US Government Assignment Guide and Key Points
Chapter 11 "Political Parties"
Lesson 1 "Political Parties in the United States"
Turn to page214-216 look at the picture on those pages read about it and the short introduction to Chapter 11
Scan Pages 214-216; focus on the blue boxes, which contain the key vocabulary terms.
Scan Pages 214-216 for pictures and diagrams, read each of the captions.
Read Pages 214-216 (take notes of important ideas)
Do you know the answers to the questions on page 216? (See Key Points below for help)
Do you know the vocabulary words? (See Key Points below for help)
Take the quiz on Lesson 1 "Political Parties in the United States" (You may use the book, notes and Key Points for help on the quizzes. NOT ON TESTS!)
Review answers on the quiz and print it out. This will be very useful when you are studying for the test.
Lesson 1 Key Points
Vocabulary Terms
Whigs - Colonists who wanted independence from England.
Tories - colonists loyal to the king of England.
Democratic party - U.S. political party that stands for protecting rights of the individual.
Republican party - U.S. political party that stands for a limited government role in people's lives and limited change.
Section Review Answers
Did you learn these Objectives?
Are you able to describe the beliefs of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists?
Can you explain how the Democratic and Republican parties began?
Are you able to illustrate how the two-party system became strong?
Lesson 2 "Minor Parties"
Scan Pages 217-219; focus on the blue boxes, which contain the key vocabulary terms.
Scan Pages 217-219 for pictures and diagrams, read each of the captions.
Read Pages 217-219 (take notes of important ideas)
Do you know the answers to the questions on page 219? (See Key Points below for help)
Take the quiz on Lesson 2 "Minor Parties" (You may use the book, notes and Key Points for help on the quizzes. NOT ON TESTS!)
Lesson 2 Key Points
Multiparty - many parties
Coalition - a group of several political parties.
Minor party - a political party whose voting strength is usually too weak for it to gain control of the government.
Nominate - to select someone for a job or office.
Progressive - in favor of changing government
Third party - a political party that exists for a period of time in a nation or state that usually has a two-party system.
Can you explain the workings of minor parties and the role they play in the U.S. Political system?
Can you describe the influence of minor parties and why it is difficult for them to succeed?
Lesson 3 "Political Party Activities"
Scan Pages 220-222; focus on the blue boxes, which contain the key vocabulary terms.
Scan Pages 220-222 for pictures and diagrams, read each of the captions.
Read Pages 220-222 (take notes of important ideas)
Do you know the answers to the questions on page 222? (See Key Points below for help)
Take the quiz on Lesson 3 "Political Party Activities" (You may use the book, notes and Key Points for help on the quizzes. NOT ON TESTS!)
Lesson 3 Key Points
Conservative - a person who does not like change.
Liberal - a person whose political views are open to change and who supports individual rights.
Platform - a statement of the ideas, policies, and beliefs of a political party in an election.
Incumbent - a person who holds an office.
Fund raiser - an activity held to raise money.
Constituent - a member of an office holder's voting district.
Opposition party - a political party that does not have a majority in the government.
Can you explain the difference between conservatives and liberals as they relate to the two major political parties?
Are you able to describe the purpose of a party platform?
Can you list the functions of political parties?
Lesson 4 "Primary Elections"
Scan Pages 223-225; focus on the blue boxes, which contain the key vocabulary terms.
Scan Pages 223-225 for pictures and diagrams, read each of the captions.
Read Pages 223-225 (take notes of important ideas)
Do you know the answers to the questions on page 225? (See Key Points below for help)
Take the quiz on Lesson 4 "Primary Elections" (You may use the book, notes and Key Points for help on the quizzes. NOT ON TESTS!)
Lesson 4 Key Points
Primary election - an election to choose candidates or select delegates to a party convention.
Direct primary - kind of primary where votes choose a candidate to support.
Indirect primary - kind of primary where members choose delegates who then choose candidates.
Nonpartisan primary - a primary without political parties.
Preference - choice.
Are you able to explain why the primary election is used?
Can you compare and contrast the direct primary and the indirect primary and the indirect primary?
Are you able to name the type of primary used for small, local elections (nonpartisan).
Can you explain the presidential primary?
Lesson 5 "National Political Conventions"
Scan Pages 226-229; focus on the blue boxes, which contain the key vocabulary terms.
Scan Pages 226-229 for pictures and diagrams, read each of the captions.
Read Pages 226-228 (take notes of important ideas)
Do you know the answers to the questions on page 229? (See Key Points below for help)
Take the quiz on Lesson 5 "National Political Conventions" (You may use the book, notes and Key Points for help on the quizzes. NOT ON TESTS!)
Lesson 5 Key Points
Alternate - someone who is appointed to substitute for a delegate at a political convention.
Nominee - a person who has been chosen to run for election.
Keynote address - a speech that presents the main issues of interest and promotes enthusiasm and party unity.
Roll call - to call off the name of each state.
Acceptance - Agreeing to
Can you describe how delegates to national conventions are chosen?
Are you able to explain the functions of the following national convention committees; organization, rules, credentials, and platform?
Can you describe the nomination process at a national convention?
Are you able to explain what happens at the convention after a candidate in nominated?
Lesson 6 "Political Campaigns"
Scan Pages 230-232; focus on the blue boxes, which contain the key vocabulary terms.
Scan Pages 230-332 for pictures and diagrams, read each of the captions.
Scan for an read the short articles and questions in the olive/orange/brown/blue boxes that you find on Page 232.
Read Pages 230-233 (take notes of important ideas)
Do you know the answers to the questions on page 233? (See Key Points below for help)
Take the quiz on Lesson 6 "Political Campaigns" (You may use the book, notes and Key Points for help on the quizzes. NOT ON TESTS!)
Lesson 6 Key Points
Publicity - attention gained by giving out information.
Donate - to give money or help.
Political Action Committee (PAC) - a group that collects money to spend for political purposes.
Soft money - money given to federal political parties.
Hard money - money given directly to a national political candidate.
Can you explain the purpose of a political campaign and how the candidates obtain the money to run a campaign?
Are you able to illustrate the duties of the members of a political campaign staff?
Lesson 7 "The Right to Vote"
Scan Pages 234-237; focus on the blue boxes, which contain the key vocabulary terms.
Scan Pages 234-237 for pictures and diagrams, read each of the captions.
Scan for an read the short articles and questions in the olive/orange/brown/blue boxes that you find on Pages 234-237.
Read Pages 234-237 (take notes of important ideas)
Do you know the answers to the questions on page 237? (See Key Points below for help)
Take the quiz on Lesson 7"The Right to Vote" (You may use the book, notes and Key Points for help on the quizzes. NOT ON TESTS!)
Lesson 7 Key Points
Eligible - to have the right to do something
Register - to fill out a form
Absentee ballot - a vote by mail before an election
Redistricting - changing the borders of a voting area.
Gerrymander - to make voting districts that are unfair to a political party.
Can you state the qualifications needed to vote?
Are you able to describe how to register to vote?
Can you describe the voting process and how absentee ballots are used?
Can you explain how voting districts are set up?
Lesson 8 "Referendums and Initiatives"
Scan Pages 238-239; focus on the blue boxes, which contain the key vocabulary terms.
Scan Pages 238-239 for pictures and diagrams, read each of the captions.
Scan for an read the short articles and questions in the olive/orange/brown/blue boxes that you find on Pages 238-239.
Read Pages 238-239 (take notes of important ideas)
Do you know the answers to the questions on page 239? (See Key Points below for help)
Take the quiz on Lesson 8 "Referendums and Initiatives" (You may use the book, notes and Key Points for help on the quizzes. NOT ON TESTS!)
Lesson 8 Key Points
Referendum- the act of submitting a matter to a direct vote.
Petition referendum - a referendum that is placed on a ballot after people protest the law.
Optional referendum - a referendum that a legislature sends to voters willingly.
Compulsory referendum - a referendum that requires voter approval.
Initiative - the process of proposing a law through a petition and then voting on it.
Recall - the process of removing a public official from office by voting
Can you explain how the petition referendum is used?
Are you able to explain when an optional referendum in used?
Can you explain the compulsory referendum?
Can you show how citizens can suggest new laws by voting on an initiative?
Are you able to describe how the recall process is used?
Preparing for Chapter 11 Test
Turn to Page 240 and read the article "The Voting Rights Act of 1965 ".
Turn to Page 241 and read the Chapter 11 summary.
On page 242-243 you will find the Chapter 11 review, complete the review.
Check your answers with those in the Key Points.
Take the Chapter 11 Test "Political Parties"
Review the answers then print the results for your records.
Chapter 11 Review answers