Political Parties and the Electoral Process
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Learning Goals:
Students will understand the ideas of and the differences between America’s current political parties and how the nation elects it's representatives. Students will understand the electoral process. 
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Benchmarks:
SS.7.C.2.8 Content Complexity: Level 2/ Skills and Concepts Identify America's current political parties, and illustrate their ideas about government. SS.7.C.2.9 Content Complexity: Level 2/ Skills and Concepts Evaluate candidates for political office by analyzing their qualifications, experience, issue-based platforms, debates, and political ads. SS.7.C.2.13 Content Complexity: Level 3/Strategic Thinking-Reasoning Examine multiple perspectives on public and current issues. | ||
Key terms:
Political Party: a group of people who have similar beliefs/values.
Candidate: someone trying to be elected to a political office. (president, congress, mayor, governor, etc…)
Party Platform: the values and beliefs of a political party. (what they “stand” for)
Independent: A candidate who isn’t a member of the Republican or Democratic Party.
3rd party: Any political party in the U.S. that isn’t Democrat or Republican
Political Party: a group of people who have similar beliefs/values.
Candidate: someone trying to be elected to a political office. (president, congress, mayor, governor, etc…)
Party Platform: the values and beliefs of a political party. (what they “stand” for)
Independent: A candidate who isn’t a member of the Republican or Democratic Party.
3rd party: Any political party in the U.S. that isn’t Democrat or Republican
Task 1: Parties and the Political Spectrum
Today’s activity will get you to think about what your political beliefs and values are. You will start by learning about the different political parties and where their beliefs fall on a “political spectrum.”
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Directions:
Read through the document titled "Political Parties Questions." After reading about Democrats and Republicans, follow the directions below before answering the questions within the document. Summarize: (2s and 4s at your table )With your shoulder partner, write down what you feel are the most important values/beliefs of the Democratic Party. Be prepared to share with the class. (also identify any ideas/vocab you don’t understand) *Guiding question…what does your party think about the role/size of government? (Big? Small? Use context clues to determine) Summarize: (1s and 3s at your table) With your shoulder partner, write down what you feel are the most important values/beliefs of the Republican Party. Be prepared to share with the class. (also identify any ideas/vocab you don’t understand) |
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Task 2: Political Parties Scavenger Hunt
Follow the directions below to complete this Scavenger Hunt. For some questions you will have to click on the links provided, and for others you will have to use a general internet search.
CLICK HERE to answer the questions below:
1. Write down the name of ONE state with ALL Republican representatives.
2. Write down the name of ONE state with ALL Democratic representatives.
CLICK HERE to answer the questions below:
Using the same webpage, click on Sort by State.
3. Find a state where the two senators from that state are members of different political parties and write down the name of that state.
4. Find a state where the two senators from that state are members of the same political party and write down the name of that state.
5. Based on questions 1-4, what conclusions can you make about the impact of location/region on political values across the country?
CLICK HERE to answer the questions below:
1. Write down the name of ONE state with ALL Republican representatives.
2. Write down the name of ONE state with ALL Democratic representatives.
CLICK HERE to answer the questions below:
Using the same webpage, click on Sort by State.
3. Find a state where the two senators from that state are members of different political parties and write down the name of that state.
4. Find a state where the two senators from that state are members of the same political party and write down the name of that state.
5. Based on questions 1-4, what conclusions can you make about the impact of location/region on political values across the country?
Use an internet search to find the answers to the following questions:
6. In his farewell address, George Washington warned Americans of the dangers of political parties. Our first president thought that parties would tear the young country apart. Search the internet to answer: In what countries are political parties illegal? (think about what these countries have in common)
Do you agree or disagree with George Washington's statement on political parties?
7. Which political party is President Trump a member of? What about our last President, Barrack Obama?
8. The two most popular "3rd parties" in the U.S. are the Libertarian Party and the Green Party. These are the only U.S. parties that aren't Democrat Republican with more than 100,000 registered voters.
Write down the names of each of the following 3rd Parties. Then, match the name of the party with the correct term that describes their Party Platform.
6. In his farewell address, George Washington warned Americans of the dangers of political parties. Our first president thought that parties would tear the young country apart. Search the internet to answer: In what countries are political parties illegal? (think about what these countries have in common)
Do you agree or disagree with George Washington's statement on political parties?
7. Which political party is President Trump a member of? What about our last President, Barrack Obama?
8. The two most popular "3rd parties" in the U.S. are the Libertarian Party and the Green Party. These are the only U.S. parties that aren't Democrat Republican with more than 100,000 registered voters.
Write down the names of each of the following 3rd Parties. Then, match the name of the party with the correct term that describes their Party Platform.
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Click on each 3rd party below to read about their party platform.
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A. a political party that believes the government should control the entire economy, and there should be no private ownership of business.
B. a political party that believes in individual freedom and believes the only purpose of government is to protect this freedom. Less intervention in people’s lives, business, and avoid foreign conflict whenever possible. C. a political party that believes in democratic government but also that the government should run some of the largest parts of the economy. D. this party believes in protecting the environment and upholding social justice while avoiding foreign conflict whenever possible. |
BONUS QUESTION: Write down the name of at least one "third party member" of Congress (House of Representatives OR the Senate) who are either serving now or have served in the past. When did they serve and for what state?
Task 3: Kanye for President?
We've learned the basics about political parties, but what does it take to run for political office?
Open the attached file to the right titled "Running for Office" and follow the directions.
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Task 4: Candidate Evaluation Practice
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Open the attached file to the right titled "Candidate Evaluation" and answer the questions in your spirals.
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Task 5: Electoral College Summaries
Key terms
Candidate: someone trying to be elected to a political office. (president, congress, mayor, governor, etc…)
Majority: the number larger than half the total (opposite of minority)
Popular Vote: the number of votes for a candidate that come from the people voting, NOT representatives like electors.
Electoral vote: a vote cast by a member of the electoral college for President.
Candidate: someone trying to be elected to a political office. (president, congress, mayor, governor, etc…)
Majority: the number larger than half the total (opposite of minority)
Popular Vote: the number of votes for a candidate that come from the people voting, NOT representatives like electors.
Electoral vote: a vote cast by a member of the electoral college for President.
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Directions: After we watch the video to the right, you will write a paragraph response that summarizes the basics of how the Electoral College Works. We will stop and discuss periodically throughout the video. |
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Directions: After we watch the video to the left, you will write a paragraph response that summarizes some of the major problems/weaknesses of the Electoral College. We will stop and discuss periodically throughout the video |
Task 6: 270 to Win
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DIRECTIONS: CLICK HERE to go to 270towin.com and go through the attached questions titled "270 to win Questions."
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Task 7: Not throwing a party...making one
Come up with the following:
2.Education
3.Role of the Government
4.Energy/Environment
5.Immigration
6.Taxes/The Economy
Each Platform topic should be described with at least a paragraph summary. You are creating your own political party; so develop your own philosophies and opinions on these issues.
- The Name of Your Party
- An Animal that Represents your Party
- A Motto for your Party
- The Party’s Platform Views on These Issues (if you would like to add more you can):
2.Education
3.Role of the Government
4.Energy/Environment
5.Immigration
6.Taxes/The Economy
Each Platform topic should be described with at least a paragraph summary. You are creating your own political party; so develop your own philosophies and opinions on these issues.
Task 8: "Go ahead, throw your vote away!!"
1. What are the two major political parties in America?
2. Define the terms "independent candidate" and "3rd party."
3. What was significant about the 1992 and 1996 Presidential Election? (look at your answers from the "270 to win" activity)
The clips below are from a Simpson Halloween Special. In the episode, space aliens kidnap and impersonate President Clinton and Senator Dole during the 1996 Presidential Election. The video below begins after Homer reveals the truth to the citizens of Springfield.
2. Define the terms "independent candidate" and "3rd party."
3. What was significant about the 1992 and 1996 Presidential Election? (look at your answers from the "270 to win" activity)
The clips below are from a Simpson Halloween Special. In the episode, space aliens kidnap and impersonate President Clinton and Senator Dole during the 1996 Presidential Election. The video below begins after Homer reveals the truth to the citizens of Springfield.
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The clips above offered political commentary. What were the writers on The Simpsons trying to express about American politics in the clips above?
