Changing Party Significance

Question 1

Party decline

Answer 1

Voters focus more on the candidate and political issue when voting than on the party label. Split ticket voting has increased where voters vote for candidates of different parties standing for different positions at the same election. Presidential candidates are chosen by voters in primary elections rather than the party’s delegates at the party’s national convention.

Question 2

Party renewal

Answer 2

Political parties still dominate the American political system. All elected presidents are either Democrats or Republicans. The majority of politicians in Congress are members of the two main parties.

Question 3

Polarisation

Answer 3

The political parties are increasingly polarised. The Republicans and Democrats are opposed on major policies such as government intervention in the economy and social issues including healthcare, abortion, gun rights and education. There is partisanship in voting in Congress, where members of one party group together to oppose the other party’s members.