Day 1--Choosing Your Philosophy
Day 1: Electoral College & Succession
Words to Learn: Succession, Electoral College, 270, Conservative, Liberal
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Succession- the process of a new leader replacing the old leader
Electoral College- the system in the United States in which the president is elected. Electors from each state choose a candidate based on the popular vote of the state. |
Political Philosophies
https://www.studentnewsdaily.com/conservative-vs-liberal-beliefs/
We all want the same things in life. We want freedom; we want the chance for prosperity; we want as few people suffering as possible; we want healthy children; we want to have crime-free streets. The argument is how to achieve them… Liberals believe in government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all. It is the duty of the government to alleviate social ills and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights. Believe the role of the government should be to guarantee that no one is in need. Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to solve problems.
Strongest in Northeastern State, Pacific Coast States, and states around Great Lakes Other terms you may hear: Democrats, Left, Blue States Conservatives believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. Believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems.
Strongest in Southern States around Gulf of Mexico & states south of the Ohio River, "Corn Belt" states of Midwest & around Rocky Mountains. Other terms you may hear: Republicans, Right, Red States |
Your team must decided on what Political Philosophy will you lean? Liberal or Conservative. Remember, it WILL effect how people vote for you in some states.
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Day 2: Choosing a Candidate
Words to Learn: Primary, Caucus, National Convention, Ticket, Shore Up Your Base
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Primary- in order to determine their party's candidate, political parties in certain states hold typical elections to determine the choice of the state Caucus-in order to determine their party's candidate, political parties in certain states hold small meetings throughout the state of party members. After some time to discuss the strength of each candidate, voters are told where to move in order to show who they will support. National Convention-each political party holds meeting of all the delegates (representatives) each candidate won in each state's primary or caucus. A roll call of the states is taken announcing the delegates each state won, and when a candidate receives over 50% of the votes, he/she becomes the party nominee for president. |
Selecting a Vice-President
Another task of the National Convention is to choose the vice-presidential candidate. The most important qualification for the VP candidate is that the public will believe that this person could serve as president if some tragedy befalls the commander in chief. The combination of the president and the vice-president are typically called the party's ticket. Other considerations when selecting a VP candidate are: 1) What state do they come from? If he/she is popular from that state or region and help in winning electoral votes from that area? 2) Will the VP balance the ticket by offering a contrast, or a difference, to the Presidential candidate? For example, do they provide experience in an area or knowledge of an important issue in the year's campaign? Are they known to believe slightly more or less of the political party's philosophy? (For example, for the Democrats are running someone who is Mostly Liberal, do they choose a VP candidate that is Somwehat Liberal? If the Republicans are running a candidate that is Somewhat Conservative do you choose a candidate that is Mostly Conservative?) It depends if you want to attract independent voters or shore up you base (making sure voters in your own party are motivated to support and vote for your candidate) |
Your Political Party Must Select a Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidate. At least ONE of them need to match your political philosophy. Use the File Attached Below to Read a Quick Summary About Each Candidate.
(A * next to the state means that you will receive votes in a few surrounding states as well)
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Day 3: Campaigning
Words to Learn: Propaganda, Bandwagon, Testimonial, Transfer, Glittering Generalities, Plain Folks, Repetition, Ad Hominem
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Bandwagon- everybody is doing it, you should too
Testimonial- someone well known is doing it, you should too Transfer- to take link something or someone with something else, either good or bad (depending if you want someone doing it or not) Glittering Generalities- using general, nonspecific words so you can see a product or person in a good or bad way (determined by what emotion you want your audience to feel) Plain Folks- common people, just like you, are doing it Repetition- hearing or seeing same idea, phrase, over and over Ad Hominem- personal attacks rather than debating issues |
Day 4: Campaigning in the States
In Classes With Two Presidential Candidates:
CAMPAIGNING
The team selects TWO different states in which to campaign. The team then rolls TWO dice. They can then choose what state gets which roll. (If the other team in the political party chooses to campaign also, they cannot chose the same two states). YOU MAY NOT CAMPAIGN IN CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK, TEXAS, OR FLORIDA)
FUNDRAISING
There are 4 states where you can go fundraising (California, New York, Florida, and Texas). The team announces which of those 4 states they are going to fundraise in and roll TWO dice. At least 1/2 of the total has to go to the state they selected and the rest can be divided up among any other state. The whole roll can be sent to the fundraising state as well. (ex. declare Texas and roll a 9. 5 points have to go to Texas and you can spend the other 4 any way you would like. You could say 7 in Texas and 2 somewhere else, or even all 9 in Texas with 0 points to spend anywhere else). BOTH TEAMS IN A PARTY CANNOT CHOSE FUNDRAISE ON THE SAME TURN.
You also will take a Politics Card and must take the action it describes. Most are positive, a few are negative.
In Classes With Three Presidential Candidates:
CAMPAIGNING
The team selects THREE different states in which to campaign. The team then rolls TWO dice. They can then choose what state gets which roll. BOTH TEAMS IN A PARTY CANNOT CHOSE FUNDRAISE ON THE SAME TURN.
FUNDRAISING
There are 4 states where you can go fundraising (California, New York, Florida, and Texas). The team announces which of those 4 states they are going to fundraise in and roll TWO dice. At least 1/2 of the total has to go to the state they selected and the rest can be divided up among any other state. The whole roll can be sent to the fundraising state as well. (ex. declare Texas and roll a 9. 5 points have to go to Texas and you can spend the other 4 any way you would like. You could say 7 in Texas and 2 somewhere else, or even all 9 in Texas with 0 points to spend anywhere else).
You also will take a Politics Card and must take the action it describes. Most are positive, a few are negative.
CAMPAIGNING
The team selects TWO different states in which to campaign. The team then rolls TWO dice. They can then choose what state gets which roll. (If the other team in the political party chooses to campaign also, they cannot chose the same two states). YOU MAY NOT CAMPAIGN IN CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK, TEXAS, OR FLORIDA)
FUNDRAISING
There are 4 states where you can go fundraising (California, New York, Florida, and Texas). The team announces which of those 4 states they are going to fundraise in and roll TWO dice. At least 1/2 of the total has to go to the state they selected and the rest can be divided up among any other state. The whole roll can be sent to the fundraising state as well. (ex. declare Texas and roll a 9. 5 points have to go to Texas and you can spend the other 4 any way you would like. You could say 7 in Texas and 2 somewhere else, or even all 9 in Texas with 0 points to spend anywhere else). BOTH TEAMS IN A PARTY CANNOT CHOSE FUNDRAISE ON THE SAME TURN.
You also will take a Politics Card and must take the action it describes. Most are positive, a few are negative.
In Classes With Three Presidential Candidates:
CAMPAIGNING
The team selects THREE different states in which to campaign. The team then rolls TWO dice. They can then choose what state gets which roll. BOTH TEAMS IN A PARTY CANNOT CHOSE FUNDRAISE ON THE SAME TURN.
FUNDRAISING
There are 4 states where you can go fundraising (California, New York, Florida, and Texas). The team announces which of those 4 states they are going to fundraise in and roll TWO dice. At least 1/2 of the total has to go to the state they selected and the rest can be divided up among any other state. The whole roll can be sent to the fundraising state as well. (ex. declare Texas and roll a 9. 5 points have to go to Texas and you can spend the other 4 any way you would like. You could say 7 in Texas and 2 somewhere else, or even all 9 in Texas with 0 points to spend anywhere else).
You also will take a Politics Card and must take the action it describes. Most are positive, a few are negative.
Day 5: Choosing a Side on an Issue
Your task is to read the issue and decide which position your candidate will hold. How you decide will earn you votes in some states while hurting you in others. Will you endorse the view that matches what the majority in your group believes, or go for the view that will give you the best chances to win. (Remember, you can go against the political philosophy of your candidate, but if you do that to many times, you will depress the amount of votes for him (voters from your political party wont show up to vote). You can also choose "NO VIEW"
Issue 1: Environment and Energy
Liberal View
Climate Change is real and caused by human activity mostly when it comes to burning fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum. (not just cars, but also to run the turbines that creates our electricity). Not only using them, but acquiring them from the ground through mining and oil rigs. We must bring these activities that pollute the environment to an end and/or heavily regulated them in order to keep the environment clean and encourage more eco-friendly sources of energy (solar, wind, etc). STATES VOTE PICK UP: New York, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C., Colorado |
Conservative View
The question is how much does human activity really contribute to climate change and how effective is slowing down the burning of fossil fuels in stopping it? It will also be at the expense of people's livelihoods. What happens to the people who holds the jobs of mining coal or working a oil rig? What happens to those communities who depend on those workers to spend the money they earn in the local stores or for local services? And of course, people across the country will see their electric and gas bills go up as cost to produce energy due to government regulation (government laws put in place to control private industries). STATES VOTE PICK UP: North Dakota, West Virginia, Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Wyoming, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Alabama |
Issue Two: Gun Control
Liberal View
With the amount of people who are victims of gun violence, we have to admit there is a problem. A solution to this problem would be to restrict the amount of guns that are out in public. Less guns, less gun violence. Yes, carrying a gun can help protect you, but it also leads to more accidents. And how does a military style weapon going to be used in your protection. Leave protection to trained professional. The second amendment was written in a time when it took some time to load a musket, today a simple pull of a trigger could release several bullets at once. STATES VOTE PICK UP: New York, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C., Illinois, Hawaii |
Conservative View
The second amendment is clear, "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." People should be able to protect themselves just having a gun can be a deterrent to crime. In a sense, when you create a law to restrict people from having guns, you are punishing law abiding citizens because of the bad things criminals do with guns (and the bad people will still find a way to get guns anyway). STATES VOTE PICK UP: Texas, Oklahoma, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, New Hampshire, Arizona, Utah, Georgia, Kentucky, Kansas, Montana, Alaska, Wyoming |
Day 6: Choosing a Side on Issues
Issue 3: The Military
Liberal View
Our troops are spread out around the world, policing other countries instead of protecting our own. We should be attempting peaceful agreements through dialogue and negotiation rather than force & intimidation. Reducing our military will provide money that can be better served helping people in our own country STATES VOTE PICK UP: New York, California, Vermont, Colorado, Oregon, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Washington D.C., Maryland, Wisconsin |
Conservative View
If we do not keep our troops around the world, another power will step into the vacuum we have created. The U.S. has brought freedom to many countries around the world, and serve to protect our allies, maintaining the balance of power that currently exists. Reducing the military will endanger this and may have us fighting a more costly war at a later date. STATES VOTE PICK UP: Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Utah, Georgia, Washington, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee |
Issue 4: Entitlements & Taxes
Liberal View
The government is the only institution large enough to provide for people who are less fortunate. We need to provide food stamps & government assistance to help those in need. And it does come with a cost, so wealthier Americans should pay their fair share in taxes in order to provide these charitable services. STATES VOTE PICK UP: New York, California, Hawaii, Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota |
Conservative View
Lower classes pay little if any taxes & the rich can find loopholes. Most tax dollars goes to big states & much of the tax burden falls on the middle class. Instead of welfare, allow people to be choose to charitable. Government is not effective in spending money where needed, & will just ask for more (thru taxes) instead of cutting. Provide incentives for people in need to find a job and provide a path to home ownership so they feel responsible and capable rather than handouts. STATES VOTE PICK UP: Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska |