Elections, Parties, and Pressure Groups
Session 2: Political Parties

Materials

• Political Process Vocabulary List (Attachment A)
• Textbook

Instructional Activities

1. Write the day's vocabulary words on an overhead or on the board (see Attachment A). Briefly discuss their meanings.
   
   
2. Do a quick Q and A to ensure students read their homework assignment and to provide background knowledge.
   
   
3. Lecture and provide notes on the American two-party system. Name the major parties, their symbols, and give students a brief overview of their major national political figures and any major issues currently in the news. Explain how the political parties play a key role in government and provide opportunities for citizens to participate in the political process. They:
   •     Recruit and nominate candidates
   •    Educate the electorate about campaign issues
   •    Help candidates win elections
   •    Monitor actions of officeholders.
   
   
4. Third parties often revolve around a political personality (e.g., Theodore Roosevelt) or a single issue (The Green Party). Explain that, although third parties rarely win elections, they play an important role in public politics by introducing new ideas or pressing for a particular issue.
   
   
5. Explain that all political parties share certain functions, such as organizing to win elections and influencing public policies. Their major differences are described in the party's platform and reflected in campaigning.
   
   
6. Organize students into groups of four or five students. Tell them that tomorrow they will create a political party of their own. They will need a name, a symbol, and five to seven issues on which the group can come to a consensus. Each group will need to write its name and draw its symbol on a poster, then report to the class.