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 or 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
Precinct Captains
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 captain (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
County Committees
largest political units of a state (more than 3,000 in the U.S.)
County committees give information to the state committees about political sentiment throughout the county

10. 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

11. Role of Political Parties Today
Primary Elections
Political parties select and offer candidates for public office; done through the 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)

12. 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 amongst 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Chapter 10 Section 2
Election Campaigns

16. Types of Elections General Elections
1st elections- primary elections in the spring between members of the same party
Winner from each party goes to the general election in November
House and Senate elections every two years (1/3 seat basis)
Presidential elections every 4 years
State and local elections occur every four years
In all elections except the presidential race, the winner is determined by the majority vote
Loser can demand recount (2000)
Presidential race determined by the electoral college, if neither candidate wins a majority of electoral votes the House elects president (1800 and 1824)
Election of 1824

17. Types of Elections Voting on Issues
Initiatives, citizens propose new laws or amendments
Referendums , approved by legislators first, elections where citizens can approve or reject state and local laws
Proposition- put on ballot through petition
Special Elections
Runoffs- top 2 candidates from a race face off in a new election determine winner
Some states also have a recall, citizens can vote to remove an elected official from office

18. Presidential Elections
Three steps: (1) nomination of candidates, (2) the campaign, (3) the vote
Nomination
Begins a year or more before election
In the past convention was important, behind the scenes affair, now nomination is wrapped up before convention
Convention now used to rally party members for election

19. Presidential Elections
The Campaign
Usually start in September, after conventions
Candidates travel across country giving speeches, TV ads, debates
The Vote and the Electoral College
Popular vote really to choose slate of electors (pledged to a candidate)
Winner of states popular vote, wins electoral vote
Takes 270 electoral votes to win nomination

20. Presidential Elections
Electoral College set up when Constitution was written
Founding Fathers saw this as a way to protect Americans from “mob rule”
Critics say it gives large states too much power
Proportional system would be more fair
Winner-take-all system, candidate can loose popular vote but win electoral vote
Keeps third party candidates from winning

21. Paying for Election Campaigns
Chapter 10 Section 3

22. Running for Office
Purpose of campaigns to convince the public to vote for a particular candidate
Local campaigns have only a few workers
National campaigns have thousands of workers, paying these workers is the job of the candidate
They all need money to operate
Campaigns have several ways they meet these goals

23. Running for Office Canvassing
Going door to door (locally) to conducting polls (nationally) to gain exposure for candidate and find out how candidate is doing
Endorsements
Celebrities give candidates an endorsements
Endorsements are a version of propaganda (attempt to promote a particular person or idea)

24. Running for Office Advertising and Image Molding
Spend the majority of money in advertising
Allow party to present candidate’s position or point of view
Allows a candidate to attack an opponent without offering an opportunity to respond
Campaign Expenses
Campaign costs- money for advertising, transportation, salaries of campaign staff members, fees to professional campaign consultants
Elections for Congress generally run at about $1.5 million in expenses
Presidential race costs over $300 million

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. Financing a Campaign Campaign Reform
2002- Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
Prohibits national political parties, federal officeholders, and federal candidates from raising soft money
Prohibits corporations, union, and interest groups from running ads aimed at a candidate within 60 days of a general election
Says candidates may only collect up to $2,000 per donor in each election

30. Financing a Campaign Critics said this limited free speech
Kept incumbents in power
Supreme Court (2003) said act was constitutional
It was in the public interest to limit funding
New emphasis on small contributions on the internet

31. Influencing Government
Chapter 11
Influencing Government

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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
Candidates and Elections- 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

38. 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. national security

39. 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