Party Declaration

Overview 

Party Declaration day is a public process where students give a short speech about the issues that are important to them, and place themselves on the political spectrum.  They are able to declare Democrat, Republican, or Independent.  Prior to party declaration day students have spent the first weeks of the semester discussing current issues, taken political quizzes, and they have written their political profile.    

While party declaration may seem like a somewhat radical element of this course, by this time students have spent a number of weeks discussing their views in class, taking political quizzes, and their peers are already aware of where they stand.  Its also an essential part of understanding the way that the legislature (the US House of Representatives) ensures a fair hearing of issues- both parties get equal speaking time during the debate on bills in the full session.  This ends up elevating the voices of the minority party.

After party declaration the stage is set for leadership elections and the Committee Hearings.  Party declaration must happen before you release the declaration of candidacy and signature petitions for the leadership elections because eligibility for those positions and the number of signatures required both depend on party affiliation.  

Preparation

You'll need to prepare a bulletin board in a space that is accessible by all classes.  This could be a study room, hallway, library, or other "neutral" space that isn't inside a classroom.  Prepare the board with liberal to the left and conservative to the right.  

Print these Sample Party Declaration slips. Print these in colors that correspond with the party, or color code them based on the class section.  

Procedure for Party Declaration

1. On the day of Party Declaration, hand out the Party Declaration slips in class and have students fill them out.  The slips ask them to identify three issues that are important to them, and mark where on the spectrum they fall on each issue.  You can chose to color code the slips by class, or by party affiliation (see examples above).

2. Invite students to volunteer (or go in alpha order).  Ask students to stand near the bulletin board and share their name, the issues that matter to them most, their position on those issues, and the party that they are declaring.  They should then post themselves at the place on the spectrum that they feel best fits their current views.  (Treat this like a 60 second speech, you don't have to time it, but use this as a chance to support students in gaining confidence speaking in public)

3. Have the classroom clerk record the party of each student on the attendance roster, and enter it in the master spreadsheet.  (D, R, I)

4. If time remains, have students meet in their caucus groups (republicans and democrats), choose a leader for the day, and share ideas about issues that they think are important.  Ask them to keep a list.  If there are too many dems, split them into two groups, liberal dems and centrist dems.  This discussion will help them begin to think about bill topics.  

5. Let students know that they will have an opportunity to move their slip left or right at the END of the semester (not before) if their views are clarified or changed.  

Notes on Independents:  

• If students declare independent they can still place themselves anywhere on the spectrum, but they should justify why they aren't joining a party.  It is often helpful to check in with students who are declaring independent prior to their official declaration to check for understanding of the position. 

• Students who declare independent are not eligible to run for a party leadership role (Minority Leader or Majority Leader) because those roles are chosen internally within the party.   They are also not able to vote in the elections for Minority and Majority Leader.

• Students who declare independent will still need to caucus with one of the parties.  

After party declaration

• Ask students to use a sharpie marker to write their party on their name placard, next to their name.  EG Rep. Kate Ullman (D)

• If any students were absent, they should declare when they return to class, giving their speech, posting their slip, and recording their party on their placard.  

• Make sure that the master spreadsheet is updated with the party affiliation for each student.

• Re-sort the sheet by party, and announce the totals for Dem, Rep. and Independent on the agenda of your next class.

• Check the party affiliation of the Rules Committee.  The majority party should also have the majority on the Rules Committee.  If not, the majority party members should appoint one or more additional members so they control the committee. 

• Once students have declared their party, it's time to start encouraging them to consider running for leadership roles.  

Resources related to the political spectrum

• Democratic Party Platform (2024)

• Republican Party Platform (2024)

• Student News Daily - Liberal & Conservative

Political Quizzes

• "I Side With" Political Quiz 

• Pew Research Center Political Quiz   

•  Worlds Smallest Political Quiz

• Newseum Quiz