3. Liberal Middle of the Road Conservative
On Economic Issues (fiscal policy)
Conservatives believe: Liberals believe:
• Oppose government • That economic
control on businesses freedom should be
and individuals limited in order to
− Example: let business increase equality
do what they want and − Example:
the marketplace will government should
be more free to regulate business to
prosper reduce pollution and
protect consumers
Economic issues include: Taxes, Health Care, Social Security
4. Liberal Middle of the Road Conservative
On Social Issues
Liberals believe: Conservatives believe:
• The government • The role of
should be active in government should
promoting health, be limited, except in
education, justice supporting
and equal traditional moral
opportunity values and
promoting freedom
and opportunity
Social issues include: Gun Control, Abortion, Stem Cell Research, Gay
Rights
5. Differences Between
Democrats (D) vs. Republicans (R)
• Liberal –interpret • Conservative – more
constitution to meet the literal/strict
needs of today (living interpretation of
document) constitution (dead
• Higher taxes with more document)
services for the people • Lower taxes but less
• Larger government- services for the people
Government actively • Smaller government-
tries to make lives of the People will make their
people better own lives better if left
alone by Government
6. Democrats (D) vs. Republicans (R)
• Gun Control • Gun Control
− Less restrictions citing 2nd
− More restrictions on
amendment right to Bear
owning gun, hoping Arms
to stop violent crime
• Abortion
• Abortion − Anti-choice
− Pro Choice
• Pro Business
• Pro labor − If workers strike
− Workers have the companies will go out of
right to strike if they business and there will be
are treated unfairly no work for anyone
7. U.S. House and Senate Race
Two Houses Divided
Senate House of Representatives
51 Democrats 435 total representatives
47 Republicans 242 Republicans
2 Independents 193 Democrats
8. How does all this relate to
Minnesota?
• We have 2 Senate seats in Minnesota just like
every state
− Only 1 seat is up for the election
The candidates in 2012 are:
Kurt Bills (R) Amy Klobuchar (D) Stephen Williams (I)
• We have 8 Representatives and all are up for
election.
− We elect 1 from each district.
10. •This is what the County map looked like for the 2008
presidential election.
Name the Congressional District we are in, and
who currently represents your district. Who did
your district support for president in 2008?
11. Seminar Questions
• Is it better to have Congress and the Presidency
controlled by one party or should we split it up?
• If Senators and Representatives do not have term
limits, why should the president only be able to
serve two terms? Should this be changed?
• In your opinion, what current issue in the U.S. is the
most important?
• What issue taking place today will still be an
important issue when you are able to vote?
• Should the voting age be lowered to allow 8th graders
to vote?
