Unit 3 Review Political Parties, Elections and Campaigns, Interest Groups, and the Mass Media

Political Parties Functions of Parties Functions of Parties Connecting citizens to their government Connecting citizens to their government Linkage institution Linkage institution Running candidates for political office Running candidates for political office Informing the public Informing the public Organizing the government Organizing the government Why a Two Party System? Why a Two Party System? Consensus of values Consensus of values Historical Influence Historical Influence The winner take all system The winner take all system Proportional representation Proportional representation

Political Parties Organization of the Two Party System Organization of the Two Party System Built on grassroots Built on grassroots A n’tl committee composed of reps from each state A n’tl committee composed of reps from each state National chairman National chairman National convention National convention Congressional Campaign Committees Congressional Campaign Committees DCCC, RSCC DCCC, RSCC Broad ideological base to appeal to a large number of voters Broad ideological base to appeal to a large number of voters

Political Parties Historical Development of the Parties Historical Development of the Parties The Early Years The Early Years Federalists and Anti-Federalists Federalists and Anti-Federalists Democratic-Republicans Democratic-Republicans Era of Good Feelings Era of Good Feelings Jacksonian Democracy Jacksonian Democracy Whigs Whigs Democratic Party Democratic Party Fought for universal manhood suffrage Fought for universal manhood suffrage Initiated the holding of the national convention Initiated the holding of the national convention North/South Tensions North/South Tensions Republican Party Republican Party

Political Parties The Republican Era: The Republican Era: Laissez-faire Laissez-faire The Second Democratic Era: The Second Democratic Era: Roosevelt Coalition Roosevelt Coalition Era of divided government Era of divided government Gridlock Gridlock Republican hold on the presidency Republican hold on the presidency McGovern-Fraser Commission McGovern-Fraser Commission Increased the # of women, youth, and minority delegates Increased the # of women, youth, and minority delegates Superdelgates reduced Superdelgates reduced Divided Government Today Divided Government Today Minor Parties Minor Parties Two types: Two types: Those dominated by an individual personality Those dominated by an individual personality Those organized around a long lasting goal Those organized around a long lasting goal Most successful: Populist Party Most successful: Populist Party

Political Parties Party Power: The Effects of Dealignment Party Power: The Effects of Dealignment Early 20 th century reforms Early 20 th century reforms Primary elections Primary elections Civil service Civil service Direct election of Senators Direct election of Senators Women’s suffrage Women’s suffrage Late 20 th century reforms Late 20 th century reforms Elimination of soft money Elimination of soft money Candidates less reliant on party organizations Candidates less reliant on party organizations Electronic age Electronic age

Elections and Campaigns Functions of elections Functions of elections Select leaders Select leaders Political participation Political participation Legitimize positions of power Legitimize positions of power Guidelines for U.S. elections Guidelines for U.S. elections Role of Political Parties Role of Political Parties Winner take all Winner take all Plurality Plurality Single member districts Single member districts Proportional representation Proportional representation

Elections and Campaigns Primaries and General Elections Primaries and General Elections Primaries Primaries Closed Closed Open Open Caucus Caucus General Elections General Elections Only 50% turnout as compared to 25% in a primary election Only 50% turnout as compared to 25% in a primary election Congressional vs. Presidential Campaigns and Elections Congressional vs. Presidential Campaigns and Elections Congressional elections are regional; presidential are national Congressional elections are regional; presidential are national

Elections and Campaigns House elections are less competitive than those for Senate or the presidency House elections are less competitive than those for Senate or the presidency Congressional elections are every 2 years with 36% turnout during midterm elections Congressional elections are every 2 years with 36% turnout during midterm elections Who turns out? Who turns out? Coattail effect Coattail effect Members of Congress can communicate more directly with their constituents Members of Congress can communicate more directly with their constituents Candidates for Congress often run against Congress Candidates for Congress often run against Congress High rate of incumbency for Congressional candidates High rate of incumbency for Congressional candidates

Elections and Campaigns The Road to the Presidency The Road to the Presidency Step 1: Deciding to announce Step 1: Deciding to announce Step 2: The Presidential Primaries Step 2: The Presidential Primaries Frontloading Frontloading Step 3: The Conventions Step 3: The Conventions Step 4: Campaigning for the General Election Step 4: Campaigning for the General Election Presidential debates Presidential debates Campaign and Election Reform Campaign and Election Reform Campaign Spending Campaign Spending Buckley v. Valeo Buckley v. Valeo BCRA BCRA Soft money Soft money Citizens United v. FEC Citizens United v. FEC Rise of 527’s and SuperPAC’s Rise of 527’s and SuperPAC’s

Elections and Campaigns Realigning Elections Realigning Elections 1860—Lincoln 1860—Lincoln 1896—William Jennings Bryan 1896—William Jennings Bryan 1932—FDR 1932—FDR Dealignment Dealignment Rise of independents Rise of independents

Interest Groups Parties vs. Interest Groups Parties vs. Interest Groups Parties run candidates for office; Interest groups support candidates for office Parties run candidates for office; Interest groups support candidates for office Parties generate a broad spectrum of policies; Interest Groups support one or a few related policies Parties generate a broad spectrum of policies; Interest Groups support one or a few related policies PAC’s and 527’s PAC’s and 527’s Theories of Interest Group Politics Theories of Interest Group Politics Elitist Theory Elitist Theory Pluralist Theory Pluralist Theory Provide linkage, check each other, follow the rules, no one group dominates Provide linkage, check each other, follow the rules, no one group dominates Hyperpluralist Theory Hyperpluralist Theory

Interest Groups The Growth of Interest Groups The Growth of Interest Groups NAACP NAACP AARP AARP Types of Membership Types of Membership Institutional interests Institutional interests Represents a business or corporation Represents a business or corporation National League of Cities National League of Cities Individual interests Individual interests Represents individuals such as laborers Represents individuals such as laborers AFL-CIO AFL-CIO

Interest Groups Types of Interest Groups Types of Interest Groups Economic Interests Economic Interests Labor Unions Labor Unions Agriculture groups Agriculture groups Business groups Business groups Professional groups Professional groups Consumer and Public Interest Groups Consumer and Public Interest Groups PIRGS (public interest research groups) PIRGS (public interest research groups) Environmental Interests Environmental Interests Equality and Justice Interests Equality and Justice Interests NAACP NAACP NOW NOW

Interest Groups How Interest Groups Work How Interest Groups Work Lobbying Lobbying Contacting gov’t officials Contacting gov’t officials Meeting and socializing at conventions Meeting and socializing at conventions Taking officials to lunch Taking officials to lunch Testifying at committee hearings Testifying at committee hearings Electioneering Electioneering Campaign contributions Campaign contributions Litigation Litigation Amicus curiae Amicus curiae Class action lawsuits Class action lawsuits Appealing to the Public Appealing to the Public High fructose corn syrup High fructose corn syrup

Interest Groups The Ratings Game The Ratings Game Dirty Dozen Dirty Dozen Where do Interest Groups get their $$$$? Where do Interest Groups get their $$$$? Foundation grants Foundation grants Federal grants and contracts Federal grants and contracts Direct solicitation Direct solicitation Effective Interest Groups Effective Interest Groups Size Size Free rider problem Free rider problem Intensity Intensity Financial resources Financial resources The Revolving Door The Revolving Door

Mass Media Functions of the Media Functions of the Media Entertainment Entertainment News reports News reports Agenda setting Agenda setting Creation of political forums Creation of political forums Structure of the Media Structure of the Media Print Print Electronic Electronic Internet Internet blogs blogs

Mass Media Government Regulation of the Media Government Regulation of the Media Prior Restraint Prior Restraint Confidentiality of sources Confidentiality of sources FCC FCC Telecommunications Act Telecommunications Act One radio company can own as many as 8 stations and an unlimited number nationally One radio company can own as many as 8 stations and an unlimited number nationally Equal time rule Equal time rule Right of reply rule Right of reply rule Fairness Doctrine Fairness Doctrine Abolished; inhibited free discussion; but still followed voluntarily Abolished; inhibited free discussion; but still followed voluntarily

Mass Media Impact of Media on Politics Impact of Media on Politics Sound bites Sound bites The Media and Political Campaigns The Media and Political Campaigns Advertising Advertising News coverage News coverage Spin doctor Spin doctor Presidential Debates Presidential Debates The Media and Government Officials The Media and Government Officials White House press corps White House press corps Press secretary Press secretary