POLSC232: American Government

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

• explain the roles, functions and structure of political parties;
• discuss the historical evolution of political parties from colonial times to the present;
• discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the US two-party system;
• explain the importance of party identification on voter preferences;
• explain the role of third parties in American elections;
• explain the presidential nominating system;
• compare and contrast the differences between presidential primaries and caucuses;
• explain how the Electoral College functions as a method of electing the president, including the arguments for and against the current system;
• assess the role of money in elections;
• analyze how the redistricting process functions to support incumbency;
• discuss the advantages of incumbency for candidates running for political office; and
• analyze the purpose, roles, and functions of interest groups and their impact on the electoral process.