1101 Section (March 1, 2013)  Attendance Roll Call  Announcement: Public Opinion not on Midterm 2  Textbook Highlights: Political Parties  Learning outcomes and key terms  Georgia comparisons  Textbook Highlights: The President  Discuss organization of office, management of budget  Comparisons to Georgia governor

Political Parties – Learning Outcomes  L01: Define the concept of a political party, and explain how political parties participate in the political system.  Political party: “A group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine public policy.” (p. 244)  Distinct from “faction” “social movement” “interest group”

Political Parties – Learning Outcomes  L04: Identify the three major components of the political party, and explain why these components are not necessarily consistent with each other.

 Party in the Electorate:  The People Who identifies with which party  Party Organization:  Includes state chairperson, county organizations, college groups  Candidate Recruitment  Campaigning (shared with candidate)  G.O.T.V. Efforts  Parties do not prepare ballots  Party in Government:  Emphasized in chapters on Congress and Georgia General Assembly

Political Parties – Learning Outcomes  L02: Demonstrate an understanding of how the political parties originated in the United States and how their strength has increased or decreased over time.

Parties Chapter Highlights (3/4)  There have been multiple party systems in U.S. history

Political Parties – Learning Outcomes  L03: Explain the major differences in the demographics of the supporters of Republicans and Democrats, and discuss how party positions differ on issues.  New Deal is key event

Political Parties – Learning Outcomes  L05: Explain the factors in the American political system that reinforce a two-party system, and discuss why minor or third parties are rarely successful.  Historical legacy  Third parties rare (co-opted)  “Duverger’s Law” – in winner take all system with single-member districts, there will be two parties competing to hold office.

Political Parties – Key Terms  REALIGNMENT  What are the elements of re-alignment?  “A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape.” (page 271)  Has either party had a significant “run” in the White House? What if we compare to flipping coins?  De-alignment  Single issue party

 Georgia has shifted from Democratic to Republican state  Overall change in public opinion  Possible Impact of Majority-Minority Districts from the Voting Rights Act  Local offices (city, county) have been slower to shift, but are also going to the GOP now

U.S. President  President is head of the Executive Branch  Useful to distinguish individual president from the office and institution of the presidency  Powers and responsibilities may be passed on  Institution can both empower and constrain president  Executive Branch has complex organizational structure

Comparisons to Ga. Governor Recall that Ga. Has a plural executive Governor’s revenue estimates determine the budget’s maximum size Why is the revenue estimate important? Ga. Governor’s line item veto increases his authority over budget