political Science discussion post response to a classmate’s post (Ayinda)
Humanities
Chapter 9 Essay Political Parties
Roles are a socially expected behavior pattern that is usually determined by an individual’s status in a particular society. Political party roles within the political process are organizations that seek influence over government. According to We The People, political parties help the government respond to the needs and desires of its citizens, and provide citizens with a voice in politics (Ginsberg, Lowi, Weir, Tolbert, pp. 327). Political Party tasks are to create and implement the laws of the country.
Each political party has different philosophies that appeal to different group of individuals. Political parties then hone in on matters that are not only relevant to certain groups, but socially acceptable. In order to implement these philosophies and rules, citizens are able to vote on which policies or philosophies that best suit their needs. Although the United States has a two party dominate system, it has always had more than two parties.
Third parties play an important role in the political process and decision making process of the country. Typically third parties have represented social and economic interests that are not addressed by the two major parties. According to We The People, third parties exist mainly as a protest movement against the two main parties or to promote specific issues that have gone overlooked (Ginsberg, Lowi, Weir, Tolbert, pp. 359). Third parties can significantly change the dynamics of an election by taking votes from one of the main parties and enabling the other party to win. Throughout history, the two main political parties have adopted philosophies from third party groups.
In summation, political party roles are to attract specific individuals in order for those citizens to help push forward a certain political philosophy. These political parties attempt to address matters that are important to the lives of these specific groups. Whenever important social or economic issues are not being addressed by the two main political parties, third party political groups form in order to promote these issues. According to We The People, The Democratic party became more liberal when it adopted most of the progressive party reforms in the early twentieth century (Ginsberg, Lowi, Weir, Tolbert, and pp.360). In my opinion, the two main political parties should closely take suggestions and/or utilize the philosophies of third parties, to ensure that relevant social and economic issues are being addressed.
