Political Parties & Interest Groups

In Politics, groups of people can work together to....

To gain and exercise political power

Political Parties

An organized group of people who share the same beliefs, who acquire and exercise political power

How do political parties gain power?

Developing policy proposals that represent their ideas and interests and help elect politicians who support them

Policy proposal

A suggestion about how the government should act

Interest Groups

A group of people that seeks to influence public policy (Politics and laws) on the basis of a particular common interest or concern.

What do Interest Groups support?

A set of policy positions connected to problems the members care about

Lobbying

Special Interest groups using influence and money to try and convince politicians to vote for things they want

The two main Political Parties in the U.S. today

Republicans and Democrats

Once in office, elected government officials try to...

Carry out the policies favored by their party

The first political parties were created around the ideas of what two key members of President George Washington's cabinet?

Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.

The first two political parties in the U.S.

Federalists and Anti-Federalists

Liberalism is the belief that...

The government's job is to protect and improve the life of individual citizens. Bigger government involvement in our lives. Socially Progressive Values

Conservatism is the belief that...

Government should only protect traditional values and practices. Limited government to protecting us and rights. Socially Traditional Values

"The Left"

Liberals on the far Left in the Democratic Party

"The Right"

Conservatives on the far Right in the Republican Party

Moderates

People holding views more in the middle than the Far Right or Far Left. More Americans are Moderates than on the Right or Left

Independents

People who don't belong to either the Democrats or Republicans. They vote for whoever they feel would lead better

Limited government, traditional values, 2nd Amendment, prayer in school, against same-sex marriage,

Things Conservatives / Republicans stand for

More government involvement, social programs for citizens, gun control, same-sex marriage, separating government from religion

Things Liberals / Democrats stand for

The greatest person who ever lived - your idol, your hero, your fearless leader

Mr. Fischer