Faculty Announcements and Extra Credit Opportunities

• Extra credit assignments will be uploaded today for those who sent in writing to Dr. K. Toppings.
• Upcoming opportunity for extra credit: Sign up to Facetime with faculty on Monday, April 21.
• New office hours announced for Thursday, right after class, though the professor will leave to catch a flight afterward.
• Students are encouraged to email for alternative meeting times if office hours are missed.

Class Attendance and Student Feedback

• Mention of low attendance last Thursday despite prior announcement of no class.
• Acknowledgment of students who attended class on Tuesday and their thoughts on guest speakers. Encouragement for students to express their opinions.

Discussion on Student Engagement and Community Service

• Appreciation of student involvement in community service initiatives, like the Change Makers program that focuses on volunteering.
• Reference to local community support systems set up by volunteers for underprivileged pet owners.
• Acknowledgment of recent community events, such as basketball initiatives.

Political Participation and Youth Engagement

• Discussion around young individuals being elected to political positions and the increasing trend of youth involvement in politics.
• Reflection on how social media enables younger generations to communicate political ideas more dynamically.
• The potential for young individuals to engage in politics without conventional prerequisites of adulthood or wealth.

Class Reflection on Guest Speakers

• Review of guest speaker presentations about environmental topics and community initiatives.
• Opportunity for student opinions regarding guest presentations to foster classroom interaction.

Understanding Political Parties and Interest Groups

• Introduction of the core concepts of political parties and interest groups as linkage institutions to connect the general public with elites.
• Major distinction between political parties (aim to elect members) and interest groups (aim to influence the established government members).
• Political parties did not exist at the formation of the Constitution, and the evolution of parties is tied to specific historical contexts.
• Factions are defined as groups with shared interests working toward common goals, potentially conflicting with the broader societal interest.

Current Political Landscape and Polarization

• The increasing polarization and hyper-partisanship of political identities, labeling its causes and implications for American politics.
• Descriptions of how party identity has become central to self-identification in contemporary society, indicating a shift from historical factors such as race and religion to political affiliation.
• Examination of media’s alignment with political parties and the implications for information dissemination.

Conclusion and Party Dynamics

• Summary of the two-party system of the U.S.- highlighting the Democrats and Republicans and their ongoing evolution.
• Discussion of waves of political identity shifts and the potential future of political representation in the U.S.
• Importance of remaining engaged in civic discourse and maintaining awareness of the dynamic changes happening within political parties.