THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM

WHERE DO YOU STAND?

WHAT IS A POLITICAL CONTINUUM?

A range of political values that help us determine where we might fit politically.

A person’s views on the issues help determine where they fall on the political spectrum.

The labels used on the spectrum are not pure categories, but they make up a continuum, or value line, and citizens and politicians fall somewhere on that line depending on what they believe.

FACTORS THAT DETERMINE PLACEMENT

Two major factors shape political views.

1.) The first is how much change a person is willing to have within their society and government.

2.) The second deals with how much government involvement in the economy a person calls for.

POLITICAL LABELSTo see where you stand, you would have to figure out where you stand on a number of social (people-related), economic (money-related), and political (governmental) issues.

First you need definitions of these political terms:1.Radical2.Liberal3.Moderate4.Conservative5.Reactionary.

READ….

1. Read the article titled, Political Spectrum.

2. Using the Graphic organizer to identify the essential characteristics of each political label.

3. We will discuss each political label in a few minutes.

4. You have 10 minutes to read the article and identify the essential characteristics of each political label.

5. Be prepared to share your answers with the class and me.

6. Begin thinking about where you fall on the political spectrum.

WHAT IS A RADICAL?Seen as being on the ______

of the political spectrum, radicals call for __________change in the basic structure of the political, social, or economic system.

They may be willing to _________including the use of violence and revolution.

V.I. Lenin: Mastermind of the Russian

Revolution and Father of the Soviet Union

CHARACTERISTICS• These individuals are the farthest to the left on the

political spectrum.

• Extremely _______ with the society they live in.

• They wish for ________ and profound change.

• They strongly support something new and different.

• They will use _________ to bring about change.

• They may also be extremely passive in the efforts to bring about change (sit-ins, night vigils, strikes, etc…)

• Change must happen RIGHT NOW

WHAT IS A LIBERAL?Liberals believe that the _____should be actively involved in the promotion of ________of a nation’s citizens.

They usually call for peaceful, and relatively fast change within the existing political system.

They reject violent revolution as a way of changing the way things are, often called the status quo.

President Barack Obama

CHARACTERISTICS OF A LIBERAL• They are located to the left on the political spectrum.

• The are dissatisfied with society (considerably less than a radical).

• Change should occur________.

• They desire change in their society.

• The contemporary liberal will believe in human equality.

• The contemporary liberal will believes the government should be used as a tool to improve civil rights and human life.

• They believe the government should stay out of citizens ________ affairs.

• They believe the government should not use their power to prevent individuals from accumulating property.

• Support _________… try to sway moderates their way.

PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERED LIBERALS

WHAT IS A MODERATE?

Moderates may share viewpoints with both ______ and________. They are seen as the typical American.

They are found in the _______ of the political spectrum.

They are seen as tolerant of other people’s views, and they do not hold extreme views of their own.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A MODERATE • Are found in the

middle of the political spectrum.

• They ______with their lives and society.

• They are a very diverse group of people.

• Recognize the world is not______.

• Support _____ liberal and conservative values.

PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERED MODERATE

The average everyday American is a moderate.

Most don’t declare a political party.

They vote how the feel during that particular election cycle.

WHAT IS A CONSERVATIVE?People who hold conservative ideals favor keeping things the way they are or maintaining the _______Conservatives are usually hesitant or cautious about adopting new policies, especially if they involve government activism in some way. They desire change to occur________.They feel that the less government there is, the better. They agree with Jefferson’s view that “the best government governs least.”

Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) is widely regarded as the father of the modern

conservative movement

CHARACTERISTICS OF A CONSERVATIVE…• On the right of the

political spectrum

• Are supportive of moderates and the status quo.

• Change should occur slowly.

• ______ rules bring forth stability.

• Believe in human equality

• Recognize human biological inequalities.

• Hold general belief that inequalities will ______exist.

• Want a society free of conflict.

• Political beliefs may possess religious tones

PEOPLE WHO MAY BE CONSERVATIVE • Rick Perry

• Herman Caine

• Sarah Palin

• Donald Trump

• Mitt Romney

• Michelle Bachman

• John McCain

• George Bush

• Ronald Regan

WHAT IS A REACTIONARY?

Sitting on the far right of the ideological spectrum, reactionaries want to ______to the way things were—the “good ol’ days.” Often reactionaries are willing to use extreme methods, such as repressive use of government power, to achieve their goals.

The term “reactionary is generally negative.

Hitler’s Mein Kampf is a typical reactionary manifesto

CHARACTERISTICS OF A REACTIONARY• Wish to return society

to a former time.

• Will try to make change through both violence and peaceful means.

• Extremely unhappy with society.

• They wish for immediate and profound change… NOW.

• They are on the far right of the political spectrum.

PEOPLE/GROUPS WHO MAY BE A REACTIONARY

KU KLUX KLAN

AL- QUAIDA

ARE YOU A LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE - PRACTICE

a. The federal government should guarantee full employment LiberalConservative

 b. The government should guarantee medical care for all citizens LiberalConservative

 c. The individual is basically responsible for his own well being so the govt. should make welfare recipients go to work.

Liberal or Conservative

 d. The govt. should cut taxes, not raise them, so that people can have the choice in spending their income

Liberal Conservative

 e. The federal government should regulate business to protect the environment

Liberal Conservative

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22 GOVERNMENT-9WWW.CNNSTUDENTNEWS.COM

ON YOUR DESK:

CNN student news notes

TODAY:TODAY:

1.SEARCH questions are due today

2.Letter to active Service Member (due today)

3.Political Spectrum Quiz

4.Introduce Democratic and Republican values and political platforms

Objective: Students will be able to identify the core values and beliefs of liberals and conservatives.

QUIZ…When you are completed with the quiz, answer the following

questions on the back of the half-sheet:

1. Explain this joke: Liberals support bad ideas and Conservatives have no ideas… What does this mean, use what we have said about the role of government in your response.

2. Draw the political spectrum below and place the following labels in the correct locations (Moderate, Liberal, Conservative, Radical, Reactionary):

________ _________ _________ ___________ _________

Political Spectrum

POLITICAL PARTIES:DEMOCRATS V. REPUBLICANS

An organized group of people with common values and beliefs who try to get their candidates elected to political office

THE DONKEY•Presidential candidate Andrew Jackson was the first Democrat ever to be associated with the donkey symbol.

•His opponents during the election of 1828 tried to label him a "jackass" for his “stubborn” populist beliefs and slogan, "Let the people rule."

•Jackson was entertained by the notion and ended up using it to his advantage on his campaign posters.

THE ELEPHANT•Cartoonist Thomas Nast drew a donkey clothed in Lion’s skin, scaring away all the animals at the zoo. One of the animals, the elephant, was labeled “The Republican Vote.”

•The elephant symbol stuck and has been kept ever since.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28 GOVERNMENT-9ON YOUR DESK:

Compare/ Contrast Chart & Blank Sheet of Paper

TODAY:TODAY:1.SEARCH questions are due today

2.Political Spectrum Quiz Review (absent students to the hall)

3.Review the Compare/ Contrast Chart (Demos vs. GOP)

4.Introduce Democratic and Republican values and political platforms

HOMEWORK: -8 POLITICAL VIEWPOINTS/ DEFENSE (DUE TOMORROW)HOMEWORK: -8 POLITICAL VIEWPOINTS/ DEFENSE (DUE TOMORROW)

-POLITICAL VOCABULARY (DUE WEDNESDAY)-POLITICAL VOCABULARY (DUE WEDNESDAY)

Objectives:

•Students will be able to identify the core values and beliefs of liberals and conservatives.

•Students will be able to defend their own political beliefs and determine whether those beliefs are more closely associated with Democratic or Republican party platforms

THINK…1. If someone’s political viewpoints are on the left

of the political spectrum, then what can you generalize about their beliefs?

What party do they probably belong to?

What role should the government play?

What political label might be used to describe them?

2. Answer the above for someone who has beliefs that primarily fall on the right side of the spectrum…

3. What do we call those folks in the middle of the political spectrum?

LIBERAL VS. CONSERVATIVE QUIZ…LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE

1. The government should uphold the morals and values of the past.

 __________________________________

LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE

2. The government should guarantee medical care for all citizens.

 ___________________________________

LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE

3. The federal government should guarantee the rights of homosexuals.

 ___________________________________

LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE

4. The federal government should guarantee full employment.

 ____________________________________

LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE

5. The individual is basically responsible for his own well-being, so the government should make welfare recipients go to work.

LIBERAL VS. CONSERVATIVE QUIZ…LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE

6. The government should cut taxes so that people can have the choice in spending their income.

 _______________________________

LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE

7. The government should make abortion illegal.

 _______________________________

LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE

8. The federal government should provide funds to improve public schools and make college possible for more young adults.

_______________________________

LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE

• The federal government should regulate business to protect the environment.

________________________________

LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE

10. The government should encourage prayer in the public schools.

THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM

POLITICAL PARTY PLATFORM

• Is a list the principles which a political party supports in order to appeal to the general public.

• Its purpose is to get their candidate elected.

• Individual topics are called planks of the platform.

YOU ARE TO … WITH A PARTNER (5 MINUTES)

Complete these steps in this order:Complete these steps in this order:

1.Read the article titled, Am I Democrat or Republican?

2.Complete the Compare and Contrast Worksheet as you read the article.

3.Read the 2004 political platforms of both the Democrat and Republican parties.

4.Complete the Venn Diagram on the back of the Compare and Contrast Chart (listen for further instruction…next slide)

VENN DIAGRAM

Identify at least 8 ways the parties stances differ

Identify at least 4 ways the parties are similar.

HOMEWORKHOMEWORK:WHAT ABOUT YOU?

• Identify eight values, from either party, you stronglystrongly agree with.

• Explain why you agree with the political value.

Example – I agree with the Democrat’s party ‘plank’ (value) that flag burning is political speech and should be protected. Although I would never burn an American flag, I do not wish for the government to limit my ability to voice my opinion about the federal government. The only limits on speech I wish to be created are those that prevent others from being hurt.

THIRD-PARTIES

In your groups, research one of he political parties listed below.

Identify and describe four of their political planks.

In a brief statement, explain how this party is different from the two primary parties.

Tea Party Patriots - http://www.teapartypatriots.org/

Libertarian Party - http://www.lp.org/platform

Constitution Party - http://www.constitutionparty.org/

Natural Law Party - http://www.natural-law.org