of women in military

14. Welfare Democrats Republicans Help the less fortunate
Support universal health care coverage
Obama-care
People should be self- sufficient.
Private Insurance and state plans
Repeal Obama-care

15. Crime Democrats Republicans Crack down on drugs and gangs
Fight crime with prevention community police
Tougher punishments, including death penalty
DNA testing, post conviction reviews for death penalty cases
Support death penalty
Deter crime by enforcing existing laws
More victim rights and harsher penalties for some crimes
Death penalty an effective deterrent

16. Drugs Democrats Republicans
Bring to justice those bringing drugs to the US
Drugs in prison: get clean to get out
Dry up demand by more enforcement and treatment
Fight drugs and economic hopelessness that fuels it
Jail time and school testing deter use
Need presidential leadership: cry out for drug free schools
Aggressively pursue drug kingpin; include death penalty

17. Immigration Republicans Democrats Strongly Oppose illegal immigration
Favor comprehensive reform with path to citizenship for undocumented workers
Prioritize deportation of criminals over immigrants not posing a threat, such as children pursuing an education
Support Dream Act
Strongly Oppose illegal immigration
Oppose amnesty/path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already here
Create humane procedures for illegal aliens to return home voluntarily and deportation for those who don’t
Favor states’ efforts at passing harsh immigration laws

18. Education Democrats Republicans Tax deductible tuition
Student Loan Forgiveness
Charter schools OK, vouchers not
Public School Accountability- not vouchers
Standardized tests to advance learning, not bureaucracy
Increase access to higher education savings accounts
Limit role of federal government in education
Promote school choice and home schooling
Achievement basis for access to college

19. Third Party Options

20. Why are third parties important?
Call attention to issues
The Populist Party introduced ideas that influenced some economic policies of the New Deal, whereas the Anti-Masonic Party was the first party to use a convention to nominate its candidates, in the mid- nineteenth century.
Influence political ideas (platform) of democrat or republican parties
In 1992, neither Bill Clinton nor George H. W. Bush talked much about the budget deficit until independent candidate Ross Perot emphasized it in his campaign.
“spoiler vote” – may draw enough voted away from major party influence and election
Some pundits argued that Ralph Nader’s bid in the presidential election may have cost Al Gore the presidency by siphoning away votes in key states such as Florida
They also keep major party candidates honest.
Why are third parties important?

21. Most Important Third Parties
SOME IMPORTANT THIRD PARTIES
Party
Dates
Success(es)
Anti-Masonic Party
1828–1832
First party to hold a convention to nominate candidates
Prohibition Party
1867–present
Has nominated a candidate for president in every election since 1872
Progressive Party
1912
Elected a number of candidates to state legislatures, Congress, and even the U.S. Senate. Deflected enough votes from Republican William Howard Taft to hand the presidency to Democrat Woodrow Wilson in 1912.
American Independent Party
1968–present
Won electoral votes (for George Wallace)
Libertarian Party
1971–present
Some members have won local elections.
Green Party
1984–present
Most Important Third Parties

22. Libertarian https://www.lp.org/platform/
More right than conservatives and founding fathers
Education- Parents provide education (this means private education or home schooling)
Guns-Oppose laws restricting guns. You choose to carry or not
Healthcare- Purchase own health care up to you if you have it or not
Economy-Get rid of the income tax. Don’t raise taxes for budget. Free Market
Environment-Not Governments Job to subsidize energy.
Abortion- Government should be kept out of the matter. Up to the individual person,
Crime- Oppose the Death Penalty
Immigration- Free Immigration (as long as peaceful)
Drugs- End War on Drugs, Government shouldn’t decide what drugs a person is allowed to consume
Welfare- Get rid of welfare programs; believe in promoting charity instead
Civil Rights- Government should neither deny nor abridge any individual's human right. Your choice.
Private organizations can do what they want and you have the right to do what you want in return
Restore wrongs done against U.S. Indians.
Libertarian

23. Independent https://www.independentamericanparty.org/platform-1
Also right winged, not as right as libertarians
Judeo Christian Background and the promotions of those ideas
Education- People and States Rights
Guns- Promote Second Amendment; Deny guns to criminals and the insane
Healthcare- People have the right to choose whether or not you have healthcare
Economy- “Free Enterprise”; Balance Budget; Eliminate the deficit; Withdraw internationally; Raise tariffs
Environment- State and local responsibility; Dynamic balance of alternative energy and protection of the environment ; Protect Ocean and Fishing Rights
Abortion- Against Abortion
Crime- Protect citizens at all cost and keep criminals off the streets
Immigration- Build a Fence; Not even children of immigrants become citizens
Drugs- State Governments regulate drugs, attack drugs at every level
Welfare-providing assistance to individuals is the job of families first, neighbors and friends second, communities and counties third, and churches and other private organizations fourth. If you were to take that further, the states could possibly assist counties in disaster relief, etc.
Government shouldn’t be involved
Civil Rights- Natural Rights , denies gay marriage rights (belief in traditional family),
Independent

24. Green Party http://www.gp.org/platform More left than Democrats
Education- Get rid of JROTC, Public education (life-long)
Guns- Eliminate the gun show loophole that permits sale of weapons without background checks.
Healthcare- Health care is right not a privilege
Economy- Aspire to less "stuff" but more happiness. Provide everyone a job
Greens intend to provide a green job to anyone who wants one. We support using the tax system to bring more equality to our nation.
Environment- Solar, wind, geo-thermal, marine, and other cleaner renewable energy sources.
Abortion- Women’s Right to control their body
Crime- Wants to fight human trafficking; provide education to prisoners; Reduce the prison population, invest in rehabilitation, end war on drugs
Immigration-All illegals should be granted full citizenship, should be able to take care of their families in other countries; and people should be able to move between countries and live where they want freely
Drugs- end war on drugs; legalize hemp; offer drug counseling and treatment
Welfare- Fully support all health care programs (especially for single mothers)
Civil Rights- Support Affirmative Actions very strong action to support women's right , reverse past wrong doings and rewrite the Constitution
Green Party

25. Political Spectrum

26. Political Spectrum as a line

27. Where America falls on the line…