1. Political Parties
A REVISION OVERVIEW

2. The 2 Main Parties: Dems & Reps
Knowledge & Understanding
BRIEF History – New Deal Coalition, 1960s re-sort, 1980s
Definitions – liberalism & conservatism
Examples of policy positions (6?)
Support base(s)
Main divisions/factions
Internal Coalitions
Fiscal / social ideological divisions - Examples
Analysis & Evaluation
Why has the USA developed a duopoly?
Extent to which Dems are liberal & Reps are conservative?
Ideologically distinct?
Extent to which NDC still exists?
Describe / outline these
Are they internal coalitions?
Are there more divisions within than between?

3. The 2 Main Parties: Dems & Reps
(a) What is meant by describing the two main political parties as 'internal coalitions'? (2009)
(a) Consider the importance of the 'religious right' in US politics. (2011)
(a) Identify and outline the main divisions within the Democratic Party. (2012)
(a) Examine the extent to which the Republican Party may be described as both fiscally and socially conservative. (2012)
(a) Explain what is meant by describing US parties as internal coalitions. (2013)
(b) 'The ideological identity of the Democratic Party is now clearly liberal, whilst that of the Republican Party is now clearly conservative.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? (2010)
(b) 'Two broad coalitions with more ideological differences within them than between them.' To what extent is this still an accurate description of the Democratic and Republican parties? (2011)
(b) Assess the claim that the Democratic and Republican parties are now ideologically distinct and internally united. (2013)
(b) ‘The two main US parties are now more ideologically distinct and internally united than in the past.’ Discuss. (2015)

4. Party Organisation K & U
Constitutional context: - separation of powers - federalism
Other factors:
No mass membership
No party leaders (as such) – example names
No party manifestos – only platforms
Money raised by candidates
Candidates selected by primaries not parties
No party whips
Career path not dependent on parties
A & E
Are US parties organisationally weak? Arguments yes and no!
US Politics of Personalities and Policies not parties?
But…flexibility of US parties
N.B. Don’t forget for this topic and others the significance of Gerrymandering – means members of congress don’t need to toe party line BUT also then tend to become more ideologically entrenched.

5. Party Organisation
(a) Explain how political parties are organised in the USA. (2014)
(b) 'Organisationally weak and ideologically similar.' To what extent is this still an accurate description of the two main US parties? (2010)
(b) Why are US parties often described as weak organisations, and how accurate is the description today? (2011)
(b) Assess the extent to which the two main US parties may still be characterised as organisationally weak and in decline. (2013)

6. Party Decline or Renewal
David Broder Thesis 1971 ‘The Party’s Over’
1960s onwards parties become less powerful:
Lost control of candidate selection
Changes to electoral finance
Changes in campaigning
Growth of PGs
Partisan de-alignment BUT
NCs more control of primaries: super delegates & calendar
Some centralisation of campaigns – examples
Partisan re-alignment
More discipline in Congressional voting – recent examples
To what extent are US parties still in decline? This thesis is now outdated: US parties weaker than UK but organisationally stronger and ideologically more cohesive than 3 decades ago.

7. Party Decline or Renewal
(b) Assess the extent to which the two main US parties may still be characterised as organisationally weak and in decline. (2013)

8. The 2 Party System Definition of Duopoly
Reasons for strength of 2 party system (6)
Additional reasons why difficult for 3rd parties (3)
Arguments it isn’t a 2 party system:
Minor parties (bees)
4 party system
100 party system
1 party (dominates some regions)
0 party – candidate centred
To what extent is it true that the USA is a 2 party system?
How can the paradox of a duopoly be explained in the context of US politics?

9. The 2 Party System
(a) Why may it not be totally accurate to describe the USA as having a two party system? (2011)
(a) Consider how accurate is it to describe the USA as a two-party system. (2015)
(b) 'Despite the vast diversity of the USA, two parties continue to dominate the political system.' Discuss. (2012)

10. Minor Parties / Independent Cands
Reasons why difficult for 3rd parties (9!)
Examples!!
Evidence they are insignificant (examples)
Evidence they are actually significant (examples of impact)
Synopticity!
Why are minor parties called the ‘bees’ of US politics?
Why is it so hard for minor parties to break the duopoly?
How insignificant are minor parties ?

11. Minor Parties / Independent Cands.
(a) Explain why minor parties can be seen as important rather than as unimportant in the US political process. (2010)
(a) Identify the main difficulties facing minor parties in the US electoral process. (2010)
(a) Explain how third parties and independent candidates can have an impact in US politics. (2013)
(b) 'Confined to the margins of US Politics.' Evaluate this view of minor parties and independent candidates in presidential and congressional elections. (2009)
(b) 'Destined only to sting like a bee then die.' Evaluate this view of the significance of third parties and independent candidates in the USA. (2012)
(b) 'Minor parties and independent candidates in the USA have little political significance and are destined to fail.' Discuss. (2014)