RAP 31

A B C

D

E

Who are these people and what political party are they in?

Hillary Clinton-Democrat

Barack Obama-Democrat

John McCain-Republican

Sarah Palin-RepublicanJoe Biden-Democrat

Fill in the position they ran for and their political party

• Sarah Palin ran for ___________________ and is a ___________________________

• Hillary Clinton ran for ___________________ and is a ___________________________

• Joe Biden ran for ___________________ and is a ___________________________

• Barack Obama ran for ___________________ and is a ___________________________

• John McCain ran for ___________________ and is a ___________________________

• Political parties have existed since the first decade of the new American government’s existence. Americans have always had mixed feelings about them.

• Parties are necessary, and they perform necessary functions. But they have always been complicated.

• Parties often mirror American society and are deeply rooted in the democratic process.

• Political Party: organized group of elected officials & supporters w/a platform, policies and candidates.– Parties have committees to organize on precinct, county,

state and the highest levels (National Committee)– Parties Nominate Candidates, raise $$, write platforms.– Primary purpose of the party = get their candidates into

elected office to shape the government according to their agenda.

• The party platform is what the party stands for and the issues on its agenda

What Parties Do for Democracy•Party Functions

•Organize the Competition•Unify the Electorate•Inspire and Inform Voters•Translate Preferences into Policy•Provide Loyal Opposition•Organize Government•Help Govern•Act as Watchdogs•Nominate Candidates•Ensure Candidate Quality

Partisanship

• Bi-Partisan: when two parties work together (Ex= recent economic bailout plan in Congress has Republican and Democratic supporters)

• Non-Partisan: does not have affiliation with a particular party. (Ex= the school board is a nonpartisan group, they are not tied to either party.)

• PARTISAN

VS.

• BI-PARTISAN

Party Systems– One-party: single dominant

party– Two-Party: America has this

system where power shifts between 2 parties.• ** Sometimes there can be

3rd party which is doesn’t have power but can change election outcomes.

– Multi-party: 3 or more parties, must form coalitions

America’s 2 party system

• The two major political parties in the US are the:– Republicans (Conservatives)– Democrats (Liberals)

• You can register to vote as a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent (you don’t belong to either party).

• POLITICAL Spectrum: A political spectrum is a way of comparing or visualizing different political positions, by placing them upon one of more geometric axes.