Problems in American Democracy - Part 64
Library

Part 64

10. Are party abuses declining or increasing?

11. Distinguish between the duty of party support in National and perhaps State elections, and the duty of such support in local elections.

12. Under what circ.u.mstances should an individual abandon his party?

13. To what extent is the individual responsible for party abuses?

REQUIRED READINGS

1. Williamson, _Readings in American Democracy_, chapter x.x.xiv.

Or all of the following:

2. Bryce, _Modern Democracies_, vol. i, chapter ii; vol. ii, chapter xl.

3. Guitteau, _Government and Politics in the United States_, chapter x.x.xvi.

4. Munro, _The Government of the United States_, chapters xxii and xxiii.

5. Woodburn, _Political Parties and Party Problems_, chapter xv.

QUESTIONS ON THE REQUIRED READINGS

1. What was Washington's opinion of the political party? (Munro, page 313.)

2. Who were the Federalists? (Guitteau, pages 455-456.)

3. Discuss the principles of the Democratic-Republican party.

(Guitteau, pages 456-457.)

4. What was the origin of the National-Republican party? (Guitteau, pages 457-458.)

5. What was the origin of the Democratic party? (Guitteau, page 457.)

6. What part have third parties played in our history? (Guitteau, pages 459-460.)

7. What three sets of men exist in every party? (Bryce, vol. i, pages 126-127.)

8. What are the three contributions of the United States to political science? (Bryce, vol. ii, page 27.)

9. What are the two aims of party organization? (Bryce, vol. ii, page 32.)

10. What is the relation of the party to national unity? (Bryce, vol.

ii, pages 43-44-)

11. In what way does the party stabilize popular government? (Bryce, vol. ii, pages 44-45.)

12. What is the relation of constancy and faithfulness to the safety of the Republic? (Woodburn, page 338.)

TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION AND REPORT

I

1. Which party occupies the dominant position in the political life of your community? Find out why it holds this position.

2. The history of third parties in your section, _i.e._, parties other than the Democratic and Republican parties.

3. The organization of any political party having official representatives in your community.

4. The work of local political committees in your community immediately preceding election.

5. Corrupt practices acts in your state.

6. The Civil Service System in your state.

7. Make a study of the different political parties with a view to determining which you would prefer to join.

II

8. Origin and growth of parties in the United States. (Beard, _American Government and Politics_, pages 103-108; Guitteau, _Government and Politics in the United States_, chapter x.x.xvi; Bryce, _The American Commonwealth_, vol. ii, chapters liii and liv; Ford, _The Rise and Growth of American Politics_, chapter vii.)

9. Characteristics of the political party. (Ray, _Introduction to Political Parties and Practical Politics_, chapter i.)

10. Distrust of parties in our early history. (Jones, _Readings on Parties and Elections in the United States_, pages 28 36.)

11. The spoils system. (Bryce, _The American Commonwealth_, vol. ii, chapters lxv and lxvii; Ray, _Introduction to Political Parties and Practical Politics_, chapter xiv.)

12. "Why the best men do not go into politics." (Bryce, _The American Commonwealth_, vol. ii, chapter lviii.)

13. Campaign contributions. (Brooks, _Corruption in American Politics and Life_.)

14. The party ring. (Bryce, _The American Commonwealth_, vol. ii, chapters lxiii and lxiv.)

15. The state boss. (Reinsch, _Readings on American State Government_, pages 432-434; Ray, _Introduction to Political Parties and Practical Politics_, chapter xvi.)

16. How the party machine works. (Ford, _The Rise and Growth of American Politics_, pages 294-333; Kaye, _Readings in Civil Governments_, pages 373-377; Jones, _Readings on Parties and Elections in the United States_, pages 175-178; Lowell, _Public Opinion and Popular Government,_ chapter vi.)

17. Party government in England and in the United States. (Jones, _Readings on Parties and Elections in the United States_, pages I-II.)

18. Necessity of strong parties in the United States. (Jones, _Readings on Parties and Elections in the United States_, pages 20- 27.)

19. The struggle for good government. (Hammond and Jenks, _Great American Issues_, chapter v.)

20. The citizen and the party. (Bryce, _Hindrances to Good Citizenship_, all; _Hughes, _Conditions of Progress in Democratic Government_, lectures in and iv; Root, _Addressee on Government and Citizenship_, pages 1-77.)