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American Political Parties and Elections: A Very Short Introduction

American Political Parties and Elections: A Very Short Introduction

Author: L. Sandy Maisel
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
Publication Date: 24 Nov 2022
ISBN-13: 9780197605110
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Description


Few Americans and even fewer citizens of other nations understand the electoral process in the United States. Still fewer understand the role played by political parties in the electoral process or the ironies within the system. Participation in elections in the United States is much lower than in the vast majority of mature democracies. Perhaps this is because of the lack of competition in a country where only two parties have a true chance of winning, despite the
fact that a large number of citizens claim allegiance to neither and think badly of both. Or perhaps it is because in the U.S. campaign contributions disproportionately favor incumbents in most legislative elections, or that largely unregulated groups such as the now notorious 527 organizations have
as much impact on the outcome of a campaign as do the parties or the candidates' campaigns. For instance, in two of the last six presidential elections, the winner of the popular vote lost the election in the Electoral College; in two others, a change of fewer than 100,000 votes in selected states would have led to the same result. These factors offer a very clear picture of the problems that underlie our much trumpeted electoral system.
The third edition of this Very Short Introduction analyzes these issues and more. Accounting for changes in electoral coalitions and the extent to which the American electorate is polarized in the wake of Donald Trump, L. Sandy Maisel explains how the system actually works while shining a light on some of its flaws. He also looks closely at turnout questions; efforts both to ease access to the ballot in some states and to restrict access in others; and the role of social media in
campaign strategy.


Table of Contents


1 The context of American elections and political parties
2 A brief history of American political parties
3 Party organizations: What do they look like? What do they do?
4 Who are Republicans? Who are Democrats? Who are the "others"?
5 Presidential elections: Nominating campaigns and general elections
6 Subnational nominations and elections
7 Far from the perfect democracy
References
Further reading
Index


Author Description


L. Sandy Maisel is the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Government at Colby College. From 2003 to 2012, he was Director of the Goldfarb Center of Public Affairs and Civic Engagement at Colby College. A former candidate for Congress, Maisel is the author or editor of 15 books on political parties and elections, including including Parties and Elections in America: The Electoral Process, Two Parties or More? and The Parties
Respond: Changes in American Parties and Campaigns. He is also a frequent commentator on contemporary politics.






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