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