© Chapter 4: We – the people Politics in the United States: Political Parties Interest Groups and Lobbyists

© Political Parties – The Electoral System  Elections are in single-seat districts  Elections are won by a plurality of votes  The system forces parties to make coalitions before the election  The system discourages sharp ideological profiles

© Political Parties – The Two Major Parties  Democrats support an active federal government and wish to use it  Democrats have support on the coasts, in cities, and among the working class and minorities  Republicans support ”states’ rights” and want a small federal government  Republicans have support is suburbs, rural states, the south and among businesspeople

© Political Parties – Advantages and Disadvantages  The two party system assures stable government  The two party system encourages consensus politics  The two party system wastes many citizens’ votes  The two party system blocks new ideas and movements

© C.1 Interest Groups and Lobbyists – Aims and Means  Interest groups are a way of influencing the political process in America  They can be more straightforward, aggressive and ideological than parties  PACs are Political Action Committees promoting political causes  Lobbyists are professional political operatives who influence politicians

© Interest Groups and Lobbyists – Advantages and Disadvantages  Citizens who are politically active through interest groups are good for democracy  It is good that citizens use their freedom of speech and assembly  It is worrying that political parties may be undermined  It is worrying that politicians may end up representing special interests, not voters