Dynamics of American Political Parties: Continuity and Change 4219-RS250

Upon completing this course, the student:
KNOWLEDGE:

- Possesses fundamental knowledge concerning the theory of political parties.
- Is familiar with the history of the American party system.
- Knows and understands the electoral process in the United States.
- Understands the organization of American political parties in Congress.

SKILLS:

- Can discuss the formation, evolution, and current structure of the American party system, as well as the evolution, specifics, and tactics of the two main political parties.
- Analyzes the specifics of the American party system in comparison with other Western democracies.
- Identifies the interrelationships between American politics (both domestic and foreign) and the influence exerted by the main parties.
- Has the ability to analyze both the political programs of the major American parties and the legislative acts passed by Congress.

SOCIAL COMPETENCES:

- Is aware of the interdependencies between the cultural and legal-institutional causes of the stability of the two-party system in the USA.
- Understands the significance of political parties and the role they play in the democratic political process and identifies the functions performed by parties in the political system.
- Initiates discussions on the programs of the main American parties and actively participates in them.

Course requirements:
1. Class attendance and participation – up to 10 points
2. Written assignments – up to 20 points
3. Group research project – up to 30 points

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Grading:
0-30 pts = 2 (fail)
31-36 pts = 3
37-42 pts = 3+
43-48 pts = 4
49-54 pts = 4+
55-60 pts = 5

Ad. 1) Student can miss 2 classes without any excuse and consequences. Every next absence should be made up (either by an oral answer during the office hours or by sending me by email a short - 5 pages - summary of the literature and topic covered during the missed class). Every absence above a 2-absences-limit which has been not made up affects your final grade (reduces it by one grade). Missing 6 or more classes results in failing the course (unsatisfactory grade in both terms). Students do not get any points for mere presence. They are expected to read assigned literature before the class and contribute to class discussions by answering questions, offering possible explanations of discussed phenomena, contributing to better understanding of how American political parties operate. Overall, a student may get up to 10 points for participation in class discussions.

Ad. 2)
Written assignments will be frequently published on the course’s website.
Students will be expected to provide short (500-700 words) answers to 5 such assignments. Completion of each task will require doing some research and using analytical skills. For each response student may receive up to 4 points.

Ad. 3)
During our first meeting, students will be divided into 3-5 (depending on the overall number of students enrolled in the course) smaller groups. Each group will draw one research topic (out of the topics–bank prepared by the instructor) related to American political parties. Each team is responsible for two tasks:
a) conducting research on a given topic concluded with writing a 15 page–long paper covering the topic. The paper should be written in such a way that it could be used as a mandatory reading for the rest of group preparing for the class devoted to a given topic (up to 15 points)
b) preparing and delivering an extensive (30-45-minutes) presentation on the topic in the class. Up to 15 points.
c) Prior to delivering a presentation and a paper, group will be supposed to prepare an outline of the paper.

Beck A. P., Sorauf F. J., Party Politics in America, New York: HarperCollins 1992

Bibby J. F., Politics, Parties, and Elections in America, Chicago: Nelson-Hall 1987

Brewer M. D, Stonecash J. M., Dynamics of American Political Parties, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2009

Chinoy S. “What Happened to America’s Political Center of Gravity?”, New York Times, June 26, 2019
(https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/26/opinion/sunday/republican-platform-far-right.html?smid=fb-share&fbclid=IwAR2fA4nXuNEoqo2ZKKrjF6pdKt5HI0J_qOEGEPjGhie-w1P3bqo0BgmfbRo)

Dolbeare K. M., Medcalf L. J., American Ideologies Today, New York: McGraw – Hill 1993

Eldersveld S. J., Political Parties in American Society, New York: Basic Books 1982

Epstein L., Political Parties in the American Mold, Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press 1986

Gillespie J. D., Politics at the Periphery. Third Parties in Two-party America, Columbia: University of South Carolina Press 1993

Gould L. L., The Republicans: A History of the Grand Old Party, Oxford: Oxford University Press 2014

Grossman M., Hopkins D. A., Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Group Interest Democrats, Oxford: Oxford University Press 2016

Hershey M. R. (ed.) Guide to U.S. Political Parties, CQ Press 2014

Hershey M. R., Party Politics in America, Routledge, 2017 (17th edition)

Keefe, W. J., Parties, Politics, and Public Policy in America, Washington: Congressional Quarterly Press 1991

Maisel L. S. (ed.), The Parties Respond. Changes in American Parties and Campaigns, Boulder: Westview Press 1994

Maisel L. S. (2), American Political Parties and Elections: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2007

Mayhew David R. “Patterns in American Elections”, The Oxford Handbook of American Political Development, ed. Valley Richard et al, Oxford University Press 2016

Noel H., Political Ideologies and Political Parties in America, New York: Cambridge University Press 2013

O’Connor, K., Sabato L., American Government. Continuity and Change, New York: Longman 2000

Plunkitt G. W., Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: a series of very plain talks on very practical politics, New York: Penguin Books 1991

Pomper G. M., Passions and Interests. Political Party Concepts of American Democracy, Lawrence: University Press of Kansas 1992

Reichley, J. A., The Life of the Parties. A History of American Political Parties, New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. 1992

Rosenstone S. J., Behr R. L., Lazarus E. H., Third Parties in America. Citizens Response to Major Party Failure, Princeton: Princeton University Press 1984

Rusinowa I, Z dziejów amerykańskich partii politycznych, Warszawa: Egross 1994

Shafer B. E, Spady R. H, The American Political Landscape, Cambridge (MA): Harvard University Press 2014

Sifry M. L., Spoiling for a Fight. Third-Party Politics in America, New York: Rutledge 2003

Sundquist J. L., Dynamics of the party system. Alignment and realignment of political parties in the United States, Washington: Brookings Institution 1973

Washington G., The Washington Papers. Basic Selections from the Public and Private Writings of George Washington, ed. S. K. Padover, New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers 1955

Wolny P, "U.S. Political Parties: Development and Division", Lucent Press 2019

The Oxford Handbook of American Political Parties and Interest Groups, ed. S. Maisel, J. Berry, New York: Oxford University Press 2010

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

• Description of 4219-RS250 in USOSweb