1. Itemize the various roles and functions of American political parties.
2. Explain how political parties contribute to democratic politics in America and how they may also detract from democratic values.
3. Review and explain the six party-systems in American history, noting why and how each system came into being.
4. Explain why the United States has a two-party system and why most of the other democracies in the world have a multiparty system. Be sure to define "single-member, simple plurality" and "proportional representation" systems.
5. Evaluate the current state of America's political parties, including the reasons behind the decline of party organizations.
6. Summarize those trends that raise the question as to whether party organizations can be revived.
7. Examine the argument as to whether the power of interest groups correlates negatively with the power of parties.

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