1. United States is made up of 2 major political parties:
Democrat – 31%
Republican – 25%
Independent Voters – 42%
NO political party called “Independent Party.” These voters do not identify or “register” as any party.

2. PURPOSE OF POLITICAL PARTIES?
An organized group of people who share similar political views and work to influence the government in support of these views. Platform – created by the Party to describe their views on major issues. Called this because it’s what the Party “stands on” when considering major issues for the nation.

3. GOAL OF THE POLITICAL PARTY
GET THEIR CANDIDATES ELECTED …..SO THEY CAN INFLUENCE THE LAWS AND POLICIES OF THE NATION.

4. DEMOCRATIC PARTY
A political party that believes the federal government should take a more active role in the people’s lives, particularly those who are in need.

5. REPUBLICAN PARTY
A political party that believes that the federal government should play a small role in people’s lives; they favor lower taxes and less government spending.

6. LIBERTARIAN PARTY
A political party that believes in individual freedom and the only purpose of government is to protect this freedom. Conservative on fiscal issues, liberal on social issues.

7. SOCIALIST PARTY
A political party that believes people should own and control industry through democratically controlled public agencies, cooperatives, or other collective groups.

8. COMMUNIST PARTY
A political party that believes the government should control all production and distribution of goods and working people should control their own lives and destinies.

9. GREEN PARTY
A political party that focuses on the environment – climate change a major issue. Focuses on social justice issues, and non-violence, more liberal than the Democratic Party.

10. Dem vs Rep Foldable Groups will summarize one of the platform issues.
The class will create a definition based on the summary.
Definition will be written in the foldable by the summary.

11. 6 Policies Taxes Budget Military Spending Treaties Immigration
Foreign Policy and Aid

12. Taxes

13. Budget

14. Military Spending

15. Treaties

16. Immigration

17. Foreign Policy and Aid

18. VOCABULARY Candidate Platform- issue based platform Two-party system
Third- party system
Democratic Party, Republican Party, Socialist Party, Libertarian Party, Communist Party
Political Perspective