Description
Professor and author Michael Alvarez explains and evaluates California’s “Top-Two” primary system.
Bell Ringer Assignment
- What were the reasons that California adopted a "Top-Two" primary system?
- What does Professor Alvarez mean when he says that the electoral process is decentralized?
- Describe how a "Top-Two" primary works. How is this different than most states?
- What is meant by a co-partisan general election? How have "Top-Two" primaries contributed to more of these?
- According to Professor Alvarez, in what ways have "Top-Two" primaries been successful?
Additional Resources
Participants
Vocabulary
- Closed Primary
- Co-partisan General Elections
- Decentralized
- Electoral Process
- Partisanship
- Polarization
- Political Party
- Primary
- Reform
- Roll Call Votes