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Political Primer, 2013

Symbols of the two parties, based on cartoons by Thomas Nast. Political Primer, 2013. Two-Party System. The U.S. Constitution doesn’t say anything about political parties George Washington didn’t belong to one and thought they were horrible and warned against them.

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Political Primer, 2013

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  1. Symbols of the two parties, based on cartoons by Thomas Nast Political Primer, 2013

  2. Two-Party System • The U.S. Constitution doesn’t say anything about political parties • George Washington didn’t belong to one and thought they were horrible and warned against them. • Nevertheless, we have two major parties.

  3. Democrats vs. Republicans • Democratic Party. Named for democracy = rule by the people. Evolved from Democratic-Republican party of Thomas Jefferson. First Democratic president: Andrew Jackson • Republican Party. Named for republic = rule through representatives. Emerged in the 1850s. First Republican president: Abraham Lincoln • GOP = Grand Old Party

  4. Steps To the Presidency • Many! • Starting earlier and earlier every cycle. • Expensive! • CAN the ordinary American rise to the office of President? • IS the US an oligarchy – ruled by a few rich people?

  5. To “throw one’s hat in the ring” • Make or take up a challenge • Boxing reference = a challenger throws their hat into the ring to announce that they want to challenge another boxer • Teddy Roosevelt used it in 1912:"My hat's in the ring", he said.

  6. Primary Elections • Primary election = elections held in each of the 50 states to determine who will be the nominee for each party • Primaries decide how many delegates will represent which candidates at the national convention • In some states they have “caucuses” = neighborhood meetings to choose candidates instead

  7. Who is the most liberal? Conservative? Primary Debates These people are all Republicans!

  8. National Convention • Meeting of party delegates to formally nominate a candidate for President • Republican convention was held August 27-30, 2012 in Tampa Bay, Florida. They nominated Mitt Romney. • Democratic convention was held the week of September 3, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. They re-nominated Barack Obama.

  9. Presidential Nominee’s Choice • The presidential nominee chooses his own running mate (the person he or she wants to be VP) • The combination of presidential and vice-presidential candidate is called the “ticket”

  10. Party Platform • Each party writes a “platform” = the document that gives their stand on each issue. Each position /issue is called a “plank” • Read the platform to decide who you support

  11. Party Platform, 2012 • What important issues in American society appeared in the planks of the Democratic and Republican platforms in 2012?

  12. Where Would You Campaign?

  13. Presidential Debates • A series of televised debates between the Republican and Democratic candidates for president. • The first televised debate was between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960.

  14. General Election • First Tuesday in November • Popular vote = the vote count of the people of each state • Electoral vote = the vote of “electors,” who are chosen based on the popular vote • Electoral vote for each state = # of Representatives in the H of R + the 2 senators

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