1. POLITICAL PARTIES

2. A political party is a group of people seeking to nominate and elect individuals to public office under a label. What is a Political Party?

3. What groups are Democrat or Republican Democratic PartyRepublican Party WomenMen MinoritiesWhites and Cubans Midwest and NorthSouth and West PoorerRicher LaborBusiness Owners CatholicProtestants Lawyers & TeachersDoctors Lower, Higher EducationHigher Education

4. US has a two party system: Democrats & Republicans Minor parties provide voters with an alternative Signal that two major parties are not addressing voter’s needs –Ross Perot and Reform Party (1992) What role do third parties play in the American political system?

5. Perot Commercial: Vote Your Conscience

6. Is Another Party Needed to Represent Americans (2010)? Yes NO Not Sure Yes NO Not Sure Yes NO Not Sure

7. Do parties take a different stand on the issues? –What is a platform? Written statement of where the party stands on the issues Written every four years Written at presidential nominating convention Each issue is called a “plank” in the platform The American Party System

10. The End