Activities

Constitutional Requirements

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General Election

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Activities

THE CANDIDATES AND THE ISSUES

 www.georgebush.com/agenda
www.johnkerry.com/plan
http://capwiz.com/c-span/e4/dnet/?gridid=57361
http://www.issues2000.org/Quiz.htm
http://www.issues2000.org/default.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/graphics/issues/bushkerry/issues_pop.html
http://www.issues2000.org/Dem_Platform_2004.htm
http://www3.niu.edu/newsplace/wh04.html#04a
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/fronts/ELECTIONINTERACTIVES?SITE=CODEN&SECTION=POLITICS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Democratic Convention video clips located at: http://www.c-span.org/VideoArchives.asp?CatCodePairs=Issue,PE;&ArchiveDays=100&Page=4*
Republican Convention video clips located at: http://c-span.org*

*permission to stream edited video clips of the convention proceedings pending with c-span.org

As a group, answer the following questions using the websites provided:

  1. Who are the candidates for the President of the United States in the November 4th election?

  2. Who are the candidates in the two main political parties, Republican and Democratic?

  3. What political parties will be represented on the November 4th ballot?

  4. What is a political party’s “platform”?

  5. Identify 7 issues that the people of the United States consider important in the 2004 election.

  6. Are there any issues on which Kerry and Bush agree?

  7. Identify 3 major issues that reflect a drastic difference in opinion between Bush and Kerry.  

Task: 

Using Microsoft MovieMaker create digital videos that represent the platforms of the Democratic and Republican candidates on the seven issues that you determined were important to the people in the 2004 presidential election. 

Process:

Researchers: In this activity, the researchers will be divided into two groups.  The first group will research the Replublican position on the seven issues that you determined were important to the people in the 2004 presidential election.  The second group will research the Democratic position on those seven issues.  View the video footage of the nomination speeches to help determine the candidates’ positions. 

Head Researcher: Compile the data into three sections: Republican Position, Democratic Position and Parties Agree. 

Head of Publicity: Coordinate the scripting and filming of the platform videos.  Use the handout called Storyboard.doc to plan your video.  In addition to the video clips, your completed video must include at least 2 still images and one graph or chart to illustrate data reflected in the platforms.  The video should also have at least three transitions as well as title and credit pages.  Edit the videos into short movies using Windows MovieMaker.

Spokesperson: At the next meeting of the Election Committee, play the videos.  After watching the videos, have the interns complete the Venn Diagram called PlatformComparison.doc to visually represent the similarities and differences between the Democratic and Republican platforms.