Complete the classwork....q and a on PLATFORMS AND PLANKS!

uPolitical Parties, Platforms, and Planks:  Getting Ready to Prepare your party website!!

uPolitical parties are key players in American politics. But the Constitution does not mention political parties. In fact, many of the founders, including George Washington, distrusted permanent political parties, fearing that they would become too powerful. The first two political factions to appear were the Federalists, who supported ratification of the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed ratification. These factions disappeared once the Constitution was ratified. Yet, early in Washington's first administration as president, two new factions formed: the Federalists, who supported Alexander Hamilton and a group that gathered around Thomas Jefferson, called the Democratic Republicans. They were the first real parties. Throughout most of American history, the United States has had two major parties. Today's Democratic Party can trace its origins to Jefferson's old party. Today's Republican Party can trace its origins to the election of 1854.

uPlatforms and Planks

uAmerican political parties are organized on a national, state, and local basis. Every four years, the parties hold a national convention to nominate a presidential and vice presidential candidate. They also meet to approve a party platform of issues and positions upon which the candidates will run. A party platform is a set of principles, goals, and strategies designed to address pressing political issues. Each party's platform is broken down into "planks," or declarations that speak to each specific issue.

uParty platforms and their planks are very important to the electoral process: They give the candidates a clear political position with which they can campaign. They give voters a sense of what the candidates believe in, the issues they think are important, and how—if elected—they will address them.

uCW:  For Discussion

u1. Why did George Washington fear political parties?

u2. What is a party platform?

u3. What is a platform plank?

u4. Why are party platforms important? 

5. Go to the Republican or Democratic website.  What is one platform or plank of the Republican or Democratic party? 

Donkeys v. Elephants....Stars or Sheiks?

HW:  Read 126-27       

Explain terms. 1-3

Interpret Cartoon,on 127 answer question below

Examine chart on 128 and 130 answer question under charts

p. 131 q. 1

Obama v. Romney or....Dems v. Republicans 2012

HW:  What is the function of political parties?    

Read 116-118  Answer q.1,2,4,5,6

On 118 answer question under picture at top of page

RANK ORDER the issuesof a democracy by Importance

Rank order from 1-7

#1 is the most important to 7...the least.

 

Now, make an argument for your top two choices; use evidence, prior knowledge, text information.  Write a good paragraph using a topic sentence and supporting information.

good luck!

Use your Text to Visually Represent your Topic on Democracy

1.Choose 3 pictures or charts that represent this topic.  Cite the page number!!

2.Use a key word and a sentence to describe the image.

3.identify the issue from  the list below, give evidence that supports your argument.

Read "Democracy" on p, 12-13  Explain Democracy using 6 ideas on these pages.  Rewrite in your own words....

 

Home Work: Chapter 1 Read 4-8 

1.What is government?  What is purpose of government?  Describe 2 kinds of govt.

2.Describe what ‘political’ means?  See p. 5

3.Describe the typical powers of government.

4.Describe and draw a symbol for the 4 Political theories;  p.7 Which govt do we have in the USA---give 3 examples of this kind of govt.

5.What is the function of political parties?