10. The reform of party organization. F. A. Cleveland, Organized Democracy, pp. 228-261.
Questions
1. Can you improve the definition of a political party given in this chapter?
2. Among the various functions of political parties which do you consider the most important, and why?
3. Why do political parties refrain at times from making their platform pledges more definite? What new proposal would you like to see inserted in a party platform?
4. Account for the fact that constitutional questions played a more important part in American politics prior to 1860 than since that date.
5. Give brief sketches of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, and Whig parties and their work before the Civil War.
6. Explain why the “mortality rate” among “third parties” has been so high. Account for the fact that some of these parties have survived a considerable period of time while others have not.
7. Make an outline showing the type of party organization used in your own state.
8. Prepare a list of things for which money can be legally expended by political parties during an election campaign.