Teacher’s Guide

One Big Party?

Time Needed: One to two class periods Learning Objectives Students will be able to:
Materials Needed:  Define “political party.”
Student Materials  Identify America’s two major political parties.
Copy Instructions:  Describe the roles of political parties.
 Reading (class set; 2 pages)  Explain what third parties are and the issues around
 Activity pages (class set; 2 pages) ballot access for third parties.
 Identify ways that political parties influence public
policy.

STEP BY STEP
 ANTICIPATE the lesson by asking your class to name the two major political parties in the
United States. Then ask whether they can name any other political parties.
Assuming they have trouble with this, ask why they think it is so hard to name
other parties.
 DISTRIBUTE the reading pages to the class.
 READ the pages with the class, pausing to discuss as appropriate.
 CHECK for understanding using the true/false informal assessment.

 DISTRIBUTE the activity pages to the class.

 ASSIGN the activity pages.
 REVIEW the answers to the worksheets with the class if you wish, pausing to discuss.
 CLOSE by asking students to silently recall one fact about third parties and one fact about
the role of political parties in general. Have them share the facts they remember
with a partner. Then, call on students to share what their partner thought of.

This lesson plan is part of the Politics & Public Policy series by iCivics, Inc. a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civic education. For more
resources, please visit www.icivics.org/teachers, where you can access the state standards aligned to this lesson plan. Provide feedback to
feedback@icivics.org.
©2016 iCivics, Inc. You may copy, distribute, or transmit this work for noncommercial purposes if you credit iCivics. All other rights reserved.
One Big Party? Name:
It’s a Party...
...but not the kind with ice cream and cake. A political party is an
organized group of people who share similar political views and work to
influence the government in support of those views. Political views are a
person’s ideas about how the government should run and how the
issues facing our country should be solved. Political parties fight to gain
political power by having candidates elected to office. They exist at
every level of government, from the national level to your very own
neighborhood. By organizing into political parties, people have more
power to influence government than if they acted alone.
The Big Two
In the United States, the Republican Party and the Democratic Party are
the two main political parties. Are there other parties? Sure. The U.S.
technically has a multi-party system. But these two parties have gained so
much power that almost every person elected to government office
belongs to one of them. Most Americans identify with one of these two
parties, but about 40% of Americans identify as politically independent, The donkey The elephant
meaning they don’t want to identify with any party. Most independents end represents represents
up voting for either a Democrat or a Republican, and many “lean” toward the the
Democratic Republican
one party of the other. Independents may be more open to supporting Party Party
candidates from either party, and some independents are elected to office.

Third Parties
Many political parties exist in the United States. Candidates for political
office can represent any party, but that doesn’t mean you’ll see
everyone’s name on the ballot. Each state has rules about ballot
access—allowing a political party to put a candidate on the ballot.
Usually the rules involve getting a certain number of signatures from
registered voters. These rules keep most third parties from even offering
a candidate for voters to choose from. The Democratic and Republican
parties have ballot access in all the states. The Libertarian Party is the
largest third party, with ballot access for the presidential election in
more than 30 states. As of 2015, the Green Party had ballot access in
over 20 states, and the Constitution Party had access in over 10 states.
The Party Platform
One thing political parties have in common is that they stand for
something. If you want to know what a party believes, its platform is a
document that describes the party’s views on all the major issues facing
the nation. This set of statements is called a “platform” because it is the
set of beliefs the political party stands on. The Democratic Party and the
Republican Party keep their platforms broad and simple to attract as
many supporters as possible. At first, it can be hard to tell the difference
on some issues. Both parties might say they want better education or
more jobs, but what does that mean? The party’s platform explains what
that party thinks “better” education looks like and how the jobs should
be created. You can find a political party’s platform by going to the
party’s website.

Reading p.1
One Big Party? Name:

Political Parties Support Candidates

In the U.S., you’ll be most aware of political parties during an election
season. Candidates who are running for political office almost always
declare themselves a member of a political party. By doing this, a candidate
gains support from the political party and makes it easier for voters to figure
out what the candidate believes in and where they stand on the issues. At
the same time, political parties fight hard to get candidates from their party
elected. Party committees at the local, state, and national level work to
support their candidates by raising money, campaigning, educating voters,
and urging people to vote on election day.
Political Parties Work Inside Government
Candidates who are elected to office work to pass laws and solve problems. While
each government official has his or her own views, the laws and solutions they
support usually align with their political party’s platform. In the U.S. Congress and
Majority
in state legislatures, the balance of power between Republicans and Democrats
can determine which laws get passed. The majority party—the one with the
most elected members—can most easily influence laws by getting all its members
to vote the same way on a bill. This isn’t always easy, because members of one
political party don’t necessarily agree on all the issues. But in American politics, it’s
common for most lawmakers from one party to vote the same way. Meanwhile,
the minority party works to promote the views of its supporters by forcing
compromise with the majority party. If the minority party is successful, this can
Minority create laws that are balanced between the two parties’ viewpoints.
In the executive branch, the president and state governors almost always belong
to a political party. Like lawmakers, their views usually align with their political
party’s platform. A president or governor works for the people, not a party, but he
or she may be very committed to advancing the party’s goals. He or she does not
make laws, but is key in developing public policy—the stand the government
takes about how issues should be handled. A president or governor’s policies are
usually in line with their political party’s platform. A president or governor who
belongs to the same party as the minority in the legislature may also disagree with
many laws passed by the majority and may veto those laws.

Political Parties and You

You’ve probably already seen political parties in action. During elections, political
parties work to influence voters by distributing information about candidates and
 Democratic? issues. Next time you see a campaign ad on television, look closely at the fine print
 Republican? at the bottom and you might see that a political party has funded the ad. But
 Independent? beware: All the information a political party distributes is biased toward its own
views. That means information from political parties should not be your only source
 Libertarian?
of information about candidates and issues.
 Green?
When you register or preregister to vote, the application will probably let you check
 Constitution? a box to join a political party. Joining a political party isn’t a requirement, and even
 Other? if you check a box you can still vote for anyone you want. During a presidential
election, in many states party membership lets you participate in that state’s
primary election or caucus to help decide who your party’s presidential candidate
will be. Some states let you participate even if you don’t belong to a party.
Reading p.2
One Big Party? ** TEACHER GUIDE **

Informal Assessment: True/False

Directions: Read each statement aloud to the class. For each one, have the students answer
simultaneously by saying “True” or “False” out loud or by showing you thumbs-up for true and
thumbs-down for false. Listen or watch for a mix of answers, indicating confusion. Use each
statement as a springboard for quick discussion/review before moving on.

1. Each person has his or her own political views. (T — political views are a person’s ideas about how
the government should run and how the issues facing our country should be solved.)

2. By forming a political party, people gain more influence over government by banding together with
others. (T)

3. People who are politically independent are members of both the Republican and Democratic parties.
(F — they don’t identify with any party)

4. No independent has ever been elected to office. (F — independents are sometimes elected to office)

5. All political parties have equal access to put candidates on the ballot. (F — there are rules that
determine which parties can have ballot access)

6. The Republican and Democratic parties have ballot access in all states. (T)

7. The Green Party is the third largest party in terms of ballot access. (F — the Libertarian party has the
third largest ballot access)

8. A party platform is a stage where candidates stand when they speak to crowds. (F — it is a document
that describes the party’s views on most issues)

9. You can usually find a party’s platform on the party’s website. (T)

10. A candidate is a date that is covered in chocolate or some other candy coating. (F — a candidate is a
person running for political office)

11. Political parties work at all levels of government—national, state, and local. (T)

12. In the U.S. Congress and most state legislatures, Republicans and Democrats are split into a majority
party and a minority party. (T — depending on which party has more people elected to office)

13. The president or governor’s political party has no effect on the lawmaking process. (F — it can make
things smoother or more difficult depending on whether he/she is the same party as the majority
party)

14. Information distributed by a political party gives you a balanced perspective that looks at issues from
all sides. (F — information from political parties is biased)

15. You can only vote for a candidate who is the same party as the party you’re registered with. (F — you
can vote for anyone on the ballot)

16. When you register to vote, you must join a political party. (F — you don’t have to join)

Reading p.2
One Big Party? Name:

A. Vocabulary. Match each key term with its definition.

______ 1. political party A. Allowing a political party to put a candidate on the ballot
B. A person’s ideas about how government should run and
______ 2. write-in candidate how issues should be solved
C. A candidate whose name a voter must hand-write on the
______ 3. public policy
ballot

______ 4. minority party D. Political party with the most elected members
E. The stand the government takes about how issues should
______ 5. third party be handled
F. A political party other than Republican or Democratic
______ 6. platform
G. An organized group of people who share similar political
______ 7. political views views and work to influence government
H. Set of statements describing a party’s views on major
______ 8. ballot access issues

______ 9. candidate I. Political party that does not have a majority of the elected
members
______10. majority party J. A person running for political office

B. Registered Voter! Read each registered voter’s statement. Then, decide how each voter is probably
registered. Be careful—some have more than one correct possibility! Mark all that you think could apply.

1) 2) 3)

 Independent  Independent  Independent

 Third Party  Third Party  Third Party
 Republican/Democrat  Republican/Democrat  Republican/Democrat

4) 5) 6)

 Independent  Independent  Independent

 Third Party  Third Party  Third Party
 Republican/Democrat  Republican/Democrat  Republican/Democrat

Worksheet p.1
One Big Party? Name:
C. Five Roles of Political Parties. Read each example of political parties at work. Decide which of the
five roles the example best illustrates. Write the underlined letter in the button next to the example.
You hay have more than one answer.

1. ____ Party leaders meet with a senator who is 7. ____ A political party pays for a series of
not supporting the party’s platform on televised attack ads against a candidate from
environmental issues. the other party.

2. ____ A party’s state office asks party members 8. ____ A political party holds a huge convention
to write their legislators and ask them to vote to nominate and celebrate the party’s
“no” on a state tax bill. presidential candidate.

3. ____ A party’s state office runs a phone bank 9. ____ A state governor meets with a city mayor
before the election to call party supporters and and state senator from the same party to
remind them to support the party’s candidates. discuss the governor’s policy on education.

4. ____ A party’s state office hosts a conference 10. ____ The president refuses to sign a bill
for state and local officials to discuss the passed by the opposing party and meets with
party’s goals for the state. legislators to discuss possible changes.

5. ____ A committee of legislators from one party 11. ____ Party volunteers spend a Saturday
meets to draft a law that will be acceptable to afternoon at the park handing out party-
everyone in the party. sponsored voting guides.

6. ____ A group of legislators from the minority 12. ____ A new law passes the Senate, where one
and majority parties meets to discuss party has a majority, but fails in the House of
compromise after a failed vote on a budget Representatives, where the other party has a
bill. majority.

D. A Two-Party System? The U.S. has lots of parties, but it is often considered a two-party system.
Draw lines to match the characteristics of a two-party system to the statistics about U.S. voters.

In 2015, 55% of Americans personally identified

as either a Republican or a Democrat.

In 2014, 58% of Americans thought a third

major party was needed and 35% didn’t.

In July 2012, 7% of Americans planned to vote

for a third-party presidential candidate.

Worksheet p.2
One Big Party? Name: ** TEACHER GUIDE **
A. Vocabulary. Match each key term with its definition.

G
______ 1. political party A. Allowing a political party to put a candidate on the ballot
B. A person’s ideas about how government should run and
C
______ 2. write-in candidate how issues should be solved
C. A candidate whose name a voter must hand-write on the
E
______ 3. public policy
ballot

I
______ 4. minority party D. Political party with the most elected members
E. The stand the government takes about how issues should
F
______ 5. third party be handled
F. A political party other than Republican or Democratic
H
______ 6. platform
G. An organized group of people who share similar political
B
______ 7. political views views and work to influence government
H. Set of statements describing a party’s views on major
A
______ 8. ballot access issues

J
______ 9. candidate I. Political party that does not have a majority of the elected
members
D
______10. majority party J. A person running for political office

B. Registered Voter! Read each registered voter’s statement. Then, decide how each voter is probably
registered. Be careful—some have more than one correct possibility! Mark all that you think could apply.

1) 2) 3)

 Independent 
 Independent  Independent

 Third Party  Third Party 
 Third Party

 Republican/Democrat  Republican/Democrat  Republican/Democrat

4) 5) 6)


 Independent  Independent  Independent

 Third Party  Third Party 
 Third Party

 Republican/Democrat 
 Republican/Democrat  Republican/Democrat

Worksheet p.1
One Big Party? Name: ** TEACHER GUIDE **
C. Five Roles of Political Parties. Read each example of political parties at work. Decide which of the
five roles the example best illustrates. Write the underlined letter in the button next to the example.
You hay have more than one answer.

P Party leaders meet with a senator who is

1. ____ 7. C,V
____ A political party pays for a series of
not supporting the party’s platform on televised attack ads against a candidate from
environmental issues. the other party.

P A party’s state office asks party members

2. ____ C A political party holds a huge convention
8. ____
to write their legislators and ask them to vote to nominate and celebrate the party’s
“no” on a state tax bill. presidential candidate.

C,V A party’s state office runs a phone bank

3. ____ U A state governor meets with a city mayor
9. ____
before the election to call party supporters and and state senator from the same party to
remind them to support the party’s candidates. discuss the governor’s policy on education.

U A party’s state office hosts a conference

4. ____ B,P The president refuses to sign a bill
10. ____
for state and local officials to discuss the passed by the opposing party and meets with
party’s goals for the state. legislators to discuss possible changes.

P A committee of legislators from one party

5. ____ V Party volunteers spend a Saturday
11. ____
meets to draft a law that will be acceptable to afternoon at the park handing out party-
everyone in the party. sponsored voting guides.

B A group of legislators from the minority

6. ____ B,P A new law passes the Senate, where one
12. ____
and majority parties meets to discuss party has a majority, but fails in the House of
compromise after a failed vote on a budget Representatives, where the other party has a
bill. majority.

D. A Two-Party System? The U.S. has lots of parties, but it is often considered a two-party system.
Draw lines to match the characteristics of a two-party system to the statistics about U.S. voters.

In 2015, 55% of Americans personally identified

as either a Republican or a Democrat.

In 2014, 58% of Americans thought a third

major party was needed and 35% didn’t.

In July 2012, 7% of Americans planned to vote

for a third-party presidential candidate.

Worksheet p.2