THE AMERICAN PARTY SYSTEM
I. THREE FACETS OF U.S. PARTY SYSTEM
B. PARTY IN GOVERNMENT (House of Representatives) (Senate)
II. FUNCTIONS OF PARTIES
A.COORDINATE ACTIONS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
B. FOSTER RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT
C. RECRUIT AND SUPPORT CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE
D. STIMULATE INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS-STRUCTURE VOTING CHOICE
E. COALESCE INTERESTS
F. DEVELOP PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES
III. THE U.S. TWO PARTY SYSTEM
A. CAUSES AND MAINTENANCE
1. HISTORY, CUSTOM & TRADITION
B. EFFECTS OF TWO PARTY SYSTEM
1. POLITICS OF MODERATION
2. HARD TIMES FOR MINOR PARTIES
3. CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES
C. CHARACTERISTICS
1. DECENTRALIZATION OF ORGANIZATION
2. OPEN MEMBERSHIP
3. PRAGMATIC ORIENTATION
4. BROKER ROLE
5. RECENT INTENSIFICATION OF PARTISANSHIP
D. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS
IV. ALTERNATIVES TO PARTY POLITICS
A. CANDIDATE BASED ELECTIONS
B. ISSUE BASED ELECTIONS
C. TEMPORARY AND CONFUSING LEGISLATIVE AND ELECTORAL
COALITIONS
D. INCREASED POWER OF INTEREST GROUPS
E. INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA
F. MASSIVE COSTS OF CAMPAIGNING
G. DIMINISHED CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES
A. TYPES
1. IDEOLOGICAL PARTIES: Socialist; Communist; Libertarian
2. ONE-ISSUE PARTIES: Free Soil; Prohibiton
3. ECONOMIC PROTEST PARTIES: Greenback; Reform
4. FACTIONAL PARTIES: "Bull Moose"
B. IMPACT ON U.S. POLITICS
1. SMALL VOTER SUPPORT (but some victories)
2. FORCING ATTENTION TO ISSUES
Key Websites
International Journal of Party Politics
Directory of U.S. Political Parties
Republican Party National Committee
Democratic Party National Committee