Summarize a news event involving the US government taken from a reputable source such as CNN, Fox, BBC, etc.

i.Summaries must be at least 100 words in length

b. Analyze the event’s tie to your text

.i. Each analysis should clearly tie your event to material from the textbook.

ii. Each analysis should be at least 250 words in length

c. Predict the effects of their event

i. Effects are a subjective analysis in which students will use prior knowledge of different cause and effect relationships within the structure of US government policy to predict an outcome of their chosen event

ii. Predictions should be at least 50 words in length

Summary:

Political parties serve to link the public with its electedleaders. In the United States, this linkage is provided by the two-party system;only the Republican and Democratic parties have any chance of winning controlof government. The fact that the United States has only two major parties isexplained in large party by an electoral system (single member districts) thatmakes it difficult of third parties to complete for power; by each party’s willingnessto accept differing political views; and by a political culture that stressescompromise and negotiation rather than ideological rigidity.

Because the United States has two major parties, each of seeksto gain majority support, their candidates have typically avoided controversialor extreme political positions. There are exceptions, notably when the countryis experiencing disruptive social or economic change. Ordinarily, however, Republicanand Democratic candidates pursue moderate and some what overlapping policies.Each party can count on its party loyalist, but U.S. elections can hinge orswing voters, who respond to the issues of the moment either prospectively,basing their vote on what the candidates promise to do if elected, or retrospectively,basing their vote on their satisfaction or dis-satisfaction with what the partyin power has already done.

America’s parties are decentralized, fragment organizations.The national party organization does not control the policies and activities ofthe state organizations, and these in turn do not control the localorganizations. Traditionally, the local organizations have controlled most ofthe party’s workforce because most elections are contested at the local level.Local parties, however, vary markedly in the vitality. Whatever their level,America’s party organizations are relatively weak. They lack control overnominations and elections. Candidates can bypass the party organization and winnomination through primary elections. Individual candidates also control mostof the organizational structure and money necessary to win elections. The stateand national party organizations have recently expanded their capacity toprovide the candidates with the modern campaign services. Nevertheless, partyorganization at all level have few ways of controlling candidates who run undertheir banners. They assist candidates with campaign technology, workers, and funds,but they cannot compel candidates to be loyal to organizations goals.

American political campaigns, practically those for higheroffice, are candidates centered. Candidates for federal office spend much oftheir time raising campaign funds and creating personal organizations builtaround pollsters, media producers, fundraisers, and campaign managers. Strategyand image making are key components of the modern campaign, as is televised politicaladvertising, which accounts for half or more of all spending in presidential andcongressional races.

The advantages of candidate-centered political include a responsivenessto new leadership and local concern. Yet this form of politics can result incampaigns that are personality driven, depend on powerful interest groups, andblur responsibility for what government has done.