Course Description
Political organizations that contest elections and seek to control government in the United States. Particular emphasis will be placed on the two major political parties, as well as the future of the American party system.
Athena Title
AMER POL PARTIES
Prerequisite
POLS 1101
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students of this course will: • Become familiar with the history and political development of political parties with a focus on understanding how this history and development can instruct our theoretical understanding of what parties are and how they develop within our specific political system • Understand the nature of our current party system as well as how it compares to others in the world • Produce written work that demonstrates this knowledge • Engage in the assessment of a variety of data in the area of political parties and how this data can be used to answer questions about political parties and their influence in a variety of venues
Topical Outline
Political Party Systems The American Two-Party System Party Organizations Party Activists Test and Party in the Electorate Party Support and Realignments Who Votes How Parties Choose Candidates Choosing Presidential Nominees The General Election Financing Campaigns Parties in Congress Parties in the Executive and the Courts Ideologies in General and What American Parties Stand For