Create a Political Party Project

Posted on by lwaddell

Task
1) Identity
Your new party needs a name, symbol, and slogan. You can either draw your symbol or choose a picture available on the Internet (with proper citation, of course). You MAY NOT choose a name, symbol, or slogan that is associated with a current or past political party. Describe your choices and your party’s general philosophy in at least 5 sentences.

2) Platform

Create a political party platform in which your group states your beliefs/advocacy on a minimum of 15 policy issues.

Must be included:

·       Immigration

·       Social Welfare

·       Education

·       Abortion

·       Healthcare

·       Environment (global warming, regulations)

·       Gun Control

·       Gay Rights/Same-Sex Marriage

·       National Security (military spending/size,      diplomacy)

·       Economy/Taxes

·       Capital Punishment

 Other Options (choose at least 4):

·       War on Drugs and Drug Laws

·       Influence of Special Interest Groups & Lobbyists

·       Peace in the Middle East (Israel)

·       Federal Deficit

·       Global Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

·       Campaign Finance Reform

·       Afghanistan/Iraq War

·       Humanitarian Aid

·       Congressional Term Limits

·       Minimum Wage

·       Any other issue you think is important, but must be cleared with me first

 

For each issue, you should not simply agree/disagree with the existing parties’ stand. Instead, talk through the issues and create your own unique statement that reflects your party’s position. Use academic vocabulary and constitutional justification for your beliefs. Position statements must be 2-4 sentences in length. After creating your platform, rank these issues by importance to your party. In fact, you may want to wait to choose a name and symbol until you have prioritized – as this may reveal the “core value” of your party.

Please Note:  I do not care what position you take.  I do not care if you are more to the left or the right, I only care that you are logical J

Format

Your project can be in a PowerPoint, a brochure/pamphlet, or a poster. On the due date, your party will submit to me your project IN PRINT (not by email). The cover must feature your party’s name, slogan and symbol. Inside, you will list your fifteen party statements in priority orderwith a bolded header indicating the beginning of each new section.

Interest Group Project

Posted on by lwaddell

This is a quick project to help you understand Interest Groups.  You are to select four interest groups and answer the following questions: date of origin, purpose of group, number of members, member requirements, benefits offered to members.  Also briefly discuss a recent press release from the group or find a recent article from a news source related to the group.  Upon completion, email your findings to lwaddell@tempeunion.org

To assist in your knowledge of Interest Groups, here is a quick reading that will help.

Interest Group Reading Part 2

Supreme Court Project

Posted on by lwaddell

This project will be a bit different than the others.  Below you will find ten court cases that some consider the top 10 cases of all time that have gone before the Supreme Court.  Instead of doing a full brief on all ten, write a short paragraph for each that sums up the case.  Be sure to include if the case overturns any other case and whether you believe it is Judicial Activism or Judicial Restraint.

You will see these court cases on a quiz, test and final exam.

Top Ten Court Cases

New Jersey vs. TLO
Roe vs. Wade
Lemon vs. Kurtzman
Plessey vs. Ferguson
Tinker vs. Des Moines School District
Gideon vs. Wainwright
Miranda vs. Arizona
Marbury vs. Madison
Brown vs. Board of Education