Political Parties

The Party in Government

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 After the elections are over, how do the “victors” take control of government and implement their policy goals?

This is an interesting question for students of American political parties! 

Does the separation of presidential and congressional elections, the nature of American elections, and the very notion of separation of powers encourage or discourage partisan control and the passage of a party’s platform?

Ever hear of the concept of “divided government”?

Where is the party’s platform?

Is it followed?

How do you force “responsibility” when the congressperson may be more beholden to interest groups than to party?

What is the impact of party on congressional behavior?

What is the impact of our system on policy creation?

 

These are difficult questions to answer in the American context! 

 

How do other countries form (organize) government?

 

Here are some links from the past!

(Note: the Italian and Iraq examples are NOT from the most recent elections in the respective countries)

Burlesconi forms new Italian government

Iraqis try again to form new government

It took Indians awhile to form in 2004

 

What is the relationship between organization and action in coalition governments?

Using the results of the Ruritania simulation we can explore how there is an intermediate step between elections and the party (or parties) in government and how this step has implications for the formulation and passage of public policies.