American Government – Chapter 5Political Parties – Section 1 and 2

Questions

Question 1

Identify the two major political parties that represent the United States.

Answer 1

Democratic PartyRepublican Party

Question 2

What’s the purpose of a political party?

Answer 2

To control government through winning elections and holding public office. By controlling government a party can affect certain public policies and programs.

Question 2

What’s the major function of a political party?

Answer 2

To nominate or name candidates for public office.

Question 3

Clearly explain how political parties try to inform as well as inspire voters. Identify two ways.

Answer 3A political party informs voters

through:PamphletsSignsButtonsStickersSpeeches

Question 4

What type of political system does the United States have?

Answer 4

two-party system

Question 5

Did the framers of the United States Constitution favor the two-party system?

Answer 5

No

Question 6

Who were America’s first two political parties?

Answer 6

FederalistsAnti-Federalists

Question 7

Why do Americans tend to accept the idea that we should have a two party system?

Answer 7

Most Americans support the two-party political system because there has always been one.

Question 8

What type of elections are held in the United States?

Answer 8

Single-member district elections in which only one candidate is elected to each office on the ballot it the most common form of election.

Question 9

Is it common for 3rd parties or minor parties to have their candidates listed on an election ballot?

Answer 9

No – Play Perot clip

Question 10

Is it common for major political parties to have their candidates listed on an election ballot?

Answer 10

Yes

Question 11

Identify two differences between the Democratic and Republic party.

Answer 11

Democratic Beliefs: The Democratic Party tends to support government involvement in your life.

Answer 11

Republican beliefs: The Republican Party believes there should be less government involvement.

American Government – Chapter 5Political Parties – Section 3 and 4

Questions

Question 1

Do most Americans support third parties?

Answer 1

No – play Perot clip.

Question 2

What type of convention do the Democrats and Republicans use to select their presidential candidates?

Answer 2

national conventions

Question 3

Explain how minor parties or third parties play the “spoiler role” in local, state, and national elections.

Answer 3 – Play Perot

The third-party plays the spoiler role by pulling voters from one of the major parties.

Question 4

How do minor parties or third parties differ from major parties on controversial issues?

Answer 4

Minor parties make clear-cut stands on controversial issues and draw attention to issues that major parties prefer to ignore.

Question 5

Who accepted the nomination for President of the U.S. for the Green Party in 2000?

Answer 5

Ralph Nader

Question 6

Who is the current leader of the Green Party?

Answer 6

Ralph Nader

Question 7

Is the Green Party a major political party or a third party?

Answer 7

third-party or minor party

Question 8

Identify three items that the Green Party supports.

Answer 8

Healthier environment

An end to povertyPeace

Question 9

Identify three items that the Green Party is against.

Answer 9

Big business controlling public lands

DiscriminationBigotry

Question 10 The leader of the Green Party

warns America’s youth that “If you do not turn on to politics, politics will turn on you. The fact that we have so many inequalities demonstrates this point.” What does this quote mean?

Answer 10

If you do not take an interest in what happening to our country politically, laws may be enacted that could potentially harm you. For example, Jim Crow laws.

Question 11

In your opinion, why don’t third party candidates win presidential elections?

Answer 11

They don’t have the large sums of money and their stances on issues are too controversial.

Question 12

Define the term minor party. Based on your definition of minor party, what do you think a major party is?

Answer 12

Minor party: A political party without wide support.

Major party: A political party with wide-spread support.

Question 13

Define the terms bipartisan and incumbent.

Answer 13

Bipartisan: When the two major parties find common ground and work together.

Incumbent: Current officeholder.

Question 14

Identify the symbol that represents the Republican Party? What symbol represents the Democratic Party?

Answer 14

Democratic Party: Donkey

Republican Party: Elephant

Why the donkey? When Andrew Jackson ran for president

in 1828, his opponents tried to label him a "jackass" for his populist views and his slogan, "Let the people rule.“ Jackson, however, picked up on their name calling and turned it to his own advantage by using the donkey on his

campaign posters

Why the elephant? The Elephant— Political cartoonist

Thomas Nast was also responsible for the Republican Party elephant. In a cartoon that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1874, Nast drew a donkey clothed in lion's skin, scaring away all the animals at the zoo. One of those animals, the elephant, was labeled "The Republican Vote." That's all it took for the elephant to become associated with the Republican Party.