1. Mock Presidential Election Project
1st Component – Copy this Power Point handout into your notes (questions & answers) 45pts.

2. Basic Political Terminology

3. 1. Define Liberalism & Convservatism
Liberalism - A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority.
Conservatism - A political philosophy or attitude emphasizing respect for traditional institutions, distrust of government activism, and opposition to sudden change in the established order.

4. 2. Define the Democratic & Republican Parties
Democratic Party - One of the two major political parties in the United States, owing its origin to a split in the Democratic-Republican Party under Andrew Jackson in 1828.
Republican Party - One of the two primary political parties of the United States, organized in 1854 to oppose the extension of slavery.

5. 3. Relate the 2 ideologies to the parties
Liberalism – The ideology advocated by the Democratic Party
Conservatism – The ideology advocated by the Republican Party

6. 4. Compare/Contrast Liberalism & Conservatism
Liberals support gov. programs for the needy, while Conservatives oppose it
Liberals are anti-big business, while Conservatives are pro-big business
Liberals support civil liberties at all cost, while Conservatives believe in national security first
Liberals want to raise taxes on the wealthy & big business, while Conservatives want to leave taxes alone
Liberals favor a socialist economic system while Conservatives favor a capitalist economic system
Liberals favor an isolationist foreign policy; Conservatives favor an aggressive one

7. 8. What date is the Presidential Election (Month, day)?
November 2nd

8. An In-depth look at each of the planks
Where do the Liberals and Conservatives stand on each of the major issues?
An In-depth look at each of the planks

9. Foreign Policy Liberal Conservative
Isolationist (focus more on domestic issues)
Diplomacy is the best defense against terrorism (change our global image)
Diplomacy first; then sanctions against Iran (Obama signed an historic nuclear deal w/Iran)
Must protect our global interests & be aggressive
Go after terrorists & nations that aid/protect terrorist groups
Step up sanctions against Iran; keep military options open (totally oppose nuclear deal w/Iran)

10. Immigration Liberal Conservative
believe most illegal immigrants are honest, law-abiding people looking for a better life
Support sanctuary cities for illegal immigrants
Oppose building a wall between Mexico & U.S.
Support granting amnesty for illegal immigrants already here
Believe many illegal immigrants are criminals who are creating havoc in the U.S.
Oppose sanctuary cities for illegal immigrants
Support building a wall between Mexico & U.S.
Oppose granting amnesty for illegal immigrants already here

11. Liberal Energy Conservative
Favor regulating oil co. & OPEC who decrease oil production to keep prices high
Don’t want to lift the ban on offshore drilling cuz it would be bad for the environment
Favor fed. funding for companies that will tap into alternative energy (solar, wind, corn)
Gas prices rose becuz the world oil supply can’t keep up with growing global demand
Want to lift the ban so we could tap into our domestic oil reserves to stabilize demand & keep prices low
Support alternative energy but do not want to fed. fund it now (do not want to raise taxes)

12. The Economy/Taxes Liberal Conservative
Favor lowering taxes for the middle & working class to spur econ. growth
Favor raising corporate taxes and income taxes for the upper class to help pay for gov. programs
Want to lower taxes for everyone especially for corporations and the upper class
Believe that lowering taxes for everyone stimulates econ. growth (esp. the rich & business

13. Health Care Liberal Conservative
Want to create a universal health care system that would provide basic health care for every American
Obamacare allows us to keep our current privatized system while regulating it and providing a gov’t. option for those in poverty
Want to keep our current privatized health care system because they feel it provides Americans with the best quality health care at affordable prices
However, they do want to regulate health care providers into keeping their premiums affordable

14. Black Lives Matter v. Law Enforcement
Liberal
Conservative
Support Black Lives Matter & believe that most police discriminate & use excessive lethal force against minorities
Believe that minority groups are victims of institutionalized racism in addition to unwarranted targeting by racist law enforcement officials
Don’t support Black Lives Matter & believe that most police don’t discriminate & are simply doing their jobs to protect the community while suspects are engaging in deviant behavior & resisting arrest which leads to the use of lethal force by law enforcement

15. Gun Control Liberal Conservative
Want to improve on our nation’s gun control laws by creating more effective background checks, longer waiting periods, & banning certain assault weapons
Recent mass shootings have shown how important it is for our nation to fix our current gun laws
Want to protect the 2nd Amendment right to Bear Arms & support the right of individuals to own weapons for protection, hunting, and gun collection
Believe that stricter gun laws will not solve our nation’s mass shootings because crazy people will still be able to purchase weapons on the illegal market & it will only further prohibit citizens from being able to protect themselves

16. Liberal Education Conservative
Some support Common Core, while others oppose it
Redistribute property taxes evenly throughout the state
Against private school vouchers
Place tuition caps on colleges/universities
Most support Common Core & oppose teachers’ unions
They want to keep school funding as it is (local property taxes)
Want to give parents private school vouchers
Against tuition caps on colleges/universities

17. Abortion Liberal Conservative Want to keep abortion legal (Pro-Choice)
The gov’t. does not have the right to tell a woman what she should do with regards to her body
Want to keep it legal so that the gov’t. can regulate abortion clinics to keep them safe
Want to make abortion illegal (Pro-Life)
Believe that the unborn baby should have an advocate (a voice) to speak on their behalf
Believe that making it illegal will deter Americans from engaging in unprotected sex
It’s a religious issue

18. Gay Rights Liberal Conservative Are anti-gay rights Are pro-gay rights
Some want to allow civil unions while others are totally against homosexuality
This is a religious issue for many conservatives
Are pro-gay rights
Some want to allow gay marriages while others want to allow civil unions
This is a basic civil liberty issue that should be protected