Research Activity: Political Parties

Facilitation Notes   

• In this research activity, students explore the current two major political parties (Democratic and Republican), as well as a third party of their choice, to understand each party’s foundational positions, key policies, and roles in American politics. Additionally, students will select a historical party to research, providing insight into the evolution of, and shifts within, the U.S. political landscape over time.
• Students should utilize a variety of sources to gather information, including party websites, historical archives, academic journals, and current news articles. Accuracy and a range of perspectives should be emphasized in the research process.

Research Activity: Political Parties Worksheet  

• I can utilize research skills to identify various political parties and their key characteristics.
• I can evaluate political party platforms to understand their approaches to major societal issues and governance.
• I can understand the role and function of political parties, examining both historical and modern contexts.

Directions: Use this worksheet to guide your research of U.S. political parties. You will analyze four distinct political parties: the two major U.S. political parties (Democratic and Republican), a current third party of your choice, and a historical political party that is no longer active. Ensure a comprehensive and accurate analysis by using various sources, including official party websites, historical archives, scholarly publications, and up-to-date news articles. After completing your research and filling out the worksheet, answer the analysis questions provided.

Republican Party 

Party Name

Political Party Name	Republican Party
Date Started
Image/Logo	Draw the party’s logo in the space provided.

Current Party Platform

Directions: Visit the official Republican Party website and review their latest platform document.  List three key issues that this party focuses on and answer the following analysis questions. Refer to the Founding Principles to answer the analysis question.

Issue 1:	How does the party propose to address this issue? What Founding principle does each issue relate to and why?
Issue 2:	How does the party propose to address this issue? What Founding principle does each issue relate to and why?
Issue 3:	How does the party propose to address this issue? What Founding principle does each issue relate to and why?

Online Presence

Directions: List the main website and social media platforms used by the Republican Party and answer the analysis questions.

Website: Social Media Platforms:

What type of content (text, images, videos) does the party predominantly use? Provide at least three specific examples.

Historical Analysis

Use the key issues you researched. Historically, did the Republican Party focus on these issues? If so, how? If not, what other issues did they focus their attention on? How did the events of the time impact the issues that the Republican Party focused on in the past?

 

Democratic Party 

Party Name

Political Party Name	Democratic Party
Date Started
Image/Logo	Draw the party’s logo in the space provided.

Current Party Platform

Directions: Visit the official Democratic Party website and review their latest platform document.  List three key issues this party focuses on and answer the following analysis questions. Refer to the Founding Principles to answer the analysis question.

Issue 1:	How does the party propose to address this issue? What Founding principle does each issue relate to and why?
Issue 2:	How does the party propose to address this issue? What Founding principle does each issue relate to and why?
Issue 3:	How does the party propose to address this issue? What Founding principle does each issue relate to and why?

Online Presence

Directions: List the main website and social media platforms used by the Democratic Party and answer the analysis questions. 

Website: Social Media Platforms:

What type of content (text, images, videos) does the party predominantly use? Provide at least three specific examples.

Historical Analysis

Use the key issues you researched. Historically, did the Democratic Party focus on these issues? If so, how? If not, what other issues did they focus their attention on? How did the events of the time impact the issues that the Democratic Party focused on in the past?

 

Current Third Party  

Choose a current political party is not the Republican or Democratic Party.

Party Name

Political Party Name
Date Started
Image/Logo	Draw the party’s logo in the space provided.

Current Party Platform

Directions: Visit the official party website and review their latest platform document.  List three key issues this party focuses on and answer the following analysis questions. Refer to the Founding Principles to answer the analysis question.

Issue 1:	How does the party propose to address this issue? What Founding principle does each issue relate to and why?
Issue 2:	How does the party propose to address this issue? What Founding principle does each issue relate to and why?
Issue 3:	How does the party propose to address this issue? What Founding principle does each issue relate to and why?

Online Presence

Directions: List the main website and social media platforms used by the party and answer the analysis questions.

Website: Social Media Platforms:

What type of content (text, images, videos) does the party predominantly use? Provide at least three specific examples.

Historical Party  

Choose a historical political party that no longer exists and is not the Republican or Democratic party.

Party Name

Political Party Name
Date Started Date Ended
Image/Logo	Draw the party’s logo in the space provided.

Party Platform

Directions: Research the key issues of the party.  List three key issues this party focused on and answer the following analysis questions. Refer to the Founding Principles to answer the analysis question.

Issue 1:	How did the party propose to address this issue? Were they successful? Why or why not? What Founding principle does each issue relate to and why?
Issue 2:	How did the party propose to address this issue? Were they successful? Why or why not? What Founding principle does each issue relate to and why?
Issue 3:	How did the party propose to address this issue? Were they successful? Why or why not? What Founding principle does each issue relate to and why?

Historical Analysis

Why did this party dissolve, or end?

Final Analysis Questions:

• Compare and contrast the platforms and history of the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, and a third party of your choice. Analyze how these differences might influence the parties’ approaches to major societal issues and governance.
• What role do major political parties play in representing broad groups of Americans?
• How have third parties, which are often more narrowly focused, struggled to maintain longevity?
• Based on your research, how do political parties in the United States today align with the Founding principles?
• How did researching political parties inform your understanding of their role and function in American politics?