1. Political Parties 4/17/2012

2. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: – discuss and critically analyze political events in the United States government – students will be able to identify and explain the role of informal institutions and their effect on policy. – students will be able to assess the 2010 and 2012 elections without resorting to partisan bickering.

3. Office Hours and Readings Chapter 7 Office Hours – Today 11-2 – Wednesday 10-2

4. THE PARTIES ARE DIFFERENT

5. For Groups to Matter They must be large They must vote They Must be loyal

6. Race Race is more important than class African Americans form a political self- conscious group. And Identify with the Democratic Party

8. Unlike other nations, social class doesn’t dominate The Parties do not try to exploit social class We are all middle class

9. Social Class and Partisanship Republicans Do better with poor whites in the South Do better with Upper Middle Class voters Historically have done better with Middle Class voters Democrats Do better with poor and working class Do better with the very wealthiest Do better with Union Members

10. Women and Voting Women vote more than men The Gender Gap – Women vote more for Democratic Candidates – Ranges from 5-10 Points in Presidential elections – Issue ownership

11. Gender in 2008

12. Marital Status

13. Married vs. Single Women Married women vote more Republican Self-Identified Feminists are very Democratic

14. Where are the Votes?

15. Gender in 2010 The Gap is Down to 1%, the Republicans fare much better Romney needs something similar if he is to win. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvFzgb7wKlc

16. Religion Americans tend to be more religious than other Western nations. We belong to churches and go more than other nations

17. Jewish Voters The Exception to the Rule Share many Republican characteristics, but are Democratic More liberal than other groups, except on Israel policy Meet all 3 criteria in 2 states

18. The Religion Gap

19. The biggest differences lie in the beliefs of activists on both sides

20. WHAT ABOUT THIRD PARTIES?

21. What is it Any party other than the major 2 Can be a third, fourth etc.

22. How Do Third Parties Emerge New Parties come from – The Gap between the parties – On the fringe – From within the party Around an Emerging Issue

23. What Third Parties Want to Do Win electionsThreaten Existing Parties

24. Why They Lose The System is Geared against them It is easy to steal their issues They run political nobodies

25. "In no country of the world, has the principle of association been more successfully used or applied to a greater multitude of objects than in America“ Alexis de Tocqueville

26. The Interest Groups in the Constitution No specific mention Feared by the framers Lets pray that Madison is right

27. WHAT DO INTEREST GROUPS DO

28. All interest Groups Must: Share an interest Know the Interest Be Organized

29. Political Interest Groups Are private Non-Governmental Seek policy

30. What do they Do Link Members to Government Represent Members views Educate members and the publicpublic

31. WHY INTEREST GROUPS FORM

32. Constitutional Reasons Protected by the First Amendment The right to “peaceably assemble” Federalism

33. Diversity Our diverse society creates many differences which give rise to different interests and view on public issues – Issue Diversity – Ideological Diversity – Economic Diversity – Racial and Ethnic Diversity

34. Traditional Pluralist Theory Writings of David Truman (no relation to Harry) Groups will form naturally to press their views on government Even Unformed groups play a role

35. Disturbance Theory Groups will respond to other groups What will they do – Change the Status Quo – Return to the status quo – Go in a new Direction

36. THE LOGIC OF COLLECTIVE ACTION An Alternate theory of Group Formation

37. Collective Action The Writings of Mancur Olson Groups form if it is convenient Groups form for Benefits

38. Logistics of Group Formation Potential Membership – Big groups form more easily (fewer costs) – Small groups have to share less (more benefits) Geography (not as important today)

39. Direct Benefits Benefits that only members get Excludes Non-members Economic benefits are most lucrative

40. Collective benefits Benefits that the group works for.... Everyone gets No One is Denied

41. Groups that Provide Collective Benefits

42. Overcoming the Free-Rider Problem You have to offer people some incentive to join Appeal to our greed, or appeal to our ideology These are selective incentives

43. Selective Incentives Tangible Benefits Real benefits given to members by the group People outside of the group do not get the goodies The AARPAARP Ideological Benefits Moral incentives Appeals to one’s ideology Guilt-ing PeoplePeople

44. Groups that cannot offer any benefits will not be able to form

45. KINDS OF INTEREST GROUPS

46. Private Interest Groups Limit their Membership and their benefits Business Groups Labor Unions Labor

47. Public Interest Groups Concerned with that group’s perception of the general welfare of the population Anyone can join Everyone receives the benefits

48. Single Issue Groups Concerned with a single policy issue Ensures that members know what they do

49. Umbrella Groups Concerned with multiple issues within a larger policy area Potential for more resources Potential for in-fighting

50. Interest Groups Today Fragmentation Specialization Cannibalization – Greenpeace vs. Whale Wars Wars

51. COMPONENTS OF INTEREST GROUP POWER

52. Money and Size This is a recursive relationship There is a problem of being “too big”

53. Cohesion and Intensity Does the group stick together Are the members willing to fight for the interests of the group

54. Access The Number one goal of an interest group If no one hears your message, it is wasted