● Read the two major party platforms. Are there elements in the party platforms that you disagree with and why? Research the mission or platform of a third party that they might be interested in...

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Answer One
In American democracy, there is no requirement for parties and candidates to adopt a platform. The modern American electoral system involves campaigns for public office that are candidate-centered, as opposed to party-centered. U.S. politicians use party labels to inform voters where they stand on topics in general, but politicians face little penalties for bucking the line of the party. We need to understand precisely what American political parties are, in order to understand the position and importance of party platforms. Many Americans retain a political affiliation like Democrat or Republican, about two-thirds of voters. But the vast majority does not pay close attention to politics or how parties work. For instance, the Republican Party's free-trade and protectionist wings have been jockeying to be a central component of the coalition. The candidate of the party, Donald Trump, takes a far more protectionist position on trade than the platform of the party represents, so this could be considered a...