Title: The Functions of Political Parties
Headings: The Functions of Political Parties
American Government
The Functions of Political Parties
Representing groups of interests
Simplifying choices
Making policy

Content: When in power, a party attempts to put its philosophy into practice through legislation. If a candidate wins office by a large majority, it may mean that the voters have given him or her a mandate to carry out the program outlined in the campaign. Because President Bill Clinton failed to win a majority of the popular vote in both 1992 and 1996, few considered his victories a mandate for any specific policy or ideology. President George W. Bush also entered office without a clear mandate, because his opponent, Al Gore, won more votes (and might have won the Electoral College if not for irregularities, such as confusing ballots, in Florida). Previous The Strengths and Weaknesses of Political Parties
Next Voting and Elections
The Articles of Confederation
The Constitutional Convention
Key Concepts in the Constitution
Summary of the Constitution
The Debate over Ratification
Creation of the Constitution
The Amendment Process and Bill of Rights
The Continental Congress
Concepts of Federalism
Federal-State Relations
Recent Trends in Federalism
The Powers of Congress
The Organization of Congress
How a Bill Becomes a Law
The Two Houses of Congress
The Functions of the President
Organization of the Executive Branch
The Vice President and Presidential Succession
The Executive Branch
The Powers of the President
The Federal Court System
The Supreme Court in Operation
The State Court System
Controlling the Size of Bureaucracy
The Functions of the Federal Bureaucracy
The Structure of the Federal Bureaucracy
Characteristics of a Bureaucracy
The Growth of the Federal Bureaucracy
Political Socialization
Social Background and Political Values
Political Ideology
How Public Opinion Is Formed
Public Opinion and How It's Measured
The Functions of the Mass Media
The Mass Media and Political Coverage
The Evolution of the Mass Media
The Structure of the Mass Media and Government Regulation
The Development of Political Parties
Third Parties in American Politics
The Structure of Political Parties
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Political Parties
The Functions of Political Parties
Obstacles to Voting
Voter Turnout
Voting Choices
Getting Nominated and Campaigning for Office
Electing Candidates to Office
The Right to Vote
Functions of Interest Groups
Tactics of Interest Groups
Regulation of Interest Groups
Types of Interest Groups
The First Amendment: Freedom of the Press
The Rights of Defendants
Civil Liberties and the War on Terror
Implied Rights
Perspective on Civil Liberties
The First Amendment: Freedom of Religion
The First Amendment: Freedom of Speech
Segregation in the United States
Breaking Down Segregation
The Civil Rights Movement
Civil Rights for Minorities and Women
Affirmative Action
Slavery and Civil Rights
Politics and Policymaking
Policymaking in Action
The Policymaking Process
The Federal Budget
Taxation and Spending
International Economic Policy
The Goals of Economic Policy
Theories of Economic Policy
Issues in Foreign Policy
Background of American Foreign Policy
Making Foreign Policy
The Institutions of Foreign Policy
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