Political Parties and our Government

Georgia Studies

Democrat

Republican

Democrat vs. RepublicanDemocrat

• Likely to be “Liberal”• Favor social programs (universal

health care)• Tend to raise taxes• Tend to reduce military• Tend to be middle to lower class • Found in large numbers in

Northeast, Upper Midwest and West

• Federal Government has greater power

• Concerned mostly with domestic affairs

Republican• Likely to be “Conservative”• Reduce social programs • Lower taxes• Build strong military and

defense• Tend to be upper middle to

upper class• Found in large numbers in

South, Lower Midwest and Southwest

• States retain most of the power• Is likely concerned with foreign

affairs

Lobbyist/Special Interests – Organizations that try to influence how a Congressman will vote to support their views on laws

Republican

NRA – National Rifle Association

MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving

AFA – American Family Association

Democrat

• UAW – United Auto Workers

• EPA – Environmental Protection Agency

• Teamsters Union• MoveOn.org

Liberal – one who favors progress and reform

• Support woman’s right to choose (abortion)• Support Affirmative Action• Abolish death penalty• Government controls economy• Widely support increase funding to public schools• Reduce Global “footprints” – conserve the environment• Support Universal Healthcare• Give amnesty to illegal immigrants and increase the number of those allowed

to immigrate• Oppose Patriot Act• Support the Separation of Church and State• Legalize Gay marriage and rights• Legalize certain illegal drugs• Support long-term welfare• Tend to favor gun control

Conservative – Resistant to change• Abortion = illegal• Against Affirmative Action• Support death penalty• Support free market competitive capitalism• Support school vouchers• Don’t favor drastic or quick environment change• Keep Healthcare private• Support most of Patriot Act• Enact stricter immigration laws• No such thing as Separation of Church and State: Religion should be allowed

to be displayed• Against Gay marriage and rights• Change social security and privatize it• Lower Taxes• Attack terrorists overseas first• Oppose long-term welfare• Traditional values

Hot Political Topics

Animal rights SteroidsCapital Punishment CloningDrug Legalization EuthanasiaGlobal Warming Gun ControlPrayer Stem CellsWelfare Women in the militaryCensorship Internet privacy

Famous Democrats

• Bill Gates Franklin D. Roosevelt• Harry Truman John F. Kennedy• Lyndon B. Johnson Bill Clinton• Oprah Winfrey Michael Moore• Tom Cruise Ben Affleck• Robert Downey, Jr. Chris Rock• Bruce Springsteen Tom Hanks

Famous Republicans

• Denzel Washington Bruce Willis• John Wayne James Earl Jones• Clint Eastwood Arnold Schwarzenegger• Ronald Reagan Abraham Lincoln• George W. Bush Richard Nixon• Ulysses S. Grant Warren G. Harding• Sarah Palin John McCain