Chapter Study OutlineIntroduction Show Political parties are teams of politicians, activists, and voters whose goal is to win control of government. To do so, parties perform essential tasks of recruiting and nominating candidates, garnering the resources needed to run campaigns, and pursuing a policy agenda that can help them appeal to voters. Although Americans tend to be suspicious of “party rule,” the Democratic and Republican parties are essential to the daily operation of government and the conduct of American democracy in elections. This two-party system helps to structure voters’ electoral choice and provide coordination to America’s otherwise divided and separated governing institutions. 1. Why Do Political Parties Form? What fundamental problems do political parties help politicians and voters overcome?
2. What Functions Do Parties Perform? Once formed, what are the essential functions that political parties perform in American democracy and governance?
3. Parties and the Electorate How and how well do political parties organize the electorate? What groups tend to identify with Democrats and Republicans, respectively?
4. Parties as Institutions How are contemporary political parties organized? What functions do they serve and what services do they offer to candidates?
5. Party Systems What is a “party system”? What have been the major “party systems” throughout American political history? What is the place of third parties in the American party system?
What is a formal check on the bureaucracy?Congress can check the bureaucracy by cutting or eliminating its budget. The courts can check the bureaucracy by invalidating their actions, if they are viewed as unconstitutional.
What are some formal checks that Congress has over the bureaucracy?Both Congress and the president exercise direct oversight over the bureaucracy by holding hearings, making appointments, and setting budget allowances. Citizens exercise their oversight powers through their use of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and by voting.
What is an example of a constitutional check against the bureaucracy?Answer: The President can make appointments to certain offices, which are subject to approval by the Senate. The Legislative Branch has a great say in the budget, and controls how much funding goes into bureaucratic agencies. They can also conduct investigations and pass laws which affect bureaucrats.
Which of the following scenarios is an example of how Congress oversees the bureaucracy?Which of the following scenarios is an example of how Congress oversees the bureaucracy? Congress calls several high-level officials of the Department of Homeland Security to testify on cross-agency communication after September 11th.
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