CE 5a & 5B Functions of political parties & comparing
similarities and differences between political parties
Slide 2
Essential Question? What roles do political parties play in the
American political process?
Slide 3
Functions of Political Parties Recruiting and nominating
candidates Example: Finding qualified people to run for
office.
Slide 4
Educating the electorate about campaign issues Example: Issue
based advertising in the media. http://www.livingroomcandidate.
org/commercials/issue/welfare http://www.livingroomcandidate.
org/commercials/issue/welfare
Slide 5
Helping candidates win elections Example: Canvassing (going
door to door).
Slide 6
Monitoring actions of officeholders (acting as a watch dog).
Example: Keeping a voting record of how a candidate voted in
Congress.
Slide 7
Essential Understanding Political parties play a key role in
government and provide opportunities for citizens to participate in
the political process.
Slide 8
Comparing the similarities and differences between parties
Slide 9
Essential Questions? How are the two major political parties
similar, and how do they differ? How do third parties differ from
the two major parties?
Slide 10
Watch the Brainpop video and CNN Explain it! Fill in your Venn
Diagram with as much information as you can! Democrats
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2012/09/04/cnn-explains-democrats.cnn
Republicans
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2012/08/26/cnnexplains-gop.cnn
Slide 11
but what goes in the middle??? It often seems that the two
major parties have nothing in common with all the bickering they
do, but they are actually trying to accomplish the same things! 1.
Organize to win elections 2. Influence public policies 3. Reflect
both liberal and conservative views 4. Define themselves in a way
that wins majority support by appealing to the political
center
Slide 12
And then there were three What is a third party? -Any party
that is not the Republicans or Democrats What do they do?
-Introduce new ideas and/or press for a particular issue -Example:
The Green Partys main concern is the environment Third Parties
often revolve around a political personality -Example: Theodore
Roosevelt created the Bull Moose party Sometimes third parties will
swing the election -Example: Teddy Roosevelt left the Republican
party and took votes away from President Taft, allowing Woodrow
Wilson to win.
Slide 13
Essential Understandings A two-party system characterizes the
American political process. Although third parties rarely win
elections, they can play an important role in public politics.
Slide 14
Where do you stand??? Watch Brainpop Political Beliefs Take the
ideological survey and complete the handout for homework. Make sure
to answer all parts of the homework for full credit!