This week Craig Benzine explores the leadership structure of congress. We’ll break out the clone machine to examine the responsibilities of the speaker of the house, the majority and minority leaders as well as the majority and minority...

The democratic process is messy, complicated and often inefficient -- but across Africa, activists are redefining democracy by putting protest at its center. In an illuminating talk, political scientist Zachariah Mampilly gives us a...

This week Craig breaks out the crystal ball to try and figure out why our congresspeople do the things that they do. We’ll talk about the three motivating factors of congressional decisions - constituency, interest groups, and political...

The divisiveness plaguing American politics today is nothing new, says constitutional law scholar Noah Feldman. In fact, it dates back to the early days of the republic, when a dispute between Alexander Hamilton and James Madison led the...

Today, Craig is going to dive into the history of American political parties. So throughout most of United States history our political system has been dominated by a two-party system, but the policies and the groups that support these...

This week we are wrapping up our overview of sociology’s core frameworks and founding theorists with a look Max Weber and his understanding of the modern world. We’ll explore rationalization and the transition from traditional to modern...

Today, Craig is going to talk about political parties and their role in American politics. So, when most people think about political parties they associate them with the common ideologies of the voters and representatives within that...

Italian citizens voted out the monarchy in 1946, and the last Italian dynasty ended with King Umberto II being forced into exile. The constitution of the Italian republic went into effect in 1948, and since then, governments have changed...

Since the Revolution of 1789, France has had five forms of republican government. The current republic, the Fifth Republic, began in 1958. Learn more about the evolution of the constitution and the impact on modern French society....

Saudi Arabia is one of only two countries—the other being Vatican City—that do not have a separate legislative body. Political parties are banned, and there is no national legislative body or general elections. Historically, Saudi kings...

Under its constitution, adopted on February 5, 1917, Mexico is a federal democratic republic, but until the mid-1990s, a single party, the PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional), totally dominated state and federal elective offices....

A video entitled "Third Parties" that discusses the role of third parties in the United States political system

In an exclusive interview with The Independent, Lord Hague discusses with Geordie Greig his campaign to win election as Chancellor to the University of Oxford. The former foreign secretary explains his opinions on what the statue of...

Pupil outcome: I can explain how the USSR established satellite states to take control of eastern Europe between 1945 and 1948. Key learning points: - Stalin agreed to free elections in Eastern Europe at Yalta but had no intention of...

Pupil outcome: I can explain different types of elections that exist across the world. Key learning points: - There are two main voting systems: First Past The Post and Proportional Representation, although other variations exist. -...

Pupil outcome: I can critically evaluate the impact of using AI in a general election. Key learning points: - AI played a key feature in India's general election and this raised many questions over its advantages and disadantages. -...

Pupil outcome: I can explain a variety of ways in which the media can support democracy. Key learning points: - Democratic values include transparency, participation, effectively functioning government, trust and liberties. - The media...

This video explores the concept of gerrymandering, explaining how it shapes election districts to favor certain political parties. Learn how the term originated, how redistricting affects representation, and the different types of...

After primary elections and caucuses, political parties hold national conventions to officially select their presidential nominee. Delegates from each state cast votes based on the results of their state’s primary or caucus. The...

Discover how presidential candidates campaign to win the support of their political party in caucuses and primary elections. Learn how the candidates are narrowed down to one from each of the two major political parties—Democratic and...

Learn about the House of Representatives, one of two chambers in Congress, with 435 seats allocated based on state population. Discover the roles of the Speaker of the House, Majority Leader, and Minority Leader, as well as the...

Delve into the history and mechanics of the 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, focusing on its pivotal role in shaping the presidential election process through the establishment of the Electoral College. Explore how the...

In the United States’ two-party system, the Republican Party competes with the Democratic Party for political power. But when was it formed and how has it changed over the years?

It’s the oldest political party in the United States, but how was the Democratic Party formed and what contributions has it made to U.S. society since?