Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:

1. According to the data from the silly graph above, do more Americans consider themselves Democrats, Republicans or Independents?

2. Based on the ridiculous graph above, Identify one trend in party identification over the past 32 years?

3. Identify one cause of that trend?

4. Listen to podcast below* and describe one consequence of that trend.

5. Explain how the independent vote impacts Presidential elections.

6. There are more Independents than either Democrats or Republicans. About what portion of Congress is Independent?

7. Given that there are more Independents than Democrats or Republicans, what are two reasons that Independents rarely win election to congress?

8. According to the data from the visual below*, what portion of Independents are truly Independent and do not actually lean toward one party or the other?

9. Based solely on the table above, which party would you bet would win the 2024 presidential election?

10. In what way are Independents demographically different from Democrats or Republicans?*

    
    Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

Here is a list of some American Independent parties. Maybe you like the Libertarian Party, Green Party, Prohibition Party, Pirate Party, the Light Party or the Modern Whig Party. Share your favorite one with your friends or enemies in class or online.

Get Creative

What adjective best describes the American political party system?

Learning Extension

Read the Pew Report: Political Independents: Who They Are, What They Think before it’s too late!