Law and Gov.
Political Parties
Study Guide
Instructional Materials
Text-chapter 5
Liberal vs. Conservative Readings
Washington’s Warning
1.
Compare and contrast competing views regarding the efficacies of political parties – J.S. Mill and George Washington.
2.
Describe the functions of political parties.
Nomination of Candidates, Informing and activating supporters, Bonding Agent, Governing, Watchdog
3. Identify reasons why the United States has a two-party system.
Historical Basis, tradition, electoral system, ideological consensus
4. Cite and explain characteristics of Multi party and single party systems including advantages and disadvantages of such
systems.
5. Describe Contemporary party membership patterns in the United States.
6. Understand the origins of political parties in the United States.
7. Identify reasons for single party domination during three periods in America’s history.
8. Describe the current era of divided government and provide an explanation for this phenomenon.
9. Identify and explain the core philosophies of the major parties (Democrats and Republicans.
10. Identify types of Minor parties.
Ideological, Single issue, economic protest, splinter
11. Assess the role of minor parties in U.S. politics: Critic, Innovator, Spoiler
12. Explain the reasons for the decentralized structure of political parties.
13. Describe how the major parties are organized at the National, State and Local levels.
14. Explain the significance of the following:
The party organization, The party in the electorate, The Party in Government
Terms: Hyper-partisanship, Political parties, major and minor parties, partisanship, party-in-power, two-party-system, singlemember district, plurality, bipartisan, pluralistic society, consensus, multi-party system, coalition, one-party system (dictatorship,
tradition), incumbent, faction, electorate, sectionalism, ward, precinct, split-ticket-voting
Term
Hyper-partisanship
Political parties
major and minor
parties
Partisanship
party-in-power
two-party-system
single-member
district
Plurality
Definition
Example
Bi-Partisan
Pluralistic Society
Consensus
Multi-Party system
Coalition
One-Party System
Incumbent
Faction
Electorate
Sectionalism
Ward
Precinct
Split-Ticket Voting
Spoiler
Bonding Agent
Single Issue Party
Principle-Oriented
Issue Oriented
Election-Oriented
Ideological Part
Splinter Party