1. POLI 102: October 19, 2016
Lecture #7: Parties

2. What is a Political Party?
What is a party?
And are they good for democracy?

3. Common Sense Thomas Paine on American Unity
“Let the names of Whig and Tory be extinct; and let none other be heard among us, than those of a good citizen, an open and resolute friend, and a virtuous supporter of the RIGHTS of MANKIND and of the FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES OF AMERICA.”

4. Perpetual Union
Problem: The limits on the central government have made it weak.
Could not enforce requests for funding
Had no draft powers, could not compel states to comply w/requests for troops.
Often was unable to pay soldiers, much less fulfill promise of life pensions to them.

5. Perpetual Union
Recognition of these problems led to the first major political factionalization of the newly independent United States
Federalists: want fundamental reform of the structure of gov’t, creating a far stronger central government
Anti-federalists: believe that this would infringe on freedoms of the states, and thus of the individuals that they represent.

6. Perpetual Union
For the first time, the question becomes pressing, “What is the United States of America?”
Questions that are still relevant today become important: the size and scope of the government, the size of the military, taxation, federalism aka “state’s rights”, limits on government

7. A Revolution Divided Points of conflict What is America?
One people or many?
Both agree that ultimate source of political authority lies in the people, but is that authority expressed in their laws or in their voices?

8. A Revolution Divided Points of conflict
What should be the nature and the power of American political institutions?
Where should political power be located?
How strong should the Union be?

9. Federalist and Anti-Federalist
Basic points of disagreement:
Are people fundamentally good or fundamentally bad?
What makes them good or bad?
Which is the greater and more immediate threat, anarchy or despotism?
Is the United States one people or many?

10. Federalist and Anti-Federalist
Basic points of agreement
Our opponents are blinded by interest and passion
Fed #1: Opponents blinded by “perverted ambition”, “passions and prejudices little favorable to the discovery of truth”
AF #1: “the deceptive mists cast before the eyes of the people by the delusive machinations of its INTERESTED advocates begins to dissipate”

11. The Federalists People are fundamentally bad
Anarchy is the most pressing threat
The United States is a single nation of people

12. The Anti-Federalists People are fundamentally good
The most pressing danger is despotism
The United States is a union of sovereign republics

13. Political Parties
A group of officials or would-be officials who are linked to a sizable group of citizens in an organization designed to ensure that its officials gain or retain power.
FUNCTIONS: “linking & leading” 13

14. Why Parties?
Parties are groups of individuals who agree to work together for common goals, or to help one another achieve ones own goals
Create workable majority
Unite and organize
“I’ll scratch my back if you scratch mine”
Provide “brand” benefits
Give voters a shortcut for voting
Enforce brand norms
Provide ready-made advice, support, and money.

15. The Party Brand
Brands identify groups and those groups work to maintain the value of that brand.
If you are traveling on the highway, the food choices are going to be dominated by brands
Why?
Parties are often the people who work the hardest to expel out of line members.

16. Michel’s “Iron Law of Oligarchy”
Robert Michels argues that political parties will always betray their original purpose.
Why?

17. Michel’s “Iron Law of Oligarchy”
Robert Michels argues that political parties will always betray their original purpose.
Why?
The fact of leadership and a party hierarchy creates a group with a distinct set of values.
The leaders deal with the enemy daily.
The leaders tend to be successful people and benefit from the status quo
Desire to grow the party, which benefits the leadership, so they compromise core beliefs.
Compare with other organizations, like MADD, for example.

18. Party Identification in the USA

19. Party Identification in the USA

20. 2012 Election

21. 2008 Election

22. 2004 Election

23. 2000 Election

24. 1988 Election

25. American Two-Party System
There are two main political parties in the United States, the Democrats and the Republicans
Relative power in the US and California
For what do they advocate?

26. Republican Party How would their friends describe them?
How would their enemies describe them?

27. Republican Party How would their friends describe them?
How would their enemies describe them?
Low taxes
Strong national defense
Traditional religion and family life

28. Democratic Party How would their friends describe them?
How would their enemies describe them?

29. Democratic Party How would their friends describe them?
How would their enemies describe them?
Protect safety net
Liberal internationalism
More open to nontraditional religions and families

30. History of American Party System
Federalist era
Democratic-Republicans
Emergence of the Republican Party
The long dominance of the Republicans
Democrats and the Solid South
The New Deal Era
Lyndon Johnson and Civil Rights
21st-Century America

31. Interest Groups
An interest group is an organized group of citizens, whose central political goal is to ensure that the state follows certain policies.
They often work with political parties, but they are not themselves parties.
For example, Disney and intellectual property rights.

32. Interest Groups
Interest groups seek to influence debate and policy through:
Lobbying
Means speaking with and spending time with politicians to try to convince them of their side of an argument.
Expertise
Many legislators know very little about the legislation they are asked to vote on. Interest groups often provide expertise on specific areas that legislators listen to.
Model legislation
Providing ready made bills for legislators on preferred topics makes the job of the legislator easier – ALEC – “John Oliver on ALEC and state legislators”
Politician ratings
Provides information to voters about how well or poorly a politician’s voting record matches the interest group’s preferred policy.
Money
Campaign cash is useful for politicians, but they can also boycott things.
Votes
Well-organized, popular interest groups can influence the votes of their members. Politicians realize this. Mass information campaigns, door-knocking, endorsements. The “Harry and Louise” ads from early 90s.
Litigation
Interest groups are able to hire lawyers to challenge laws in court. For example, NAACP and ACLU

33. Types of Interest Groups
Sectoral Groups
Maybe a corporation or a union that is trying to influence policy decisions having to do with their industry.
Usually fairly effective, well-organized. Having money and expertise and concentration.
Ex: Disney and intellectual property
Institutional Groups
Maybe a university or the army or another institution that would exist without an interest in politics, but benefit from Gov’t budgets
Promotional Groups
Organized around a point of view. Some are effective, others are not. More difficult to organize well. Often operate like “third parties,” whereby people who are passionate about one issue can express influence and care on that issue.

34. Examples of Interest Groups
National Organization for Women
Sierra Club
National Association of Wheat Growers
Consumer Action
National Retail Federation
American Civil Liberties Union
National Rifle Association
American Association for the Advancement of Science

35. Why do small interests often win?
Free rider problem
When there are many “winners” from a policy, no one wants to be the one who has to face the expense of actually seeing it passed.
Concentrated benefits, diffuse costs
NRA
Sugar lobbies

36. Interest Groups & Parties
Both parties in the United States are supported by interest groups.
Opensecrets.org – lists donors and contributors for politicians
Compare Clinton and Trump’s contributors and money spent

37. Interest Groups Definition: “workhorses of political advocacy”
alternate vehicle for representation
Barriers to effectiveness:
poor organization
priority voices (“disproportionate voices”)
interest distortion
Variation: (a) degree of organization
(b) degree of direct involvement in government 37

38. Collective Action Logic of Collective Action
collective goods vs. costs
factors that could draw membership to interest groups
size
selective incentives
coercion
relative muscle

39. Mechanics
Two variations of relationship between government and interest groups
PLURALISM
*competitive political environment
*level playing field for competing interest groups
NEO-CORPORATISM
*government solicits and institutionalizes
some voices, some interest groups
*preferential treatment

40. Social Movements
In some ways, I think social movements are simply another example of interest groups.
More “grassroots”
Less organized
Wider

41. Social Movements
Why do people protest and march?

42. Social Movements Why do people protest and march? Bring awareness
Show voice through action
Demonstrate numbers
Change “climate”
Often use shame as a weapon
Often the only route for those who are excluded.

43. Social Movements Temperance movement Civil rights movement Arab Spring
Tea Party
Occupy Wall Street

44. March on Washington

45. Civil Disobedience as Protest
We now come back around to realize that much of “politics” happens outside the rules.
How do we know when such politics is legitimate?
Only citizens can vote, but is it true that only citizens can be a part of politics?

46. Social Movements and Politicians
Social movements and interest groups often work outside of “official” avenues, but are necessary for politicians to act. Why?
Is this how we want our politicians to act?
What do you think makes a good politician?
Delegate?
Trustee?