Course: What Are Some of the Strengths and Weaknesses of Our Political Party and Electoral Systems?

- Announcements Forum
- What Are Some of the Strengths and Weaknesses of Our Political Party and Electoral Systems?
  This course examines the basic functions of today’s political parties and the electoral system. Issues explored include problems involved in developing coherent national party platforms in “umbrella” organizations that need to accommodate a wide variety of interests, the erosion of the major political parties, polarization of the electorate, the role of social media in the political process, gerrymandering, a “winner-take-all” plurality electoral system, the role of third parties in the current electoral system, political campaigns and their financing, the influence of large donors, the duration of campaigns and elections, and the Constitution and the electoral system.
  - Introduction
  - Video (1:57) Page
  - Section 1: How Did Political Parties Emerge in the American Political System? What Are Political Parties? What Are Their Basic Functions?
  - Video (7:28) Page
  - Review Questions (S1) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Question 4 Forum
  - Section 2: What Legal Restrictions and Norms Are Supposed to Govern Political Parties?
  - Video (5:59) Page
  - Review Questions, Part 1 (S2-1) Quiz
  - Review Questions, Part 2 (S2-2) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Question 4 Forum
  - Section 3: What Leads People to Identify with a Political Party?
  - Video (6:57) Page
  - Review Questions (S3) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Question 4 Forum
  - Section 4: What Is Polarization and to What Extent Does It Exist? What Are Its Consequences?
  - Video (10:08) Page
  - Review Questions (S4) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Question 4 Forum
  - Question 5 Forum
  - Question 6 Forum
  - Section 5: Is the Structure of the American Government Designed to Accommodate the Current Level of Polarization?
  - Video (6:46) Page
  - Review Questions (S5) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 6: What Are Some Remedies for Polarization?
  - Video (5:24) Page
  - Review Questions (S6) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 7: What Is the Relationship between Our Electoral System and Third Parties?
  - Video (4:35) Page
  - Review Questions (S7) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 8: What Are Some Alternate Electoral Systems?
  - Video (11:12) Page
  - Review Questions (S8) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Question 4 Forum
  - Section 9: What Issues Are There Regarding Political Campaigns in the United States?
  - Video (7:51) Page
  - Review Questions, Part 1 (S9-1) Quiz
  - Review Questions, Part 2 (S9-2) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Section 10: What Is the Influence of Large Donors on Elected Officials?
  - Video (8:20) Page
  - Review Questions (S10) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Section 11: What Issues Are Raised by the Duration of Campaigns and Elections?
  - Video (8:05) Page
  - Review Questions (S11) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Question 4 Forum
  - Section 12: What Measures Have Been Suggested Regarding the Duration of Campaigns?
  - Video (7:14) Page
  - Review Questions (S12) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 13: Should the Constitution Be Amended to Improve the Electoral System?
  - Video (9:29) Page
  - Review Questions (S13) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 14: What Is the Difference Between the Roles of Political Parties in Parliamentary Systems and Our System?
  - Video (4:43) Page
  - Review Questions (S14) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 15: What Are Some Current Threats to Our System?
  - Video (12:05) Page
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Question 4 Forum

What Are Some of the Strengths and Weaknesses of Our Political Party and Electoral Systems?

Introduction

Section 1: How Did Political Parties Emerge in the American Political System? What Are Political Parties? What Are Their Basic Functions?

Section 2: What Legal Restrictions and Norms Are Supposed to Govern Political Parties?

Section 3: What Leads People to Identify with a Political Party?

Section 4: What Is Polarization and to What Extent Does It Exist? What Are Its Consequences?

Section 5: Is the Structure of the American Government Designed to Accommodate the Current Level of Polarization?

Section 6: What Are Some Remedies for Polarization?

Section 7: What Is the Relationship between Our Electoral System and Third Parties?

Section 8: What Are Some Alternate Electoral Systems?

Section 9: What Issues Are There Regarding Political Campaigns in the United States?

Section 10: What Is the Influence of Large Donors on Elected Officials?

Section 11: What Issues Are Raised by the Duration of Campaigns and Elections?

Section 12: What Measures Have Been Suggested Regarding the Duration of Campaigns?

Section 13: Should the Constitution Be Amended to Improve the Electoral System?

Section 14: What Is the Difference Between the Roles of Political Parties in Parliamentary Systems and Our System?

Section 15: What Are Some Current Threats to Our System?