1. Lesson 1: American Political Parties and Government Influence Remediation Notes

2. General Info US has a two party system
People in the same party share values and beliefs of how the government should run
Political Parties formed because Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton disagreed on how the government should be ran

3. Hamilton vs. Jefferson Hamilton Jefferson Wanted individual rights
Strong central government
Jefferson
Less government interaction
Preserve state government powers

4. Political Parties
Jefferson’s group was called the Democratic-Republican Party
1828: Andrew Jackson put them with the Democratic Party.
Hamilton’s group called the Federalists Party and faded away
1830 Whigs form
1854 a group of Democrats and a group of Whigs form the Republican Party—replace the Whigs
1860 Abe Lincoln becomes 1st Republican President

5. Third Parties Never won a presidential election
Exist because they believe neither majority meets needs of the people
Help take votes away from majority
Must get voter signatures to appear on ballot through a petition
Have trouble obtaining money for campaigns

6. Types of 3rd Parties Single Issue Parties Ideological Parties
Goal: promote a social, economic or moral issue
Ideological Parties
Focus: change society in a major way

7. How Parties Differ Democrats Republicans
Believe in more government involvement in
Regulating the economy
Providing housing, income, education and jobs
Republicans
Favor less government

8. Political Organizations
Nationally
Each party has a national committee
Help raise funds for presidential elections and national conventions
National party chairperson is in charge
Main job
Manage the office
Lead fund raising efforts

9. Organizations continued
National Convention
Held once every 4 years
party members nominate candidates for president and Vice President
Each party chooses delegates through primary elections (caucuses)
Once a delegate is chosen, the delegate
Writes a platform based around issues
Each issue is called a plank

10. State/Local Organizations
Each major party has 50 state committees
Focus on electing party candidates to state positions
Attorney general
Governor
State legislatures
Each city or county is divided up into election districts called precincts
This is where voters go to vote
Many precincts put together is a ward

11. County organizations Each party has a county committee
Powerful local parties are called political machines—
Pol. Machines usually provide jobs, medical care and food in exchange for votes
Ignore needs of state if become too powerful

12. General info You do not have to join a political party to vote
Candidates run on platforms—each platform is called a plank
Platforms inform voters of a candidates intentions and views on serious issues

13. Political Parties
Political Parties select people to represent them in elections
They are chosen by voters—this is called the primaries
2 types of direct primaries—open and closed
Top 2 candidates in primaries will have a runoff primary

14. Party Roles Campaigning Raise money and spread views Inform
Tell public how government works through speeches, infomercials, pamphlets and media
Manage government
Hand out government jobs
Link levels of government
Join forces to solve a mutual problem
Act as a watchdog
Watch for actions or mistakes of the party in power to increase your credibility and strengthen campaign; increases competition

15. Public Opinions
Public opinions are ideas and attitudes people have about politics and politicians
Public opinions come from
Personal background
Mass media
Public officials
Interest groups

16. What do Public Opinions tell us?
Direction—liked or disliked
Intensity—how Americans feel
Stability—how strong the belief is
Public Opinions are taken by
Polls—taken by a pollster
Random samples from phone, or mail

17. Mass Media 2 kinds of mass media: print and electronic Media impacts
Public agenda
Candidates and elections
National security—gvmnt has to keep some info secret to protect citizens

18. Mass Media and the Government
Supreme Court ruled that government censorship of material prior to it being published (prior restraint) violates the medias 1st Amendment
1964 Supreme Court ruled public officials must prove malice—intent if a publisher prints false information

19. Five Types of Interest Groups
Economic
Ethnic—National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Gender—National Organization for Women (NOW)
Age- American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
Public

20. Influencing public policy of Interest Groups
Forming Political Action Committees
Bring cases to court

21. Interest Groups and Lobbyists
Interest Groups use lobbyists to influence government officials and to represent their cause
1946—Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act—if you are a full time lobbyist you are required to:
Tell who hired you
How much you are paid
Where your money is being spent in regards to work

22. Interest Group Techniques
Mail campaigns
Advertisements
News coverage by protests or public events
Propaganda
Endorsements—using a famous person to advocate for your cause
Stacked cards—when you only give one side of the issue
Name calling
Glittering generality-statement that sounds good but is meaningless
Symbols
Just plain folks—showing yourself as an average American
Bandwagon—everyone is involved in your cause, so it influences others to join