a. To give students a firsthand view of how political parties formulate policy
and choose candidates.
b. To illustrate how the American two-party system provides a wide base for public involvement in policy formulation and candidate selection.
c. To emphasize the simple reality that public involvement is the cornerstone of
American government, without which democracy is doomed.
II. Division of the Simulation:
a. Political Party Convention
b. National Presidential Candidate Election
III. Role of the Students:
a. Students will represent delegates from various states in the Union.
b. Students will present planks and either reject or accept them in a legislative
forum situation.
c. Students will campaign to be the presidential nominee for the party.
d. Students objectives in the simulated convention should be to create a party platform
and select a nominee to represent the party in the national presidential election.
IV. Debate
Debates will be controlled by the Rules of Discussion handed out to each student. There will be a two minute time limit on each affirmative and negative speech.
V. Business of the Conventions
a. Sponsor or sponsors of planks will give a two minute
opening affirmative speech after the plank is read by the chair. A negative speech is then in order. After the negative speech is made, any motion as defined by the Rules of Discussion is in order unless otherwise indicated.
b. Presidential Nominee
- - Any student wishing to become the party nominee must secure a presidential nominee form on which he/she will list his/her individual platform and nominating speaker. Candidates will be given the opportunity to speak to the Convention. Candidates may campaign throughout the Convention. The election of the nominee will be the last order of business of the convention.
c. Floor Demonstrations
- - Presidential nominees may wish their followers to stage a floor demonstration.
This is acceptable. See Mr. Charon/Mr. Tilby for more information.
d. Video Presentations
-- Nominees may wish to make a video presentation/commercial to encourage party
members to vote for him/her. Positive campaigning material is preferred, however,
nominees are allowed to make videos containing negative campaigning material must
be generic in nature and not personal towards any opponent. All video material must be cleared with, and viewed by Mr. Tilby/Mr. Charon before
being shown at the convention.
V I. Grading
Students will be graded daily on involvement at the convention.
All students will receive grades based on the following:
a. a one to one and one-half page, typed, double-spaced fact sheet about the student's
state (this may contain historical information and/or other information that students
feel pertinent)
b. convention attendance. Students who are absent from class during the convention
will lose points!
c. participation in debates about platforms presented at the convention
d. writing and presenting at least two planks at the convention.
e. displaying state placard and flag each day at the convention.
Students wishing to receive extra points may:
a. write and present more than two planks.
b. have one or more planks voted into the party platform.
c. run in the presidential/vice-presidential party election.
d. win the presidential/vice-presidential nomination.
e. present one
fact about his/her state during state roll call at the beginning of each day the
convention is in progress.
f. "dressing up" in a costume for the convention that somehow represents his/her state.
**At times we will be dealing with issues that may be difficult for some students. Any parent/student who is uncomfortable with participation in the convention is encouraged to discuss his/her feelings with Mr. Charon/Mr. Tilby and an alternate course of study will be designed to meet the students grade requirement for this simulation.