The Prompt The 2020 Presidential Election was quite a nail-biter! Donald Trump and Joseph
Biden faced off in an unforgettable campaign. Nonetheless, behind all of the bluster of speeches,
events (virtual or in-person), photo-ops, and debates, the candidates stood for the principles of
their respective political parties.
During each presidential election, the Democratic and Republican Parties create what are known
as “party platforms.” Think of party platforms as their respective positions on important political
issues, policies, and goals for the country. In other words, it is their vision. The parties use the
platforms as a method of bringing their visions into focus so that voters have a sense of what the
parties stand for. The Democratic Party drafted a new platform for 2020, however, the
Republican Party was too afraid of Donald Trump to write a new one. For the first time in
American history, the party literally said, “we believe whatever he believes.” Yikes. Thus, the
2016 Platform will have to be your guide.
These party platforms rarely get any coverage because voters are so focused on the candidates.
It is your turn to analyze the arguments made by the Republican and Democratic Parties. You are
going beyond the ideology (“the what”) by focusing on visions (“the why”).
Your Task • Choose ONE policy issue from the list below
– If a policy issue is addressed in one of the party platforms but not the other, then you
must investigate the candidate’s other speeches for evidence of a position on the issue.
– Identify and describe each political party’s political ideology and position on the issue
(the “what”) In other words, what does the document state as their position?
– Explain how their vision of human nature, knowledge and reason, and social processes
impact their understanding of the assigned issue (the “why”)
– Further examine each political party’s position on the issue by looking at ONE
application that best applies: Equality, Power, Justice.
USE THESE WEBSITES2020 Democratic Party
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2020-democratic-party-platform
2016 Republican Party Platform
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2016-republican-party-platform
Policy Issues you can Use
COVID-19
Gun laws/rights
Health insurance
Defense spending/war
Social welfare/social
security/housing/etc.
Security/terrorism
Classical liberalism
Drugs/crime
Taxes Constitutions/law
Corporations
Women’s rights
Abortions
Pay equity
Climate change
Foreign aid
Infrastructure
Worker’s wages
Immigration/undocumented
immigration
Systemic racism
Race/ethnicity/inequality
LGTBQIA+
Public education/charter schools
Affirmative action
Economic stimulus
Families
Religious liberty/discrimination
Voting rights
Criminal justice/prison/police reform