Political Parties, Interest Groups, & the Media

1. Political Parties, Interest Groups, & the Media American Government Content Statement #2: Political parties, interest groups and the media provide opportunities for civic involvement through various means.

2. What is a political party? • Organization whose members hold similar views on public issues • Seek to determine public policy through winning of elections & having members hold public office

3. What do political parties do? • Nominate candidates • Rally supporters • Participate in government • Make sure officeholders/members are successful • Watchdog over “the other party”

4. In your notes write down 2 PROS and 2 CONS of having political parties

5. Two-Party System • Dominant political system in the United States • Republicans & Democrats

6. Characteristics of the Republican Party (GOP) • Favor private market forces in the economy (laissez faire) • Believe Federal Government should be less involved in social welfare programs • Small government • Conservative social views

7. Grand Old Party • [They define] themselves as the party of first principles, that is, the original American values and models — individualism, pioneering spirit, free enterprise, anti-centralism and anti-bureaucracy, family values and neighborly spirit etc. • Model their views after Abraham Lincoln

8. Famous Republicans • Newt Gingrich – Former Speaker of the House, might run for Pres. in 2012 • Rush Limbaugh – Conservative radio talk show host • John Boehner – House Majority Leader, Speaker of the House • Ronald Reagan – Former Republican Pres.

9. Famous Republicans • Arnold S. – former gov. of California • Rudolph Guiliani – Former Mayor of N.Y. • Ted Nugent – Rock Star

10. Characteristics of the Democratic Party Support social welfare programs Favor government regulation of business practices Support efforts to improve status of minorities Big government Liberal social & political views

11. Democratic Party • They define themselves: • For over 200 years, Democrats have stood for the idea that wealth and status should not be an entitlement to rule. Democrats recognize that our country and our economy are strongest when they provide opportunity for all Americans—when we grow our country from the bottom up. • Democrats stand for an abiding faith in the judgment of hardworking American families, and a commitment to helping the excluded, the disenfranchised and the poor strengthen our nation by earning themselves a piece of the American Dream. We remember that our country was sculpted by immigrants and slaves, their children and grandchildren. Even today, it is our diversity above all else that provides us with our enduring strength. • Model their views after Andrew Jackson

12. Famous Democrats Bruce Springsteen Barack Obama Hillary Clinton Ted Kennedy Al Gore John Stewart F.D.R.

13. Differences between the Parties • The following video clips are intended as a comical view on both political parties and should not, in any way be taken seriously or literally. • Additionally, these clips do not in any way represent the beliefs of any Mayfield High School staff member or Mayfield High School as a whole. • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/27/the-daily-show-explains-republicans-democrats_n_939020.html

14. Political Labels • To 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 the terms radical, liberal, conservative, and reactionary. Some authors include the terms authoritarian and libertarian.

15. What is a Radical? • Seen as being on the far left of the political spectrum, radicals call for wide-sweeping rapid change in the basic structure of the political, social, or economic system. • They may be willing to resort to extreme methods to bring about change, including the use of violence and revolution. V.I. Lenin: Mastermind of the Russian Revolution and Father of the Soviet Union

16. What is a Liberal? • Liberals believe that the government should be actively involved in the promotion of social welfare of a nation’s citizens. • They usually call for peaceful, gradual change within the existing political system. • They reject violent revolution as a way of changing the way things are, often called the status quo. Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King

17. What is a Moderate? • Moderates may share viewpoints with both liberals and conservatives. • They are seen as tolerant of other people’s views, and they do not hold extreme views of their own. • They advocate a “go-slow” or “wait-and-see” approach to social or political change. Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) is generally seen as a moderate.

18. What is a Conservative? • People who hold conservative ideals favor keeping things the way they are or maintaining the status quo if it is what they desire. • Conservatives are usually hesitant or cautious about adopting new policies, especially if they involve government activism in some way. • 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

19. What is a Reactionary? • Sitting on the far right of the ideological spectrum, reactionaries want to go back 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. A positive way to say the same thing is “arch-conservative.” Hitler’s Mein Kampf is a typical reactionary manifesto

20. The Political Spectrum

21. American Politicians on the Spectrum • Here is how one website places important American political figures on the spectrum.You can take the quiz athttp://www.madrabbit.net/webrabbit/quizshow.html