Blog #9

After reading Chapter 5, the emphasis I chose for my blog reflection was interparty competition. The book defines this as a “two-party electoral competition” (98). This basically means that both republicans and democrats are put on the ballot. This is a great way for both republicans and democrats to vote for the candidate they feel best represents their interests regardless of political party. This section brings up the concept of a divided government, and a unified government. A divided government is when one political party controls one office while the other party controls the other office. A unified government is when the same political party controls both offices. Inter party competition gives the voters a chance to either unify or divide the government based on what they feel best represents their vision for the United States. Interparty competition “is healthy development in American politics” (98). The book also states that with interparty competition “citizen interest picks up, and voter turnout increases” (98). It gives voters who don’t agree with the people in their party other options and other candidates.

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