Describe the U.S. political system. The U.S. political system is large, complex, and dominated by powerful, organized, bureaucratic political parties. The modern U.S. political system, which emerged...

Describe the U.S. political system. The U.S. political system is large, complex, and dominated by powerful, organized, bureaucratic political parties. The modern U.S. political system, which emerged after the Civil War, is a two-party system. Democrats and Republicans have different platforms. For example, Republicans favor small government, while Democrats favor a more active government. Americans are socialized into a particular political party affiliation, and it becomes a marker of group identity. Party affiliation is correlated strongly with class, education, and gender. Americans are polarized by party and, at the same time, exhibit extensive voter apathy. Voters are also swayed by interest groups, which have great influence on legislators and on the public and often focus on a single issue.