Parties, Interest Groups, and Public Policy Overview of Government Alive! Reading.

Political Parties in the United States What do political parties do in a democracy? Parties recruit candidates and support campaigns. Parties help organize elections and inform voters. Parties organize the government Parties unite diverse interests and make collective action possible. Parties serve as loyal opposition to the political party in power.

The Structure of Political Parties Local Various county, city, and town committees, as well as ward and precinct-level committees. State State chairperson, an executive committee, and various state committees that focus on promoting the party’s agenda in their state. Precinct- a local voting district of a city or town. National National chairperson and delegates from each state who make decisions about the direction of the national party.

Evolution of the two-party system In 1787, the year the Constitution was written, there were no political parties in the US. Political factions  political parties The United States is a two-party system. A political system in which two parties dominate the electoral process and control the government.

The Two-Party System Today Regional divides in American politics Red States (Republicans) Mainly southern and central parts of the country Blue States (Democrats) Mainly northeast and far west In many states, there is roughly the same amount of Democrats and Republicans, but people may not always vote on a party line.

Interest Groups in America Special interest- a group that seeks to influence government policymaking and decision making to further its particular goals; and interest group. National Rifle Association (NRA)- protects rights of gun owners. Wilderness Society- preserving wild lands.

Are interest groups good or bad for democracy? Many Americans distrust special interests James Madison- thought they posed a threat to democracy if their power went unchecked. But, he saw that the growth of interest groups was inevitable, and a good thing in a society that prized freedom. Believed that pluralism, the idea that political power should be distributed and shared among various groups in society, was a good thing for a free society. The competition between the groups are the checks and balances of the groups. Inform the American public about specific issues.

How are interest groups organized and funded? Interest groups need money and people to function. Elected board of directors or trustees Funded several ways: Dues, membership fees, direct mail fundraising campaigns, internet. May also get funding from foundations and government grants. May donate money to political parties and candidates during elections. Many Americans believe that PAC contributions give interest groups too much influence over elected officials.

Political Action Committees PACs are private groups sponsored by corporations, trade associations, unions, or other interest groups. Allowed to collect donations that go directly to political campaigns. Donations come from the employees or members that formed the PAC. Corporations are the top contributors to PACs

How do Interest Groups Influence Policy? Campaign contributions Lobbying An organized effort to influence the policy process by persuading public officials to favor or oppose action on a specific issue. Speak to members of Congress and their staffs, testify before congressional committees, and offer comments at hearings. Research and policy proposals Think-tanks- an organization of scholars and policy experts who study public issues and write articles and books summarizing their research. Litigation The process of bringing a lawsuit against someone NAACP- Brown v. Board of Education Grassroots mobilization The rallying of a strong and vocal support from a large group of people at the local level, i.e. protests, rallies, internet.

What makes an interest group powerful? Size and money Larger membership + more money = more influence Unity of purpose Need commitment of members Effective leadership Information and expertise

Making Public Policy A plan or course of action initiated by government to achieve a stated goal. Six steps: Issue identification Agenda setting Policy formulation Policy adoption Implementation Evaluation

Issue Identification- What needs attention? Need to identify the problems and issues to be addressed.

Agenda Setting- Which issues should be addressed? Which issues should be part of the public agenda? a set of priorities for public action. Disasters (9/11, Hurricane Katrina) Some take longer Global warming

Policy Formulation- What to do? Once an issue is on the public agenda, government officials begin working on policy to address the issue. Is this a question the government should address? Should government pass a new law, create a new or expanded program, or offer a new benefit? What are the costs/benefits of each option? Smoking for example

Policy Adoption- How do we put these policies into action? Legislation Bills need to pass through Congress, state legislatures, or city councils. President’s role Works with members of Congress and key interest groups to get policies adopted Obama’s Jobs Bill Interest groups May also take a leadership role in getting policies adopted.

Making a policy work- How will this policy be implemented? Usually assigned to a specific government agency, which is then responsible for making the policy work. Example, Department of Homeland Security

Evaluation- How effective is this policy? Government officials and concerned interest groups need to assess whether the implemented policies have met their goals. Smoking bans- successful Helmet laws- unsuccessful