American Political Parties
GOVT 238
Fall 2015
| Section:
01
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This course explores the origins, purposes, roles, and consequences of political parties in the American political system. After a brief consideration of the broader theories behind political party systems, we will turn our focus to the party system in the United States. V. O. Key (1964) presented a tripartite definition of political parties that we will use to structure our exploration of parties for the rest of the course: party as organization, party in government, and party in the electorate. In these sections, we will address political party polarization, party identification, parties, fundraising, and many other related topics. From this rich examination of political parties in the U.S. context, we will discuss why parties exist and enable democracy, but also discuss their potential flaws and failures. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS GOVT |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 50% - 74% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Alan Abramowitz, THE POLARIZED PUBLIC? WHY AMERICAN GOVERNMENT IS SO DYSFUNCTIONAL (Pearson, 2013) 978-0205877393
Marty Cohen, David Karol, Hans Noel, John Zaller, THE PARTY DECIDES: PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS BEFORE AND AFTER REFORM (University of Chicago, 2008) 978-022611237
Mark D. Brewer and L. Sandy Maisel, eds., THE PARTIES RESPOND: CHANGES IN AMERICAN PARTIES AND CAMPAIGNS 5th Ed. (2013) 978-0813346007
Susan Dunn, ROOSEVELT'S PURGE: HOW FDR FOUGHT TO CHANGE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY (2010) 978-0674064300
Barbara Sinclair, PARTY WARS: POLARIZATION AND THE POLITICS OF NATIONAL POLICY MAKING (Oklahoma University Press, 2006) 978-0806137797
James L. Sundquist, DYNAMICS OF THE PARTY SYSTEM: ALIGNMENT AND REALIGNMENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE UNITED STATES, Rev. Ed. (1983) 978-0815782254
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Examinations and Assignments:
1 midterm, 1 final exam, 1 analytical essay, submission of weekly discussion questions |
| Instructor(s): Rosenfeld,Sam Hoffmann Times: .M.W... 02:40PM-04:00PM; Location: FISK302; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 25 | | SR major: 5 | JR major: 5 | | |
| Seats Available: 2 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 4 | JR non-major: 4 | SO: 7 | FR: X |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 1 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 1 |
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