Political Political Parties Parties

#1:#1: IdeolIdeologyogy

Which political party are you? Answer true or false according to your opinion. 1. Getting rid of or reducing the

restrictions on the types of weapons one can own.

2. Keeping capital punishment (the death penalty).

3. Reducing or limiting social services spending (i.e. welfare, food stamps, etc.).

4. Decreasing personal income taxes.

5. Making abortion illegal or making them more difficult to obtain.

6. Limiting or ending affirmative action programs (giving priority to women and ethnic minorities in colleges and jobs).

7. Decreasing taxes on businesses.8. Providing health care for everyone.9. Increasing taxes on the rich (those

making over $200,000 per year).10.Limiting or reducing defense (military)

spending.

11.Providing more rights and benefits for homosexual couples.

12.Increasing minimum wage.13.Making it easier for undocumented

or illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses.

14.Increasing social services spending (i.e. welfare, food stamps, etc).

Your Score:

What does it mean?

• A score of 0-5• A score 6-7-8 • A score of 9-14

•IdeologyIdeology: a set of beliefs

Party OneParty OneEconomic Ideology:• Gov = helping hand

• Increase taxes on rich & businesses to pay for social services (health care, welfare, etc.)

Party 1• Increase minimum wage

• Reduce spending on defense (military)

Why could raising the minimum

wage be a bad idea?

Party TwoParty Two Economic Ideology:• Less gov involvement • Lower income taxes for all• Lower taxes on businesses:

–More $ for businesses = more for employees

–Why might this NOT work?

party two cont’d

• Fewer social services provided by gov – should be provided by jobs or private organizations

• Increase or maintain military spending

“Government is not the solution to our problems, it is the problem”

Which economic policy do you prefer?

Party one or party two?

Party One

• Democrats • Represented

by the Donkey

Party Two

• Republicans• Represented

by the Elephant

•GOP (Grand Old Party)

Political Parties #3: Social Ideology

• Platform – a party’s official beliefs/opinions on various subjects

*Independents

*Moderates

• Republicans: Conservative, Right –Pro Life–Strict punishment for criminals

• 3 Strikes –Less strict separation of church &

state• Moment of silence in schools

• Democrats: Liberal, Left –Strict gun

control–Pro Choice–Gov regulation

of environment

D/R’s Agree: • No same sex

marriage• K-12 Education• Social Security• Death penalty

for adults

Which party’s social ideology do you agree

with? Do you prefer one party’s economic platform and

another’s social platform?

Political Spectrum • Criminal Justice

1. 3 Strikes2. Death Penalty for adults3. DP for minors

• Religion in Public Life4. Prayer in public schools5. “Under God” in the Pledge6. Remove “Under God”

• Abortion7. Abortions sometimes8. Abortion anytime 9. No abortions ever

10. Obama11.Sarah Palin 12. McCain13.YOU!

To which party does this person most likely belong? Name the party and explain your position.

1. A wealthy middle-aged woman who has three teenage sons, is actively involved in the church, and would like to see school prayer brought back into the schools.

2. A college educated banker who likes to hunt on his vacations and recently lost a cousin due to a violent crime.

PP #4Who’s Who?

Your Party Platform Pick 6 issues and describe your

opinion for each • Economy• Taxes• Individual Rights• Family• Crime• Environment • Other Topic….

• Health Care• Education• Retirement • Defense /

Military• Foreign Policy• Immigration