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Introduction Election Day Voting Election of the President Candidates Political Parties Primary Election National Conventions National Conventions - An Inside View Candidates at the Convention The Campaign Polling Places The Electoral College The Electoral Map The Inauguration

  

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Books & Reading

Books & Reading

Can independent voters take part in a political party’s primary?

Has there ever been a president from a political party other than Republican or Democratic parties?

Who was the first woman to receive the vice presidential nomination of a major political party?

What mistakes did political parties or people make in dealing with historical political issues and what could have been done differently?


GovSpot: Political Parties


 

Primary Election Political Parties Election Day Voting Election of the President Candidates National Conventions National Conventions - An Inside View Candidates at the Convention The Campaign Polling Places The Electoral College The Electoral Map The Inauguration

 
Political Parties

The American Democracy: Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072481218/student_view0/chapter8/
multiple_choice_quiz.html
A multiple-choice quiz that will challenge your knowledge about America's two-party system and its role in American politics. You will be questioned about the historical development of political parties in the United States which examine the role of minor parties and the reasons for the emergence and persistence of the two-party system.

The First American Party System: Federalists and Democratic-Republicans: The Platforms They Never Had
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=560
Lesson Plan - Help students learn more about the statements of party beliefs and goals (party platform) and be able to summarize the key positions of the Federalists and Democratic Republicans.

Home-Made Political Parties
http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/
US_Government/GOV0014.html
Lesson Plan and Activities - Understand the role of political parties in our democracy, by participating in one of the primary activities of any party, writing a platform.

It's My Party
http://www.channelone.com/news/2003/10/08/quiz_politics/
Are you a Democrat, Republican, or Independent? Take the quiz to find out.

Political Parties
 http://www.quia.com/jq/47759.html
 Mini-multiple-choice quiz.

Political Parties
http://www.quia.com/tq/255467.html
More multiple-choice questions on political parties.

Political Parties
http://www.quia.com/tq/253274.html
More multiple-choice questions on political parties.

Political Parties Vocabulary
http://www.quia.com/mc/292555.html
Matching - Find the matching squares.

Political Parties Vocabulary
http://www.quia.com/fc/292555.html
Flashcards

Political Parties Vocabulary
http://www.quia.com/cc/292555.html
Concentration - Try to uncover the matching pairs of cards.

Smackdown: Democrats vs. Republicans
http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz.cfm?qid=154110&origin=
http://www.funtrivia.com/dir/5822.html
Trivia - In three centuries of spirited competition, which political party comes out ahead?

Sociology Bytes Politics
http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/rkamper/intro.htm
WebQuest - It's 2060. Write a press release for a political party based on one of three sociological philosophies.

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Thomas Jefferson founded the Democratic Party in 1792 as a congressional caucus to fight for the Bill of Rights and against the elitist Federalist Party. In 1798, the "party of the common man" was officially named the Democratic-Republican Party, and in 1800 it elected Jefferson as the first Democratic President of the United States.

For a long time Republicans have been known as the "GOP." Party faithfuls thought it meant the "Grand Old Party." But apparently the original meaning (in 1875) was "Gallant Old Party."

Surf with Uncle Sam
Surf with Uncle Sam

Word Spy
Word Spy

Projects You Can Do

Select one of the following political parties:

  • Democratic
  • Green
  • Libertarian
  • Natural Law
  • Reform
  • Republican
  • Socialist

Create a "response map." You will need a 36 inch wide by 30 inch long piece of butcher paper. Divide the paper into six sections. Make up an original title for your "response map" which includes the name of your political party. Include the following items in your "response map" so it can be used as a guide in an oral presentation.

Section 1
Find and copy a current campaign slogan used by your political party.

Section 2
Create a song or rap with at least 20 different lines which reflects your political party's point of view.

Section 3
Draw the mascot/logo for your political party. Include a brief description of how the mascot/logo represents the party. If a mascot/logo doesn't exist, create one and explain how it represents the party.

Section 4
Find a photo of, draw or trace a famous person from your party (1950-present) and include a significant quote from that person.

Section 5
Create an original political cartoon which reflects your party's position on immigration.

Section 6
Create an original political cartoon which reflects your party's position on military spending.

Make your response map colorful and pleasing to the eye.

 

Awards

 

The Dirksen Congressional CenterCopyright 2008