What are the elements of the responsible party model? Does the American system reflect this model?Why or why not? Would our political system be better or worse if the American party system met the standards of the responsible party model?
What will be an ideal response?
Ans: The responsible party model requires each party to present a coherent set of programs to voters. Candidates of each party should pledge to support the party platform if elected, and voters should make their choices based on which party platform they approve. Each party should exercise control over elected officials to ensure they enact the party platform if in power and promote their own platform if in the opposition. An analysis of the American party system indicates that it does not meet any of these standards well, though the greater ideological unity of the parties in recent years has increased the tendency of party members to support the same policies. The last question allows students to engage in analysis and evaluation of party systems and what they should accomplish. Obviously, there is no single correct answer to this portion, but a strong answer will demonstrate a command of the material in this chapter as well as in other relevant chapters
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