1. Political Parties and Interest Groups

2. Linkage Institutions
Political Parties
Interest Groups
(Mass Media)
All Promote United States Democracy by Linking Citizens to the Political Process

3. Political Parties

4. Definition of Purpose
Group of individuals who seek to control government by sponsoring candidates for public office
Elect People to Office
Gain control of Government

5. Political Parties Political Parties and the Constitution:
The issue of political parties is not addressed in the Constitution

6. Functions Nominators Policy Makers – “linkage institution”
Organizers of government machinery
Informers
“Approvers”
Watchdogs

7. Party Systems One party – authoritarian, dictatorship, “Solid South”
Two Party – US, historical, third parties have challenges
Multiparty – Some European nations, contributes to coalitions, often unstable due to no clear majority

8. Party Structure Membership Party in the electorate Party Structure
Party in Government

9. Party Structure Party Leader Party in the White House
Barack Obama is the leader of the Democratic Party
Republican leader?
Highest ranking Republican in Congress
Nominee for 2012
Chair of RNC

10. National Structure Control decision making Coattail Effect
National Chairperson
RNC: Michael Steele
DNC: Tim Kaine
National Committee
Handle convention, party affairs
Congressional Campaign Committee
Work to get party members elected to Congress
Control decision making
Coattail Effect
Who elects President if no candidate wins majority in Electoral College?
4 committees
National Convention
Purpose: write/adopt platform, nominate President and Vice-President

11. Other Characteristics
Federalism: Parties are DECENTRALIZED!
Separate and Largely Independent Party Organizations Exists at National, State and Local Levels
Intraparty rivalry is real
State and Local Parties: purpose is to get party members elected to state and local positions in government

12. Moderation Attract as many voters as possible
Nominate a “moderate” candidate
Presidential Elections have become more focused on individual candidates
Platforms historically are not distinctly different
Since early 1980s, Republican Party platform has been increasingly influenced by Evangelical Christians
Democratic Party platform becoming increasingly influenced by minority groups (2012 Election- Hispanic Groups, Women)

13. Are political parties becoming extinct?
Increase in the number of independents
Split ticket voting is increasing
Rising use of technology
Media and independent expenditures
Interest groups influence has increased

14. Persistence of Political Parties
Electoral College: Single-Member District Electoral System
Domination of the Legislature by Two Political Parties
Funding is still high
Party unity score is high
Partisanship still the best indicator of how someone will vote

15. Third Parties (Minor Parties)
Challenges
Rep and Dem control the process therefore the minor parties are left out
“Wasted Vote” in the Mind of the Voter
Excluded from the Political Process
Public Funding
Debates
Electoral College
Influence
Force issues
Ross Perot and budget deficit in 1990s

16. Third Parties (Minor Parties)
Candidate
Election year
Party
Popular vote
Electoral vote
Fillmore
1856
Know Nothings
22% 8
Breckinridge
1860
Secessionist
18% 72
T. Roosevelt
1912
Bull Moose
27% 88
LaFolette
1924
Progressive
17% 13
Wallace
1968
American Independent
14% 46
Perot
1992
United We Stand
19%

17. Types of Third Parties Bolter or Splinter Doctrinal (Ideological)
Economic Protest
Single Issue

18. Third Parties: Splinter Parties
Separates from major party
Progressive Party in 1912 (R)
American Independent in 1968 (D)

19. Third Parties: Ideological
Reject prevailing attitudes/beliefs
favor a more active government
Socialist Party

20. Third Parties: Economic Protest
Creation based on economic crisis or policy
Greenback Party

21. Third Parties: Single Issue
Formed to promote ONE issue
Right to Life Party (pro- life)
Prohibition Party

22. Minor Parties
Q: What tends to happen to single issue parties? A: Issues may get picked up and their reason for existence is eliminated Q: Which type of minor party has been the most successful in winning votes? A: Splinter Q: Which type of minor party has been the longest lived? A: Ideological

23. Failure of Alternative Parties
No viable national campaign
Limited fundraising
Institutional obstacles
Single member voting district
Winner take all system in electoral college

24. What about the Tea Party Movement?
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25. Realigning Elections
Critical Elections are Most Associated with Party Realignment
When groups of voters have changed their traditional patters of party loyalties

26. Dealignment: Movement in Which Voters Abandon Both Parties
Factors: less and less identifying with the major parties (1/3 independent)
Effects on Campaigns
Moderate stance
Target independent or swing voters
Focus on issues that will differentiate party
As elections become more candidate-centered, political parties become less important.
No one party dominates. The country is evenly divided.
Voters are more cynical about politics.
Citizens increasingly engage in split-ticket voting

27. Interest Groups

28. Definition
Groups of individuals or businesses who have a common goal of making the political system change policy which in turn benefits members.
Focus? Affect public policy

29. Types of Interest Groups
Economic - NAM
Business - Farm Bureau
Increased in number most substantially since the mid-1970’s
Ideological - Christian Coalition
Public Interest - Public Citizen Inc.
Foreign Policy - Pro-Israel Groups
Government - National Governor’s Assn.
Professional - ABA, AMA, NEA, etc.
Use caution, names can be deceiving

30. Functions of Interest Groups
Stimulate interest
Represent members
Means of participation
Provide data
Collective action or grass roots efforts
Checks and balances; “watchdogs”
Coalition Building- Interest Groups can Join Together to Increase Influence

31. How do Interest Groups Provide Data to Government?
Lobbying
Publicity
Litigation (class action lawsuits, amicus curaie briefs with Supreme Court)
Sway Regulations
Electioneering

32. What is lobbying?
The communicating of ideas or beliefs about government to a government policy maker. Objective is to influence public policy.
Qualifications?
Common backgrounds? Former elected officials, lawyers, PR, journalists
Job responsibilities? Paperwork, testify, grassroots efforts, media, endorsements, providing legislators with information on technical issues (the most significant!)

33. What are the Criticisms of Interest Groups?
“Special Interests”
Too much influence in relation to size
How many are actually represented?
Don’t represent the views of those that they claim
Corruption
Pluralist system violates the majority
Poor aren’t represented

34. What is the Role of the PAC?
Political Action Committee
Political arm of an association- campaign contributions to gain access to legislators
Effects? $$$$$$ (incumbents?)
Regulated by the FEC
Federal Election Commission

35. What is a Sub-Government or Iron Triangle?

36. Differences Between Political Parties and Interest Groups
Election
Policy Generalist- Represent a Broad Array of Issues
Issue
Do Not Nominate
Policy Specialist- More Likely to Focus on Narrow Set of Issues