Political ParticipationLEQ: How are political views formed?

UEQ: How do citizens influence government?EATs3.1

Political IdeologyPolitical PartiesTwo-Party SystemThird PartiesParty PlatformsPolitical Participation

Celebrity quiz: Democrat or Republican?

POTUS Party?Do you know the political affiliations of the modern presidents?

What is the purpose of political parties?

How do you know which political party to join?

Beliefs/Issues?

The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all. -- John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)Social Issues:AbortionLegalization of drugsDeath PenaltyGun RightsSame-Sex MarriageVideo Game ViolenceEconomic Issues:Health CareTaxesSocial SecurityNational DebtBailoutsEnvironmental Protection

Political IdeologyLEFTCenterRIGHTLiberty (freedom) versus Security (control)(Theme in Politics/Government)

A set of beliefs about the role of government and what policies government ought to pursue.

Political IdeologiesLiberalismConservatismLibertarianismStatismModerates (Centrists)

IdeologiesLiberalism: A set of beliefs that positive government action can improve the welfare of individuals. Tolerance for diversity and social change.Freedom (left) Social Issues Control (right) in EconomyAKA = Liberals, DemocratsConservatism: A set of beliefs that include a limited role of national government in solving problems. Support traditional values and lifestyles, cautious about change.Control (right) Social Issues Freedom (left) in EconomyAKA = Conservatives, Republicans, GOPModerate: prefer a "middle ground" regarding government control of the economy and personal behavior.Both Republicans and Democrats can by Moderates.

Political IdeologyConservativeDefinition:StatistDefinition:LibertarianDefinition:LiberalDefinition:Govt. Control(Zero Freedom) Economic IssuesSocial I ssuesFreedomModerate(Centrist)Freedom

Take the Worlds Smallest Political Quiz!hongovmaris.wikispaces.com

Where do you fall on the political map?

Plot yourself on your graph!

What are Political Parties?A political party is an organization of citizens who wish to influence and control government by getting their members (who believe the way they do) elected to office. Political parties:express the voice of citizensinform citizens; make it easier to voteinvolve citizens in the democratic political process.recruit and nominate candidatesraise $support campaignsprovide organization in governmentpolitical parties set goals for the governmentadvocate issueswrite party platform and position statements (planks).are watchdogs (keep other parties accountable)

Political PartiesIf I could not go to heaven but with a party [political], I would not go there at all --T. Jefferson

Brief Party HistoryFederalist party Washington, Adams, Hamilton (1789-1800), supported strong central gov.; opposed by Anti-Federalists.Democratic-Republican party, Thomas Jefferson (1800s-1834), opposed strong national gov. and supported states rights. Became Democratic party 1828 (Jackson).Whig party (1834) opposed democrats and specifically king Andrew (royal tyranny). Harrison and Taylor.Republican party born in 1854 by members opposed to slavery. Lincoln first Republican President in 1860. Republican party dominated until 1930s, FDR, Democrat.Republican and Democratic parties prevail since 1854.

1870,ThomasNast

Harper's Weekly in 1874"The Third-Term Panic."

Third PartiesThird Parties also form to support a cause or candidateInfluence elections by winning votes, press issues, often dont receive as much financial support.Few third-party candidates get elected to officeExamples:Tea PartyGreen Party (Ralph Nader)Reform Party (Ross Perot received 19% of pres. Vote in 92)LibertarianConstitution PartyBull Moose (Theodore Roosevelt, 1912)ProgressiveSocialist (Eugene Debs)Free Soil

Party OrganizationBoth parties have local, state, and national organizations. http://www.gop.com/ RNChttp://www.democrats.org/ DNChttp://www.pagop.org/ Statehttp://www.padems.com/home Statehttp://yorkgop.com/ Localhttp://www.yorkdems.org/ LocalFree Membership (register to vote)

Party Platformshttp://2012election.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=0044832012 Democratic National Party Platform

A party platform refers to a political party's formal statement of its basic principles, objectives, and positions on major issues.Which parties have the most members???

Two-Party SystemU.S. PoliticsRed or Blue - Why?A Republican or Democrat has won the Presidency since 1860.There are 2 independents out of 535 in the 113th Congress.There is only 1 Independent Governor (30 R 20 D). PA Government, Third Parties?Compare the # of political parties in the U.S. with other Countries:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2101.html#sw

Voting SystemsPlurality/Majority Systems: U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, India. In the UK, they call it the First Past the Post system. The winner (even if only be 1 vote, wins the district or all electors/delegates.)Proportional Representation Systems: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Parties compete and get percentage of seats based on votes (if 100 seats; 20% get 20 seats, etc.).Other Mixed Systems

Why a Two-Party System?Winner Take All PoliticsVoting system that rewards candidates with a majority or plurality (more than anyone else) of votes.discourages spoiler vote on other candidates not likely to winAlternative is proportional representation (5% of votes = 5% of seats in legislative body)Duality of political issuesTwo sides to major conflicts (Fed/Anti-Fed, life/choice) two-sided debates = no room for third [party] point of viewTraditionRepublicans (GOP) and Democrats already make up majority of government members and leadership. States control rules for elections.Winner-Take-All politics perpetuates the Two-Party System

Proportional Representation

Two-Party SystemAdvantages/Disadvantages There are a few advantages of the American two-party system:Stability: Two-party systems are more stable than multiparty systems Moderation: The two parties must appeal to the middle to win elections, so the parties tend to be moderate. Ease: Voters have only to decide between two parties. Direct Relationship with RepresentativesBut there are also a few disadvantages to our system, including the following:Lack of choice: Both parties tend to be very similar, limiting voters options. Less democratic: A percentage of people will always feel marginalized by the system (Spoiler Vote).

ResourcesVideo: Brief History of Political Parties

http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/gallery/partyaffiliation2008/

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/political-parties

http://www.theadvocates.org/

How do you decide your position on issue? Think, research, religion?*Size and Power of Government

Limited Government

Extremes, anarchy and totalitarianism

Classrooms/school and NFL teams voting scenario*