Reference no: EM132294036

Unit Assignment

The nature of party's coalition: 70% of students will successfully research and evaluate the nature of each party's coalition and explain the positions they take on policy issues. [SLO #3 fulfills the following Program Level Outcomes: Communication, Critical Thinking, Social and Personal Responsibility, as well as the following Course Level Outcomes]

Activity for Assessment:

In answering the question below, take the following two things into account:

1. The contrasting positions of Republican lawmakers and Democratic lawmakers on the various issues we examined.

2. The nature of the Republican Party coalition and the nature of the Democratic Party coalition. (Party coalition is the term for the groups that tend to support a particular party, such as the voting support that black Americans give to the Democratic Party.)

Your Platform, and Party Politics: (you have to take both surveys!)

1. Know yourself. Take these surveys to identify your political leanings:

3. Submit screen shots of your results (both surveys). Explain your results. What do they say about you?

1. Democratic Party platform

2. Republican Party platform

3. Where do your ideas align with the party?

4. Where do your ideas diverge from the party?

Examine your political values and compare them to the expressed values of both parties. Do your ideas about the role of government, politics, and policy align with one particular party?

What impact, if any, do factions have on enhancing or diminishing civic engagement? In your opinion, do factions promote acceptance of diverse opinions?

How does the nature of each party's coalition explain the positions that each party's lawmakers take on policy issues? In your answer, provide an example from at least three of the five policy issue sessions (the five sessions were: social issues, fiscal and monetary issues, welfare and income issues, regulatory issues, and trade issues).