RETURN+FROM+SPRING+BREAK+WEEK+2015--+Political+Parties

Political Parties - THE BIG TENTS Check this __**entire page**__ for powerpoints, notes, and themes that will help you review.

//The Founders' Opinion of Political Parties - Due for Monday, March 30, 2015//
 

Readings for ,Monday, March 30 and Tuesday March 31
__ Skim these first two reading selections. __ 436-437 Intro 439 Chart - Take a quick look at the evolution of our party system

__ Spend some more time understanding these issues __ 441-444 Why were party's once so dominant? What has caused parties to lose influence? 445-448 What are the roles of political parties?

__ Hopefully, this material is straight-forward. __ 449 Chart - Understand the basic structure of a political party 474-476 Review the Group Affiliations on party support

** Party Politics and Hyperpluralism Video **
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Powerpoints

Reading and activity to have for class on **Thursday, April 2**  The chart is included at the end of the article!!!!

Journalist David Brooks addresses the nature of two parties in his piece about Red States vs. Blue States. Do you feel Mr. Brooks has accurately described America? Is the divide significant? Do two parties adequately meet the needs of the groups Mr. Brooks describes? In what ways might people be critical of the theory put forth in the work? Party Realignment Video []
 * //Read the article, and complete the chart for class on Tuesday.//** Be able to discuss the following ideas in class on Tuesday.

Reading for Wednesday, April 1
476-481 Third parties

 **Themes and Questions - Political Parties**

Purposes of parties/ What do they do? Be aware of the role of the parties in politics and their role in government; what does it mean to say parties are linkage institutions?

Factors that contribute to the continuation of the two-party electoral system

Trends in party identification: demographic groups that lean to one party or the other, geographic areas, rural/urban, ideological

Coalitions for each party

Trend towards ticket-splitting and increase in independents

Organization of the parties: Decentralized party structure: __local__, state, and national party organizations

National committee, national chairman, national convention, congressional campaign committees

Party machines

Reforms that weakened parties: civil service reform, ballot reform, primaries, campaign finance reform

Party eras in American history – don’t worry about the details – just have a general idea

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Party dealignment and realignment

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Changes that have led to a weakening of political parties and consequences of having weakened parties <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">3rd or Minor Parties <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">o Types of 3rd parties <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">o Why 3rd parties have trouble breaking through <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">o What roles 3rd parties play in our system <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">o Consequences of two-party system

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Candidates distancing themselves from party – candidate-centered elections <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">How political parties can help and present obstacles to racial minorities