1. Political Parties and Interest Groups
UNIT THREE

2. Development of American Political Parties
Two Party System
Political party- association of voters with common interest in the role of government
America considered to have two party system (Democrat and Republicans)
Constitution says nothing about political parties
Came into existence after Washington left office (dispute over strong vs. weak national government)

3. Development of American Political Parties
Democratic Party- came into existence 1828 under Andrew Jackson
Republican Party formed to oppose slavery, Lincoln first Republican president (1860)
Third Parties- challenges main parties, rarely win major elections
Two most influential in late 1800’s and early 1900’s Progressives, Populist parties

4. Development of American Political Parties
Third Parties
Single issue parties- promote social, economic, moral issues (not to win elections), fade away after issue is no longer important
Ideological parties- focus on major changes in society (Communist, Libertarian, Green Parties)
Independent Candidates- form around well known individuals
Third parties rarely win elections problems with raising money, getting on ballot

5. Development of American Political Parties
Two party system rare
Most other countries have multi-party system
One party rarely wins control of government, several parties often work together
One party system, party and government are the same thing (Communist China)
One party systems are not democratic

6. Development of American Political Parties
Political parties link between citizens and elected officials, help make elections meaningful
Democrats believe federal government should be more involved in regulating economy, education, etc.
Republicans favor less government regulation
Both try to appeal to as many voters as possible, avoid taking extreme positions
How do parties differ?
Platform- series of statements explaining positions, principle and beliefs on election issues
Plank- each individual part of platform

7. Organization of American Political Parties
National Party Organization
National Conventions
Each party has national committee
Representatives from every state, raise funds for elections, organize party’s national convention
Leader of committee national party chairperson
Committees create television, radio, internet ads, manage candidates’ websites
Main job of national committee, national convention every 4 years
Delegates from all states nominate candidates for president and vice president,
Delegates chosen through caucuses
Delegate’s first job write the party’s platform, second job nominate party’s presidential candidate
Democrat and Republican parties have House and Senate committees made up of members of Congress; to help elect and reelect party members

8. Organization of American Political Parties
State and Local Organization
Both parties, have 50 state committees
Job is to focus on electing party candidates to state offices
Local party organizations consist of city and county committees
Each city or county is divided into precincts (specific area where people vote)
Each precinct has a precinct captain to organize party volunteers and encourage voters to vote
Several neighboring precincts make up a ward (members represent the ward at the county committee)

9. Organization of American Political Parties
Political Machines
Local party organizations that have become so powerful they win elections year after year
Most famous late 1800’s in NYC Tammany Hall, most famous leader “Boss” Tweed
Helped immigrants when they first came to America with social services in return for votes
When political party is in power too long they become less responsive to citizens

10. Role of Political Parties Today
Primary Elections
Political parties select and offer candidates for public office; done through nomination
Major parties nominate candidates through direct primaries (preliminary election determines who will represent the party in the main election)
Most states hold closed primary (only members of the party can vote)
A few states hold open primary (voters do not have to declare their party preference)

11. Role of Political Parties Today
Primary Elections
Closed primary keeps people from crossing party lines promote the weaker candidate
Does not permit a truly secret ballot because voters declare party preference
Most states award party’s nomination to the candidate who receives a plurality, (most votes among those running); other states require that the winner must have a majority
No majority, state holds a runoff between the two top vote getters
Candidates not affiliated with a political party can get on the ballot by petition

12. Role of Political Parties Today
Other Party Roles
Campaigning for Candidates
Raise money for campaigns, help candidates get across their ideas and views on public issues to voters
“Get out the vote” drives
Informing Citizens
Inform citizens through pamphlets, speeches, and ads

13. Role of Political Parties Today
Other Party Roles
Help Manage Government
Parties help the elected official hand out jobs to supporters
Linking the Different Levels of Government
Parties help link local, state, and federal party officials
Act as a Watchdog
The party that loses watches the actions of the party that won so that they can use their mistakes against them in the next election

14. Influencing Government
Chapter 11
Influencing Government

15. Public Opinion
Public Opinion- ideas, attitudes about elected officials, candidates, government, political issues
Shapes decisions government makes
Opinion not uniform- Why?
Personal background- age, gender, race, income, religion, etc. all play roles on the public’s opinion
Mass Media- radio, TV, advertising. Provides powerful images that influence opinion
Public Officials- influence public opinion through press conferences, speeches, TV appearances, and articles
Interest Groups- people who share a point of view about an issue; hope to change public opinion through ads and actions

16. Public Opinion Components of Public Opinion
Direction- where people stand on issue
Intensity- strength of opinion on an issue
Stability- how firmly people hold their position on an issue; most people will not change their minds on issues but will change their minds on a candidate

17. Public Opinion Measuring Public Opinion
Measured by election results and public opinion polls
Public opinion poll accurate measure of opinion, closely monitored by politicians
Random Samples- modern polling is a science, use cross section of society to take a sample
Good polling can get an accurate picture of public opinion
Process can be manipulated by changing wording of questions

18. Public Opinion Polls and Democracy
People who support polling- supports democracy by allowing officeholders to keep in touch with citizens’ changing opinions
Critics of polling- elected officials more concerned with following the public rather than exercising political leadership, elected official may hesitate to make a decision for fear of upsetting the public

19. The Mass Media Plays role in influencing politics and government
Link between elected officials and public
Two types- print and electronic
They are businesses for profit, decide to run what attracts most people, bring best advertisers
Most people rely on TV for information, newspapers read by older demographic, internet usage higher among younger groups

20. The Mass Media The Media’s Impact on Politics and Government
Setting the Public Agenda- media brings an issue to the forefront of American attention
Promote Candidates- makes possible rise of unlikely politicians; can promote style over substance
Elected Officials- need media to promote ideas and actions; may leak info to press to test public reaction (trial balloon), press uses inside info to enhance their careers

21. The Mass Media The Media’s Impact on Politics and Government
Watchdog Role- Journalist eager to expose government corruption, look into politicians private lives (need to feed 24 hour news cycle)
Media and National Security- tension between need to protect secrets vs. public’s right to know

22. The Mass Media Protecting the Media
Government plays role in ability of mass media to operate freely
Press has First Amendment Rights
Supreme Court ruled press has protection from prior restraint, gives reporters and editors freedom to decide what they will say
Press cannot commit libel
Monitored through Federal Communication Commission (FCC), can’t censor press but can punish violations

23. Interest Groups
Interest groups- people who share a point of view and unite to promote viewpoint, by nature they are biased
Types of interest groups
Economic interest groups- largest and most powerful, influence government decisions on taxes, safety regulations, winning government business
Trade groups- to promote products
Labor Unions- promote interests of workers; wages, working conditions

24. Interest Groups Types of Interest Groups
Other Interest Groups- organized to promote ethnic group, age group or gender (NAACP, AARP, NOW)
Environmental groups
Public Interest Groups- support causes that affect the lives of all Americans; Common Cause works to control pollution, reform election campaign practices, and to protect consumers

25. Financing a Campaign
Methods to finance campaigns established by Congressional legislation
Recently efforts to reform how candidates raise money
Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)
1971- Congress passed FECA put controls on campaign financing
Required public disclosure of each candidate’s spending records
Limited the amount of hard money that individuals or groups could donate to a candidate or political party
1974- Federal Election Commission created, job is to administer all federal election laws, monitor campaign spending

26. Financing a Campaign
Supreme Court ruled in Buckley v. Valeo, government had the right to set limits on campaign contributions to keep corruption out of elections
Also declared that there was not a limit to how much of their own money candidates could spend

27. Financing a Campaign Soft Money and Political Action Committees (PACS)
Most money for campaigns comes from private sources (citizens, corporations, labor unions, interest groups, and PACS)
PACS- organizations set up by interest groups to collect money to support favored candidates
To get around FECA restrictions on campaign income, candidates seek soft money donations (given to a political party and not designated for any particular candidate’s campaign)
Was supposed to be used only for general party building purposes but candidates are constantly dipping out of the fund

28. Interest Groups
Primary goal is to influence public policy, focus efforts on elections, courts and lawmakers
Form PACs to collect money used to support candidates
Use influence in the legal system, suing those who break the law
Use lobbyists to influence lawmakers
Lobbyists represent interest groups by making direct contact with lawmakers to influence policymaking
Lobbyists are usually paid and have good understanding of the workings of government

29. Interest Groups Techniques of Interest Groups
Want to increase influence by recruiting more members, get opinions across through variety of media
Use propaganda techniques to promote ideas
Endorsements
Stacked Cards: where only one side of the issue is presented
Name-Calling
Glittering Generality: sounds good but is meaningless
Symbols
Just Plain Folks: showing that a candidate is a hardworking common citizen like most people
The Bandwagon: saying that everyone agrees with this interest group or candidate and you should too

30. Interest Groups Regulation of Interest Groups
Federal Election Campaign Act 1971 regulates the monetary influence of special interest groups
Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act means lobbyists have to disclose who hires and pays them
Laws call for a waiting period for ex- government officials so they can’t use inside knowledge and friendship with politicians
Critics say money and lobbyists buy too much influence