political parties and interest groups. linkage institutions political parties interest groups (mass...
TRANSCRIPT
POLITICAL PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS
Linkage Institutions
Political Parties Interest Groups (Mass Media)
All Promote United States Democracy by Linking Citizens to the Political Process
POLITICAL PARTIES
Definition of Purpose Group of individuals who seek to control
government by sponsoring candidates for public office Elect People to Office Gain control of Government
Political Parties
Political Parties and the Constitution: The issue of political parties is not
addressed in the Constitution
Functions
Nominators Policy Makers – “linkage institution” Organizers of government machinery Informers “Approvers” Watchdogs
Party Systems
One party – authoritarian, dictatorship, “Solid South”
Two Party – US, historical, third parties have challenges
Multiparty – Some European nations, contributes to coalitions, often unstable due to no clear majority
Party Structure
Membership Party in the electorate Party Structure Party in Government
Party Structure
Party Leader Party in the White House Barack Obama is the leader of the
Democratic Party Republican leader?
Highest ranking Republican in Congress Nominee for 2012 Chair of RNC
National Structure National Chairperson
RNC: Michael Steele DNC: Tim Kaine
National Committee Handle convention, party affairs
Congressional Campaign Committee Work to get party members elected to Congress
Control decision making Coattail Effect Who elects President if no candidate wins
majority in Electoral College? 4 committees
National Convention Purpose: write/adopt platform, nominate President and
Vice-President
Other Characteristics
Federalism: Parties are DECENTRALIZED! Separate and Largely Independent Party
Organizations Exists at National, State and Local Levels
Intraparty rivalry is real State and Local Parties: purpose is to
get party members elected to state and local positions in government
Moderation
Attract as many voters as possible Nominate a “moderate” candidate
Presidential Elections have become more focused on individual candidates
Platforms historically are not distinctly different Since early 1980s, Republican Party platform has
been increasingly influenced by Evangelical Christians
Democratic Party platform becoming increasingly influenced by minority groups (2012 Election- Hispanic Groups, Women)
Are political parties becoming extinct?
Increase in the number of independents Split ticket voting is increasing Rising use of technology Media and independent expenditures Interest groups influence has increased
Persistence of Political Parties
Electoral College: Single-Member District Electoral System Domination of the Legislature by Two
Political Parties Funding is still high Party unity score is high
Partisanship still the best indicator of how someone will vote
Third Parties (Minor Parties)
Challenges Rep and Dem control the process therefore the
minor parties are left out “Wasted Vote” in the Mind of the Voter Excluded from the Political Process
Public Funding Debates
Electoral College Influence
Force issues Ross Perot and budget deficit in 1990s
Third Parties (Minor Parties)
Candidate Election year
Party Popular vote Electoral vote
Fillmore 1856 Know Nothings
22% 8
Breckinridge 1860 Secessionist 18% 72
T. Roosevelt 1912 Bull Moose 27% 88
LaFolette 1924 Progressive 17% 13
Wallace 1968 American Independent
14% 46
Perot 1992 United We Stand
19% 0
Types of Third Parties
Bolter or Splinter Doctrinal (Ideological) Economic Protest Single Issue
Third Parties: Splinter Parties Separates from major party Progressive Party in 1912 (R) American Independent in 1968 (D)
Third Parties: Ideological
Reject prevailing attitudes/beliefs
favor a more active government
Socialist Party
Third Parties: Economic Protest Creation based on economic crisis or
policy Greenback Party
Third Parties: Single Issue
Formed to promote ONE issue Right to Life Party
(pro-life) Prohibition Party
Minor Parties
Q: What tends to happen to single issue parties?
A: Issues may get picked up and their reason for existence is eliminated
Q: Which type of minor party has been the most successful in winning votes?
A: SplinterQ: Which type of minor party has been the
longest lived?A: Ideological
Failure of Alternative Parties No viable national campaign Limited fundraising Institutional obstacles
Single member voting district Winner take all system in electoral college
What about the Tea Party Movement?
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6408472n&tag=contentMain;contentBody
Realigning Elections
Critical Elections are Most Associated with Party Realignment When groups of voters have changed their
traditional patters of party loyalties
Dealignment: Movement in Which Voters Abandon Both Parties
Factors: less and less identifying with the major parties (1/3 independent)
Effects on Campaigns Moderate stance Target independent or swing voters Focus on issues that will differentiate party
• As elections become more candidate-centered, political parties become less important.
• No one party dominates. The country is evenly divided.
• Voters are more cynical about politics. • Citizens increasingly engage in split-ticket voting
INTEREST GROUPS
Definition
Groups of individuals or businesses who have a common goal of making the political system change policy which in turn benefits members.
Focus? Affect public policy
Types of Interest Groups
Economic - NAM Business - Farm Bureau
Increased in number most substantially since the mid-1970’s
Ideological - Christian Coalition Public Interest - Public Citizen Inc. Foreign Policy - Pro-Israel Groups Government - National Governor’s Assn. Professional - ABA, AMA, NEA, etc.
Use caution, names can be deceiving
Functions of Interest Groups
Stimulate interest Represent members Means of participation Provide data Collective action or grass roots efforts Checks and balances; “watchdogs” Coalition Building- Interest Groups can
Join Together to Increase Influence
How do Interest Groups Provide Data to Government? Lobbying Publicity Litigation (class action lawsuits, amicus
curaie briefs with Supreme Court) Sway Regulations Electioneering
What is lobbying?
The communicating of ideas or beliefs about government to a government policy maker. Objective is to influence public policy.
Qualifications? Common backgrounds? Former elected
officials, lawyers, PR, journalists Job responsibilities? Paperwork, testify,
grassroots efforts, media, endorsements, providing legislators with information on technical issues (the most significant!)
What are the Criticisms of Interest Groups? “Special Interests” Too much influence in relation to size How many are actually represented? Don’t represent the views of those that
they claim Corruption Pluralist system violates the majority Poor aren’t represented
What is the Role of the PAC? Political Action Committee Political arm of an association-
campaign contributions to gain access to legislators
Effects? $$$$$$ (incumbents?) Regulated by the FEC
Federal Election Commission
What is a Sub-Government or Iron Triangle?
Differences Between Political Parties and Interest Groups
Election
Policy Generalist- Represent a Broad Array of Issues
Issue Do Not Nominate
Policy Specialist- More Likely to Focus on Narrow Set of Issues
Political Parties Interest Groups