This document provides an overview of America's two main political parties - the Republican and Democratic parties - as well as some information about third parties. It discusses how political parties help communicate beliefs to the government, educate citizens, and guide voters during elections. The key roles of political parties include allowing large groups of people to have their voices heard, raising and spending money to support candidates, and being active at the federal, state, and local levels of government. Students are encouraged to research the platforms of different parties and determine which ones best align with their own views.

1. Political Parties
By: Ashley Furgione Learning Goal:
Students will be able to identify America's current political parties, and illustrate their ideas about
government.
Standard - SS.7.C.2.8:
Identify America's current political parties, and illustrate their ideas about government.

2. Review of “One Big Party”
In yesterday’s “One Big Party” reading, you learned the following:
 In America we have a “2 Party System”
 A political party is a group of citizens or voters with similar views on public issues who work to put their
ideas into government action and who work together to elect a candidate.
 Our 2 main parties in America are the Republican & Democratic Party

3. Republicans vs. Democrats
What is the main difference between our 2 Parties?

4. Who are these CANDIDATE people?
In yesterday’s “One Big Party” reading, you learned the
following:
 Parties choose a candidate who agrees with their
beliefs and try to persuade voters to support their
candidate running for office. Competing political
parties give voters a choice among candidates and
ideas.
 Candidates representing the major political party that
wins more seats in one house of the national or state
legislature becomes the majority party in that house of
the legislature.
 The party that wins fewer seats in one house of the
national or state legislature becomes the minority party
in that house of the legislature.
 The majority party in a legislative house enjoys more
control over the lawmaking process compared with
the minority party in that same legislative house

5. How Would I Know Which Party I Agree With?!
 To know where a party stands on the major issues, the voters can look at the party’s platform.
 A platform is a series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on issues.
 Platforms can typically be found on the parties official website.
 Each individual part of a platform is called a plank. The platform communicates to voters what the
political party plans to do if it wins.
 (Examples: Platform Issue = Healthcare; Plank = Agreeing/Disagreeing with universal healthcare)
Click on either button to the left or right to read
about both the Democratic and Republican Party
Platforms (i.e. Core Beliefs)

6. Don’t agree with either?… Try a 3rd Party!
Third Parties:
 Third parties are political parties that
often form on the basis of one or a few
issues.
 These issues might be related to a
foreign (not in U.S.) or domestic (in U.S.)
concern and, because the concern is
so particular, it is difficult to gain
popular support.
 Third party candidates have never won
a presidential election and rarely win
election to other offices.
 Third parties may take away votes from
one of our 2 major parties in elections.
 To the right are some examples of
current third parties that exist in the
United States:

7. How Would I Know Which Party I Agree With?!
 Now that you have a solid understanding of where the "Left" and "Right" generally stand, we want to
see where you stand! Click on the picture below to take a short quiz which is intended to help you
see where you may fall on the Political Spectrum.
Political Party Quiz
Please remember, this is a survey and it does not indicate what party you are affiliated with OR
what your beliefs are for the rest of your life, we are just trying to get you thinking! For an even
more in-depth look, click HERE!

8. Why are Political Parties Important?
 Political parties play a major role AND make an important impact in American
society.
1. Political parties are important to the democratic process because they allow
individuals to communicate their beliefs to the government.
2. Because political parties are made up of large groups of people, it allows their
group’s voices and shared ideas to be more easily heard by the government.
3. Political parties also educate citizens about issues and acts as a guide during
elections. People tend to vote for candidates from their own political party or for
issues that their political party supports.

9. Why are Political Parties Important?
(Cont’d)
 Political parties also impact the government at the federal, state and local levels.
 Political parties act as loose confederations (groups that come together for similar
reasons/causes) at the state and local levels. Because there are many more elected
offices at the state and local levels, political parties tend to be more active at these
levels.
 Political parties raise and spend money in order to get candidates elected and they
use funds to help spread the message about their beliefs and ideas to the people.

10. REFLECTION
 In your Journal:
1. Research another 3rd party OR the party that your “side with” quiz came up with.
1. Look up the parties platform and write down some of their core beliefs.
2. Why do you think the quiz matched you with this party based on your own core beliefs?
2. Review our class SCALE for this Unit (by clicking on the word SCALE in this
sentence). Where would you rate yourself on the scale currently and why?
3. Extension Activity: Come up with an idea for your own political party to share with
the class.