This unit in the US course explores the US political process. It begins with political socialization, or the way that young people acquire their political ideas and outlook. This unit also looks at the historical development and functioning of political parties, interest groups, and the media. The heart of the unit focuses on voter behavior and the process of elections, especially the race for the White House.
Reading
- 5.1 Parties
- 5.2 The Two Party System
- 5.3 Two Party System in American History
- 5.4 Minor Parties
- 5.5 Party Structure
- Ch6Sec1/2 Right to Vote
- Ch6 Sec 3 Suffrage and Civil Rights
- Ch6Sec4 Voter Behavior
- Ch7 Elections
- Ch8 Public Opinion and Media
- Ch9 Interest Groups
Presentations
- Political Parties
- The ABC’s Of Democrats and Republicans
- The Right to Vote ppt.
- RoadWhiteHouse.ppt
- Public Opinion
- Media.ppt
- InterestGroups.ppt
- Nominating_Process_SS.cwk
Activities
- Ranking Presidential Priorities
- Can Time Predict Your Politics?
- How millennial are you?
- I Side With Match your ideas to a candidate and a political party
- Party Structure Web search
- PBS video on the North Carolina Debate on Voter ID
- Demographics and Party Identification 2008
- Demographics and Exit Polls Election 2012
- How millennial are you?
- Millennials in Adulthood - article from Pew Research
- Crossword Puzzle Review on Voting
- PollingReport.com
- Using Polls 2014.pdf
- OpenSecrets Website
- OpenSecrets Questions about Lobbying and Pacs
- Political Typology - Where do you fit in on the Political Spectrum Survey
- Democratic Party Platform
- Republican Party Platform
- Green Party Platform
- Libertarian Party Platform
- PartyTime!
- Party Identification Year by Year
- The Invisible Primary
- Presidential Resumes 2016
- Primary Strategies
- PBS 2012 Electoral Map and demographics
- 270toWinElectoral College Map
- The Electoral College
- The General Election
- Your_vote.doc
- ISIS Map and Political cartoon
- ISIS Threat Handout with Links
- Caucus vs. Primary video
- Public Opionion and Interest Group crossword puzzle