Political Parties and Their Impact

1. Political Parties and Their Impact

2. A Couple Reminders First…. • Types of Government: • Democracy – the people make the decisions through voting • Democratic Republic – the people elect officials and make some decisions through voting • Communism – a dictator with no voting, the government owns everything • Socialism – fits in different government types but the government has a part in the economy

3. One thing we need to figure out first… • Some organizations and things are public (schools, public parks, etc…) meaning that they are owned by the federal, state, or local government. • Some organizations are private (private schools, churches, businesses) meaning that they are owned by individuals or a group of individuals.

4. What are politics? • Politics or political views are a person’s ideas about how the government should run and how the issues our country has should be solved. • Political Parties are groups of people with the same political views who fight for power by having candidates elected to office.

5. How Many Parties Are There? • It depends on your country! • 0 – some countries have none but these are not democracies. (Kuwait) • 1 – a single-party system has one political party, strict rule, and little say for citizens in government (not democracies) (Vietnam) • 2 – two major political parties have the power. Other parties exist but aren’t popular. This system is the least common but works for democracy! (United States) • 3+ - multi-party systems are very common where people have several popular parties to choose from. (most of Europe, Mexico, Japan…)

6. Political Party Platforms • The set of statements describing the party’s views on all major issues facing the nation.

7. Candidates and Elections • Political parties want as much power as possible! • How do they get it? By winning elections! • Every four years, parties fight to get their candidate elected. • States fight for Senate and HoR members as well as candidates for their own state legislatures (congresses)

8. Political parties’ influence on government • Elected officials (congressmen, the President, the governor, etc…) have influence over laws and how the nation solves problems. • The government’s decisions as a whole, depends on the majority party or the party with the most elected officials. • The minority party has fewer officials but can work with the majority party to make balanced laws.

9. Who are our main political parties?

10. Democrats • President Obama’s party! • Democrats believe in “government spending” on programs that help people (supports welfare, Affordable Health Care Act, food stamps, veterans benefits, etc….) • Democrats support keeping the environment clean and supports green energy • Democrats support social freedom (pro-choice, pro-gay rights, etc…) • Limited military • Higher taxes on the rich • Keep religion out of issues • Pro-immigration, want to help illegal immigrants • Taxes should go towards hiring more teachers. Do not support private school vouchers (scholarships to private schools) • Strict gun control • Supports the UN and foreign aid

11. Republicans • Mitt Romney, Governor Scott’s Party! • Want to cut “government spending” or welfare spending/government programs (food stamps, Affordable Care Act, veterans benefits…) • Lots of military spending • Want tax cuts • Want to keep borders tight and allow fewer immigrants • Religion is strongly associated with Republicans • Supports homeschools, vouchers • Supports oil drilling, puts profit and business before keeping pollution down • Limited gun control • Opposes gay marriage, pro-life on abortion • Supports the UN and SOME foreign aid.

12. Other Parties?

13. Communist Party of America • They call for nationalization of the banks, railroads, and industries like steel and auto. • Everyone who wants to work should be guaranteed a job or get unemployment payments until she/he can find a job. • They say put the unemployed to work at union wages on massive public works programs to rebuild our cities, provide affordable housing for the homeless, build mass transit, and clean up the environment! • Don’t support wealthy people controlling everything.

14. Libertarians • Basically, libertarians want to be left alone! • The economy should be a fully “free market”, as in, people will support good businesses and bad businesses will go away (including welfare and healthcare) • Military protects only – no more going overseas • Opposes taxes • Freedom of religion but keep “church and state” separate (like democrats) • Privatize ALL schools • Energy resources should be made private and never government owned. • No gun control • Marriage equality, pro-choice on abortion

15. Socialist Party • No racism, no classes, feminist • Working people own industry and production through groups of people that make decisions with democracy • Workers should be able to form unions and strike if something is unfair • Work for the many, not for the profit of the few. • All that can work should be able to work.

16. Before we go… • Please write one aspect of each political party that you like and why. Then write one aspect of each political party that you don’t like and why. • Also, please write a paragraph on how these political parties impact how our government work.