Why Political Parties

Rachel

Last Updated: June 13, 2026

Understand why we need parties

Understand the shape of partisanship in the US

Understand how the electoral system connects to the number of parties

Know why third parties are unlikely to succeed

Understand ideas for reform

4 Sections
11 Lessons
0m Duration

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Overview of the Party System

3 Lessons 3 Quizzes

What Do Parties Do?
What to Read- From the APSA Report on Parties
Additional Reading

Parties and the Electoral System

2 Lessons 2 Quizzes

Understanding the Current System
Party Structure and It's Consquences

So why can’t we just all switch to ranked choice voting and fix everything?

5 Lessons 5 Quizzes

Why 3rd Parties aren't competative
Possible way to mitigate this? Ranked choice voting
Can we reform the parties instead?
Other Solutions- Including the Top Two
What about proportional represenation?

Parties and Ideology (Extra)

1 Lesson 1 Quiz

Parties, Partisanship, and Ideology

“...Modern democracy is unthinkable save in terms of the parties.”

- Schattschneider Party Government, (1942)

Everyone hates political parties, but political scientists pretty much are unanimous that we need them for democracy to work.

This quick overview will explain why political scientists think we need parties, what parties do, and why third parties just can't seem to get ahead in the United States.

Why Political Parties

Overview of the Party System

Parties and the Electoral System

So why can’t we just all switch to ranked choice voting and fix everything?

Parties and Ideology (Extra)

Deleting Course Review

Course Access