Chapter 5 Political Parties, Elections And Interest Groups Zimmerman

Political Parties Are Necessary “Democratic government cannot exist without political parties and pressure groups, because both play important roles in the governance system.” [p. 53, ¶ 2] “The function of a political party and an interest group may appear to be similar, but ther is one important difference. The party recruits and works to elect candidates in order to control the state government and institute the party’s policies.” [p. 54, ¶ 1]

Functions of a Political Party (1) Recruitment of candidates for election. (2) Development of a campaign platform. (3) Conduct election campaigns by informing voters of the issues and urging their participation at the polls. (4) Provision of assistance to citizens seeking governmental services and information. (5) In the case of the minority party, criticism of the policies of the administration and the efficacy of its service provisions.

Characterizations of Parties Democrats – “as quarrelsome a group as one can find in American politics, though they had an era of relative unity during the ‘Golden Age of Smith, Roosevelt, and Lehman.” [p. 57, ¶ 4] Regarding divisions – “a younger set of leftists oriented zealots who take a cataclysmic view of politics – you must say ‘yes’ to their 10-question set or you don’t get a passing grade. Some of the more seasoned reformers tend to be more flexible, and discover the regulars… are not all standpatters, thieves, and rogues, and that there are ways to work with them.” [Ibid, ¶ 5]

The Parties and Regional Conflict “The stronghold of the (Democratic) party has been New York City…. ‘It was the city man against the farmer a hundred years ago, the immigrant against the third- generation American, the Irish against the Britisher who populated upstate New York.’” [p. 57, ¶ 57, ¶ 6] African-Americans, following Southern political tradition embraced the Democrats once reaching the North.

The Republicans “… the Republican Party, in the period 1909 to 1929, was controlled by a group ‘who believed sincerely that what was good for big business was good for the people of the state.” [p. 58, ¶ 2] “The Republican Party historically has found its strength in the rural upstate areas, towns, and the small and medium- sized cities.” [Ibid, ¶ 3]

The Challenge Primary “The Election Law was amended in 1967 to permit a challenge primary for statewide office. The state central committee of a political party selects candidates by a majority vote, but any candidate receiving 25 percent of the committee votes may enter the primary and challenge the committee’s designee.” [ p. 67, ¶ 1]

Public Employee Unions “The political strength of public-employee unions was increased greatly by a 1977 law authorizing a union representing state employees to request the withholding of an agency shop fee from the paychecks of nonunion members of the bargaining units.” [p. 77, ¶ 3] Employees can demand a reimbursement for a portion of the fees deducted.

Lobbying The Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1977 limits contributions to $1000. Public corporations expending more than $1000 in lobbying must file quarterly reports. There are 3,842 lobbyists – 18 for every one legislator. U.S. Supreme Court rules January 22, 2010 that corporations have free speech like citizens. This decision may overturn the above law.