POLITICAL PARTIES

I.  Why Political Parties?

A.  From "baneful effects" to Irrelevance
B.  Definition

II.  Functions

A.  Serve as Brokers of Ideas
B.  Serve as Agents of Political Socialization
C.  Link the Individual and the System
D.  Mobilize and Recruit Political Activists
E.  Coordinating Governmental Operations
F.  Serve as Sources of Opposition

III.  Party Systems

A.  Single Party Systems
B.  Two Party Systems
C.  Mutliparty Systems

IV.  Types of Political Parties

A.  Party Organization
B.  Ideological Cohesion

V.  Conclusion:  Is the Party Over?