1) the "role appropriateness" of their actions/ decisions and 

2) their "success given their starting conditions". 

"Role appropriateness" means that you make decisions based upon what your real-world equivalent party would do. Students must thus become familiar with parties similar to theirs in the "real world". There are internet connections on the parties webpage to assist you in discovering appropriate information. (In 1997, one student actually conversed over the internet multiple times with a party leader in Great Britain about their policy stands on issues!).

"Success given starting conditions" allows Ruritania to mirror reality! As is true in "the real world", political parties do not have equal resources when they compete. Some political parties in this simulation will have advantages such as size, money, socio-demographic characteristics of constituencies in certain districts, etc. Thus, some parties, if they make appropriate choices, will do well in various election districts. Other parties, with fewer advantages, can still do well (either in the election or during the "government formation" process). Thus some parties, through good strategic choices, will maximize their options and power. They are rewarded as the simulation progresses and rewarded at the end (ie., their grade) as well. You are thus evaluated on the basis of "what you do with what you have" rather than your party's ultimate success.