Downfall Of Political Parties

Question 1

What are the four complaints of the U.S. Party system?

Answer 1

Parties do not take meaningful and contrasting positions on most issues.
Parties are concerned with accommodating the middle of idealogical system that hey are incapable of social progress.
Extremes have captured both parties which puts them in deadlock.
Non-partisan elections make it harder for parties to influence election process.

Question 2

What did progressive movement reforms do? Why is this a problem for parties?

Answer 2

Allowed masses of independent voters to enter primaries and nominate candidates.
Robbed party organizations of their control over nomination process.

Question 3

What were the two reforms of the Democratic Party?

Answer 3

1. Established process that led to greater use of direct primaries to be more representative of different minorities.
2. Got rid of winner takes all system and replaced with system of proportionality.

Question 4

What change did the Republican Party make?

Answer 4

Have more power to party committee.

Question 5

Which party is more organized?

Answer 5

Republican’s

Question 6

Which party created superdelegate positions? What are they?

Answer 6

Superdelegate positions were positions for elected officials who were not required to run for elections as delegates.