1. Political Parties and the US Political System
I will get the opportunity to explain the importance of Congress to the President
I will get the opportunity to identify facts about the American political system

2. What is the name of the two major political parties in the USA?
Republican and Democrat

3. Which party do/did the following people belong to?

4. Which party does/did the following people belong to?
Democrat
Republican
Democrat
Republican

5. What they stand for Republican Harsh views on immigration
Anti gun control
Anti abortion
Low taxation and low government spending
Democrat
Pro choice on abortion issues
Bigger government spending (see Obamacare)
More lenient views on immigration
Slightly higher taxation than Republicans

6. Some of the positions they fight for
President
Congressman/woman (House of representatives)
Senator
Governor

7. House of Representatives
Each state elects a number of Congressmen/women dependant on their size
California has the most with 53
435 in total
They can pass/amend/reject laws put forward by the Senate or the President

8. Senate Each state elects two Senators
That means there are 100 Senators in total
They act as a check on the President and the House of Representatives
If they don’t agree to a law then it can’t pass

9. Whitehouse President heads up the executive
They set out what they want done and hand it to Congress for them to discuss and pass/amend/reject
Unlike in Scotland, the President can choose his team from anyone in the USA, they don’t have to be elected

10. Answer the questions on the handout given to you by your teacher

11. Getting decisions made
Getting decisions made can be even tougher than it appears
Often members of both Houses vote by what their state would want rather than what their party would
For example, many Democrats from the deep south voted against their President's gun reform law

12. Bingo! Test what you have learned with a game of bingo