2 Discussions

Resources for Week Five Discussion – Party Platforms and Winning Elections

Before participating in this week’s discussion, “Party Platforms and Winning Elections,” review these resources:

1. Read this chapter from the text, American Government:

a. Chapter 9 – Political Parties and Interest Groups

2. Watch the following video:

a. Created Equal

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (2013, May 21). Episode III - Created equal [Series episode].

Constitution USA with Peter Sagal. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/tpt/constitution-usa-peter-

sagal/watch/created-equal/

3. Read the following article found in the ProQuest (Search All) database in the Ashford University Library:

a. Is America’s two-party system broke?

West, D., & Chafets, Z. (2012, April). Is America’s two-party system broken? New York Times Upfront,

144(12), 22.

(This brief article presents opposing viewpoints about whether the two-party system works effectively in

the United States.)

4. Gather information regarding three political parties’ goals (i.e., Democrats, Republicans, and one other party).

Review the information available at the following websites:

a. Democratic Party

Our Party (http://www.democrats.org/about/our_party)

(This page presents national policy goals of the Democratic Party. Click on the “Issues” tab and select a

specific policy area.)

b. Republican Party

Our Party (http://www.gop.com/our-party/)

(This page presents national policy goals of the Republican Party. Scroll down on page to select a specific

policy area.)

c. Directory of U.S. Political Parties

Directory of U.S. Political Parties (http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm)

(This website presents a comprehensive list of political parties active in the U.S. It also describes each

party’s history, program and personalities, and gives web links to get more information about each party’s

policy goals.)

d. Constitution Party

Constitution Party National Platform (http://www.constitutionparty.com/our-principles/2012-2016-

platform-and-resolutions/)

(This page presents national policy goals of the Constitution Party. Scroll down on page to select a

specific policy area.)

e. Green Party

The Ten Key Values of the Green Party (http://www.gp.org/tenkey.shtml)

(This page presents national policy goals of the Green Party. Scroll down on page to select a specific

policy area.)

f. Libertarian Party

Issues (http://www.lp.org/issues)

(This page presents national policy goals of the Libertarian Party. Scroll down on page to select a specific

policy area.)