PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS

1. PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS POLITICAL PARTIES

2. Political Parties Definition • A political party is any group of people with common interests who organize and nominatecandidates for public office, conduct government and influence public policy.

3. Key Terms • candidate -an individual who seeks an elected position in local, state, or national government • nominate - propose a candidate for office • platform - principles and policies of a political party • political party - any group, however loosely organized, that seeks to elect government officials under a given label • public opinion - the collective opinion on a particular issue or group of related issues that is held by a large segment of society • watchdog - members of political parties not in power who criticize the decisions of the party in power and may propose different ideas

4. POLITICAL PARTY SYMBOLS • Over the years, the donkey and the elephant have become the accepted symbols of the Democratic and Republican parties.

5. POLITICAL PARTY SYMBOLS (CON’T) • The Democrats think of the elephant as bungling, stupid, pompous and conservative -- but the Republicans think it is dignified, strong and intelligent. On the other hand, the Republicans regard the donkey as stubborn, silly and ridiculous -- but the Democrats claim it is humble, homely, smart, courageous and loveable.

6. By the end of this lesson you will be able to answer the following questions: • What is a political party and what do • political parties do? • Why do people join political parties? • How do political parties impact • government?

7. Introduction to Political Parties • The Constitution of the United States does not mention political parties; however, political parties are an essential part of the political process in the United States.

8. POLITICAL PARTIES • A political party is any group of people with common interests who organize and nominate candidates for public office, conduct government and influence public policy.

9. Political parties help candidates win elections and influence government decision-making.

10. Overview of Political Parties A political party has many functions. Each political party • selects candidates to run for office. • raises money to support campaigns. • educates voters about issues. • helps to operate the government. • acts as a “watchdog” over the party in power.

11. The major goal of political parties is to elect candidates. In campaigning and stating party beliefs, public opinion and government policies may be influenced. Radio, television, newspapers, and magazines provide information, also. Some candidates are independent and do not belong to a political party. These candidates distribute their own information.

12. Party platform • Political parties communicate their beliefs or party platform to voters and to government officials. The political parties distribute brochures, pamphlets and newsletters about their candidates, the party platform, and the party view on important issues. Citizens can read this information to learn about the differences among the parties.

13. POLITICAL PARTIES • After candidates throw their hat into the ring and announce their desire to win a certain political office, they must think carefully about their platform, their beliefs about issues to appeal to voters. Each candidate wants a platform that appeals to voters.

14. PARTY PLATFORM (con’t) • Refining a unique message for the people is done during a campaign and is called a party platform. A party platform is a list of beliefs and goals of a political party and its candidates.

15. Jobs of Political Parties • Members of political parties do many jobs for the United States government and for the voters. • In the process of winning elections, political parties perform five key jobs. In this lesson, we will examine the five jobs of political parties: selecting candidates, raising money, educating voters, operating the government, and serving as a watchdog.

16. Job 1: Each political party selects candidates to run for office. • A candidate is someone who runs for political office. For example, in 2012, Barak Obama and Mitt Romney were the major candidates who ran for President of the United States.

17. Select Candidates to run for Office • Political parties look for individuals who are good candidates for office. The political party helps the candidate campaign for office and raise money. After the primary election, when the voters decide which party candidate they support, the party formally selects an individual for nomination to political office.

18. Selecting Candidates to run for office • Presidential candidates are nominated by their party at a National Convention before the general election. • Political parties present these candidates to voters and work to win elections.

19. Job 2: Each political party raises money to support a candidate’s campaign. • Have you ever participated in a fundraiser such as a candy sale or a car wash to make money for a school activity? Have you ever bought a product or a service to support a sports team or club?

20. Money, Money, Money… • It takes a lot of money to win an election. In 2000, over 3 billion dollars was spent on congressional and presidential elections combined.

21. Money, Money, Money… • Political parties also conduct fundraisers to help raise money to support political candidates running for office and encourage members of their party to contribute and raise funds to support candidates running for office.

22. JJob 3: Political parties educate and influence voters about the issues. • Political parties and party candidates educate voters about major issues such as civil rights, defense, environment and energy, health care, homeland security, International policy, social issues, taxes and spending.

23. Ways to educate voters • Candidates refine their messages (platforms) during the campaign so that they present a unique set of points or ideas to get the attention of voters. • Candidates use slogans to advertise during campaigns. Slogan and messages are displayed on clothing, buttons, signs, posters, and the Internet .

24. Political advertisements on clothing are one way that candidates share their messages with voters. • Political buttons date as far back as President George Washington. Campaign buttons are used in an election as political advertising for (or against) a candidate or political party, or to advertise the issues that are part of the party platform.

25. Billboard advertisements and signs are used by campaigns to catch readers' attention through clear, colorful, and concise messages, clever slogans, attractive illustrations and appealing appearances, and big bold headlines. • Candidates began using television as a way to inform the public during political campaigns in the early 1950s. By 1953, 19 million Americans had televisions in their homes. The use of campaign commercials, interviews, and speeches via television is important to campaigns.

26. Voters can view speeches and political advertisements and access information about candidates from the comfort of home. Television and the Internet have become the dominant forms of communication in modern campaigns.

27. POLITICAL SLOGANS • Political parties prepare slogans to advertise their candidate’s views on issues. Many slogans and pamphlets include catchy phrases that stick in the minds of voters. • In 1980, the Reagan campaign ran on the slogan, “Are you better of than you were 4 years ago?” • In 1988, George HW Bush ran on the slogan, “A kinder and gentler nation”. • In 1996, the Clinton Campaign used the slogan “Building a Bridge to the 21st Century”. • Green Candidate Ralph Nader has run for office multiple times. In 2000, his campaign slogan was “Government, of, by, and for the people.. Not the Monied interests.”

28. Job 4: Political parties help to operate the government. • Political parties work to gain control of government by electing individuals for national, state and local office. Once in power, members of the majority political party help run the government. These individuals make decisions based on the political party’s views on the issue.

29. Operate the Government • For example, President George W. Bush, a Republican, works with Republican members of Congress to pass programs that he supports.

30. Within Congress, these individuals work together to make the laws the nation needs and promote projects that support the party platform.

31. POLITICAL PARTY AGENDA • For example, in November of 2006, the Democratic party took control of Congress and in the new legislative session they have an agenda. To the right is a list of the issues on the Democratic agenda.

32. Job 5: Political parties are "watchdogs." • Political parties who are not in power play an important watchdog role in the United States government. • The watchdog, members of political parties not in power, criticize the decisions of the party in power and may propose different ideas to challenge the other party’s agenda. • If these actions are successful, public opinion may change and the “watchdog” party could win the next election and return to power.

33. For example, the Democratic Party was successful in challenging the party in power, the Republicans, and won control of both houses of Congress in the midterm 2006