Кризис партийной идентичности и другие особенности партийной системы США современного периода

Abstract

The article considers the characteristic peculiarities of the modern party system of the United States. Namely, the crisis of the party identity, moderation and center-oriented programs of the Republican and Democratic parties, the change of traditional electorate of two major parties, the system of separated branches of government. Having undertaken the comparative analysis of the platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties 2000, the author makes a conclusion that the strengthening of the center-oriented positions of both parties as well as flexibility and well-adaptability of party machines to the modern conditions are the main tendencies nowadays. The article examines the influence of the constitutional mechanisms on the weakness of the party system of the United States (federalism, particularities of the electoral system, the legal status of the congressmen etc.) The problems of responsibility and accountability of the government in the system of separated powers are also analyzed. In the point of view of the author, the reasons for the American political parties losing their identity are, first of all, the necessity to strengthen their positions through appealing to the wide categories of people as well as the enlargement of its electoral base.