After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

• 12.1 Describe the origins of political parties and their basic features.
• 12.2 Summarize the development and evolution of the party systems.
• 12.3 Discuss the revival of partisanship over the last two decades and how modern parties are structured.
• 12.4 Assess modern parties’ influence and effectiveness as a vehicle for politicians and voters to act collectively within the established institutional framework.