Political Parties in American Politics

PS 406

Instructor: Troy Gibson

Contact Information:

  • E-mail –
  • Office phone: 601-266-4277
  • Office location: LAB 424
  • Office Hours: TR 10-11

Course website: ocean.otr.usm.edu/~w487033

Course Description

Political Parties have played an important role in American politics as political organizations attempting to influence outcomes, as formidable actors in government, and as intermediaries between voters and policymakers in elections. This course will examine the role and impact of parties in each of these areas.

Course Requirements

Exam 1: 25%

Exam 2: 25%

Exam 3: 25%

Platform Plank Evaluation: 15%*

Participation: 10%

Required Texts

Marjorie Hershey and Paul Beck. 2003. Party Politics in American, 11th edition. New York: Longman Press.

Course Outline and Readings

Week of:

Parties and Party Systems; Political Parties as Organizations

Jan 17 19 – Introduction to course and Ch. 1 In Search of the Political Parties

Jan 24 26 – Ch. 2 The American Two-Party System

Jan 31 Feb 2 – Ch. 3 State and Local Organizations

Feb 79 – Ch. 4 National Organizations

Feb 14 16 – Ch. 5 Political Party of the Activists; Plank topics due

Feb 21 23 – EXAM 1 (23rd)

Political Parties in the Electorate and Parties, Nominations, and Elections

Feb 28March 2 – No class Tuesday 28th; Ch. 6 Party Identification

March 79 – Ch. 7 Party Support and Realignment

March 1416 – Ch. 8 Who Votes – Why it Matters

March 2123 – Ch. 10 Choosing Presidential Nominees and Ch. 11 The General Election

March 2830 – Exam 2 (30th)

April 4 6 –Religion and Party Politics (lecture only)

April 11 13 – Spring Break

April 18 20 – Ch. 13 Parties in Legislatures and Divided Gov’t lecture

April 25 27 – Ch. 14 Parties in the Executive and Courts;Ch. 15 What the Parties Stand For

May 2 4 – Presentations of Plank Evaluations

See Final Exam Schedule for EXAM 3

This outline is an estimate and is subject to change as necessary during the course.

*Platform Plank Evaluation:

In pairs, students will select a plank found in the platform of a political party and prepare a 6-8 page paper (double-spaced; 12 point font, reference page) that satisfies the following requirements:

  1. What is the plank?
  2. Evaluate the plank in terms of party support for it in the electorate, government, and as an organization. Is it a matter of priority? Is there much unity on the plank?
  3. In your opinion, should the plank be changed, dropped, or retained for the sake of the party? How? Why?
  4. Compare your party’s plank with that of your partner’ political party. How similar are they? How different are they?

Presentations will feature point-counterpoint evaluations.

If a student has a disability that qualifies under the Americans with
Disabilities Act and requires accommodations, he/she should contact
the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA), for information on appropriate policies and
procedures.Box 5128; voice telephone or TTY 214-3232.