Democrats and Republicans. Blue and Red. Donkeys and Elephants. Left and Right. These represent our two-party system. Why two parties, and not three? Can I start my own political party? What do the donkeys and elephants represent? Find out the answers to all of these questions in "The Two-Party System" ToolBook.
The Topics
- The rise of the two-party system—and the role of third parties in U.S. history
- Special interest groups: Do they undermine the two-party system?
- Direct democracy: the initiative, referendum and recall.
- Undemocracy: reapportionment, redistricting, and gerrymandering.
Make the two-party system memorable!
- Why conservatives don't like the New York Times.
- Where do YOU fit in the political spectrum?
- Third Party Candidates: From Ross Perot to (possibly) Michael Bloomberg
- Political cartoons: Arnold Schwarzenegger and the recall in California
- Gerrymandering: Why did the Texas legislators flee to Oklahoma?
|
|
|
| 1. The two-party system | |
| The two-party system | |
| #1 Lecture | What is a political party? |
| #2 Lecture | What is the two-party system? |
| #3 Chart | How the two-party system began |
| #4 Chart | Why we have only two parties |
| #5 Chart | The two-party system: supporters vs critics |
| #6 Lecture | Trends, 1860 to the present |
| #7 Chart | Comparing the Republicans and Democrats |
| #8 Graphic Organizer | Can you describe the two parties today? |
| #9 List | Conservatives don’t like the New York Times |
| #10 Chart | The political spectrum: liberals vs. conservatives |
| #11 Internet | What are you? |
| #12 Group Analysis | The two-party system |
| #13 Political Cartoons | The two-party system |
| Third parties | |
| #14 Political Cartoons | Third parties |
| #15 Lecture | The history of third parties |
| #16 Game | Third parties |
| #17 Game | Third parties |
| #18 Game | Types of third parties |
| #19 Political Cartoons | Third parties |
| #20 Quotations | Famous third party candidates |
| #21 Chart | Why third parties are important |
| #22 Group Analysis | The top ten reasons why third parties are a darned good thing |
| #23 Group Analysis | The two-party system |
| #24 Group Analysis | Third parties |
| #25 Debate | “Third parties should participate in presidential debates.” |
| Review | |
| #26 Chart | The future of the two parties |
| #27 Game | The two-party system (recall terms) |
| #28 Game | Can you talk like a politician? (define terms) |
| Test | The two-party system: 187 questions |
| Special interest groups | |
| #29 Lecture | Special interest groups |
| #30 Chart | Types of special interest groups |
| #31 Group Analysis | Political action committees |
| #32 Internet | Political action committees - logos |
| #33 Group Analysis | Lobbyists |
| #34 Political Cartoons | Lobbyists |
| #35 Brief reading | Elizabeth Drew, “The Revolving Door” |
| #36 List | Books to read |
| #37 Internet | Special interest groups: pro and con |
| #38 Group Analysis | Special interest groups |
| #39 Group Analysis | Political action committees |
| #40 Debate | Do special interest groups run Washington, D.C.? |
| #41 Game | The ABCs of Lobbying (recall terms) |
| #42 Game | Can you talk like a Pac-man? (define terms) |
| Test | Special interest groups: 93 questions |
| Initiative, Referendum, Recall | |
| Direct Democracy | |
| #43 Lecture | Direct Democracy |
| #44 Group Analysis | The initiative |
| #45 Group Analysis | The referendum |
| #46 Lecture | California: famous for initiatives and referendums |
| #47 Political Cartoons | The initiative |
| #48 Group Analysis | The top ten reasons why direct democracy is good |
| #49 Group Analysis | The top ten reasons why representative democracy is good |
| #50 Brief readings | Nine readings from The Economist |
| #51 Group Analysis | The initiative |
| #52 Debate | Does your state need the initiative or referendum? |
| The Recall | |
| #53 Group Analysis | The recall |
| #54 Group Analysis | The recall |
| #55 Political Cartoons | The recall |
| #56 Group Analysis | The top ten reasons why the recall is a darned good thing |
| #57 Group Analysis | The top ten reasons why the recall is going too far |
| Review | |
| #58 Game | Direct democracy |
| #59 Game | Direct democracy |
| #60 Game | The ABCs of direct democracy (recall terms) |
| #61 Game | Can you talk like a petitioner? (define terms) |
| Test | Direct democracy: 53 questions |
| Reapportionment | |
| #62 Document | U.S. Department of State, “The Benchmark of Elections” |
| Reapportionment | |
| #63 Lecture w/ graphic organizer | Reapportionment |
| #64 Group Analysis | Reapportionment |
| #65 Maps & Chart | s Reapportionment |
| Gerrymandering | |
| #66 Group Analysis | Gerrymandering |
| #67 Lecture | Gerrymandering |
| #68 Internet | Maps: Gerrymandering |
| #69 Political Cartoons | : Gerrymandering |
| #70 Internet | The Congressmen from Texas |
| #71 Internet | Gerrymandering: pro and con |
| #72 Chart | The top ten reasons why gerrymandering is bad |
| #73 Chart | The top five reasons why incumbents are re-elected |
| #74 Chart | We ought to all move to Iowa . . . |
| Review | |
| #75 Group Analysis | Reapportionment |
| #76 Group Analysis | Gerrymandering |
| #77 Debate | Nonpartisan commissions |
| #78 Game | The ABCs of reapportionment (recall terms) |
| #79 Game | Can you talk like Elbert Gerry? (define terms) |
| Test | Reapportionment: 102 questions |
About Performance Education ToolBooks
Each ToolBook has 4 basic components:
- Lectures and Stories―provide the basic facts behind the subject being covered and help establish a framework for further learning
- Interactive Exercises―develop higher levels of skill through graphic organizers, maps, charts, timelines, important documents and links to other materials
- Games―Unique action Games, brain games and board Games are fun, exciting, encourage fast-paced learning, and provide practice in all 6 levels of Bloom
- The Tests―practice and preparation for the end-of-grade state tests, with hundreds of practice test questions.
THE BEST WAY TO BUY!
You can have 24/7/365 Access to every product and activity we publish. For a limited time only - 13 months for only $149!
Or purchase a single subject subscription for only $99.
You will never find a deal better than this one!
Buy now.