Unit 3 Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media 10-20% 4-9 MCQs – 1+ SAQs
Chapter Review Chapters 8 & 9
The Political Party Tasks as a Linkage Institution Rational-Choice Theory (Downs Model) Party Image and Party Identification Party Organization Local Party Organization and The Machine and Patronage State Party Organization – The Big 50 National Party Organization – The Convention
The Party in Government The Party Platform The Party in History First Party System, Second Party System, Republican Majorities, New Deal Coalition, Realignment and Divided Parties, 1968-Present
Political Parties 3 rd Party Politics Multi-party Systems and Coalition Governments Proportional Representation and Party Leadership Winner-Take-All and Party Leadership
Nominations and Elections 1 The Nomination Money, Media, Momentum The Decision Competing for Delegates Pre-Debates Caucuses and Primaries Problems with the System
Nominations and Elections 2 The Convention Keynote Speech Party Platform Nominating the Candidate Nominating the vice-presidential candidate
Nominations and Elections 3 The Campaign Media Organization Money and the Campaign Federal Election Campaign Act and the FEC PACs Impacts of Campaigns – Are they successful?
Chapter Review Chapters 7 and 11
Mass Media 1 Media Events, Sound Bites, and Press Conferences Development of Media Print and Broadsheets Investigative Journalism and Muckrakers Radio and Television The Internets Government Regulation
Mass Media 2 News Reporting Trial Balloons and Spin Sound Bites and Coverage Is the Media Biased? News and Public Opinion
Interest Groups 1 Role of Interest Groups – interest specialization Theories of Interest Groups (review) Pluralism Elitism Hyperpluralism
Interest Groups 2 Interest Group Success Small Group with enormous potential Intensity of Message – single-issue groups especially Financial Resources
Shaping Policy Lobbying Corporate Employee vs. Paid Consultant Influence vs. Resource Management Electioneering and PACs Litigation Going for Public Support
Types of Interest Groups Economic Interests Labor & Business Environmental Interests Equality Interests Consumer Groups
Interest Groups as Factions Madison’s Wide-Open System So much competition that no one group gains too much power Pluralist vs. Elite vs. Hyperpluralist theorists Interest Groups and Government Size Frustration to limit government due to interest group lobbying Appreciation for larger government due to protecting special interest groups
Curriculum Outline – Unit 3 3-A – Political parties and elections 1 – Functions 2 – Organization 3 – Development 4 – Effects on the political process 5 – Electoral laws and systems
Curriculum Outline – Unit 3 3-B – Interest groups, including political action committees (PACs) 1 – The range of interests represented 2 – The activities of interest groups 3 – The effects of interest groups on the political process 4 – The unique characteristics and roles of PACs in the political process
Curriculum Outline – Unit 3 3-C – The mass media 1 – The functions and structures of the news media 2 – The impacts of the news media on politics 3 – The news media industry and its consequences