"As Congress struggled to carry out its constitutional duties, the Presidency grew stronger, taking on powers that were once in Congress's domain. The Framers did not predict the rise of 2 rival parties--Democratic and Republican-- that would come to dominate nearly every aspect of American political life. Partisanship has thrown their system of checks and balances out of whack. And the ideological differences between the parties have rarely been...

As serious challenges to America's way of life arise, the division between America's political parties seems to grow wider. The distrust between members of both parties seems greater than ever, which poses tremendous challenges for US democracy. Castillo explains what political parties are, the history of our two-party system, and the roles played by third parties and independents in elections. -- adapted from Introduction.

"In early 2021 lawmakers across the country began passing new voting restrictions based on false claims of widespread election fraud. New voting laws increased voter ID requirements, reduced access to mail-in ballots, and cut the number of places voters could vote or drop off ballots. Some new election laws allow partisan observers, called poll-watchers, to closely monitor the actions of election officials and voters. But the new election laws are...