Political Parties: What do they do? Promote a political agenda to influence government policy and action Select candidates for election Educate voters.

Political Parties: What do they do?

• Promote a political agenda to influence government policy and action

• Select candidates for election

• Educate voters

• Finance election campaigns

• Fill government positions

2 “Big Tent” Parties• Both Republicans and Democrats are

considered “Big Tent” parties – Many different groups that support unrelated

issues who associate with the same party. - African Americans, environmentalists, pro-choice Americans and gay Americans all are special interest groups whose members typically vote for the Democrat

• Often in American politics third parties limit their interests to a single issue. – For example, the Green Party is a political party

that puts environmentalism at the center of its agenda.

Political Parties: Who are they?

What do they want?

Democrats and Republicans

Democratic Party (liberal)

The Democratic Vision The Democratic Party is committed to keeping

our nation safe and expanding opportunity for every American. That commitment is reflected in an agenda that emphasizes the security of our nation, strong economic growth, affordable health care for all Americans, retirement security, honest government, and civil rights. (www.democrats.org)

Democratic Points of Interest

• 1792 Founding of the party by Thomas Jefferson

• 1798 “Party of Common-man” Democratic Republicans

• 1800 Thomas Jefferson 1st Democratic President

• 1840 Officially named, Democratic party

• 1984 Geraldine Ferraro, 1st woman VP candidate

• 1996 Bill Clinton, 1st Democrat to win re-election since Franklin Roosevelt

Source: www.democrats.org

Democratic Symbol

When Andrew Jackson ran for president in 1828, his opponents tried to label him a "jackass" for his populist views and his slogan, "Let the people rule." Jackson, however, picked up on their name calling and turned it to his own advantage by using the donkey on his campaign posters. During his presidency, the donkey was used to represent Jackson's stubbornness.

History of the Republicans

• The Republican party was born in 1854 with support of abolitionists (people against slavery) and those who supported a strong federal government.

• Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican to be elected President.

• The Radical Republicans were responsible for pushing for Reconstruction efforts after the Civil War in the South.

• Later, in the late 1880s Republicans became known as the party of big business.

The Republican Vision…

The pursuit of opportunity has defined America from our very beginning. This is a land of opportunity. The American Dream is a dream of equal opportunity for all. And the Republican Party is the party of opportunity. Today, that American Dream is at risk.Our nation faces unprecedented uncertainty with great fiscal and economic challenges, and under the current Administration has suffered through the longest and most severe economic downturn since the GREAT DEPRESSION.For the world, this has been four years of lost American leadership, leadership that depends upon economic vitality and peace through strength.

Republican Party (conservative)

• “GOP”

• Grand Old Party

Points of Interest

• 1850’s founded by anti-slavery activists

• 1854 1st meeting, Michigan

• “Republican” was chosen to honor the memory of Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican party

• 1856 Became National party

• 1860 Abraham Lincoln 1st Republican to become President

• 1917 1st woman elected to Congress, Jeanette Renkin, Michigan

Source: www.gop.com

Republican Symbol

A cartoonist,Thomas Nast, (1874) portrayed the Republican vote - not the party, as a frightened elephant- after the election in which the Republicans did badly.

It was picked up by other cartoonists.

What are the differences between Republicans and Democrats today?

The Economy and TaxesDemocrats • Are generally in favor of large

government and a progressive tax system in which the wealthy pay a larger share than the poor

• Tend to be against international free trade agreements because they claim that such trade agreements hurt American workers and in particular unions

• Tend to believe in a balanced budget and are willing to raise taxes if needed

• Tend to make laws to protect American businesses from international competition

Republicans• Are generally in favor of a

smaller government• Generally for free market

agreements with other countries, like NAFTA- North American Free Trade Agreement.

• Vehemently against raising taxes even if it means a budget deficit

• Tend to believe in global trade and don’t tend to protect US businesses from international competition

National Defense and SecurityDemocrats• Tend to cut the military

budget• Generally want to avoid

American military intervention unless supported by the United Nations

• Tend to believe in diplomacy and are slow to go to war

Republicans• Believe in a strong

military and are willing to pay for it with government money

• Believe in confronting American enemies with or without UN support

• Believe in using military intervention when American interests or security is threatened more quickly than Democrats

Entitlements- Welfare, Medicaid, Social Security, Health Care

Democrats• Generally think that the

government should provide a broad safety net (health care, education, welfare, food stamps) for the poor and others.

• They generally think these policies help the common good and are compassionate

Republicans• Generally think the

government should limit or reduce the safety net for the poor.

• They believe that private businesses and non-profit charities can provide the same services

Crime and PunishmentDemocrats• Tend to focus on

rehabilitation programs over long prison sentences for convicted criminals

• Usually against the death penalty

• Focus on rights of the accused

Republicans• Tend to focus on prison

sentences as a deterrent to crime

• Usually for the death penalty

• Usually for stiffer penalties for convicted criminals

Environmental ProtectionDemocrats• Favor stricter

regulations on businesses to protect the environment

• Believe global warming is a real threat

Republicans• Favor fewer restrictions

on businesses in the hopes that wealthier companies will be able to be more environmental

• Many do not believe global warming is a real threat

Abortion and Stem Cell ResearchDemocrats• Tend to be pro-choice-

believe that a woman should always have the right to choose to have an abortion

• Tend to favor stem-cell research

Republicans• Tend to be pro-life- do

not believe that women have a right to have an abortion and instead call abortion a form of murder

• Tend to be against stem-cell research

Energy PolicyDemocrats• Focus on

researching alternative energy sources for the future

Republicans• Focus on securing

existing energy sources for the present and future

Values- Same Sex Marriage and Civil Rights Laws

• Democrats• Tend to support the

right for same-sex couples to marry

• Republicans• Tend to oppose the

right for same-sex couples to marry

Education

• Democrats• Oppose using tax

money for school choice (vouchers and charters)

• Republicans• Favor using tax

money for school choice (vouchers and charters)

Gun Control

• Democrats– Tend to believe that

gun control decreases crime and and limits gun deaths

• Republicans– Tend to believe that

gun control limits individual rights and that there is no correlation between gun rights and crime.

ImmigrationDemocrats• Favor looser

immigration laws• Some favor “Amnesty”

for undocumented individuals already in the country

Republicans• Favor stricter

immigration laws• Some favor punishment

or deportation for undocumented individuals already in the country