1. PARTIES, INTEREST GROUPS AND PUBLIC POLICY
PEOPLE IN ACTION
PARTIES, INTEREST GROUPS AND PUBLIC POLICY

2. CAMPAIGN ADS: FACT OR FICTION?
Paid for by:
National Republican Senatorial Committee
Not everything that you read or see when it comes to politics is coming directly from the source. Be aware and pay attention 

3. POLITICAL PARTIES Washington’s Farewell Address of 1796
Warns against political parties and the fact that they will divide America
Jefferson and Adams agree
They start the first two political parties in our history

4. GOAL AND FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES
MAIN GOAL - Get candidates elected
FUNCTIONS:
Recruit candidates and support campaigns at all levels
Organize elections and inform voters to register and then monitor votes
Organize the government
Unite diverse interests and make collective action possible
Serve as loyal opposition to the party in power

5. ORGANIZATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES
LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ORGANIZATION
Managed by a committee at each level
National Committee
Delegates from each state
National Chairperson – runs day-to-day operations
State
Also has a committee with a chairperson
County committees
Some have committees at even lower levels, ex. City or Precinct
CITIZENS GET INVOLVED THROUGH:
Voter Registration
Donate $
Attend rallies or meetings
Volunteer for campaigns

6. HOW DID POLITICAL PARTIES DEVELOP?
The two-party system was beginning to develop by the 1800s
1st parties:
ALEXANDER HAMILTON: FEDERALISTS
Strong national government, commercial and industrial interests in the North
THOMAS JEFFERSON: DEMOCRATIC - REPUBLICANS
Weaker national government, farmers and rural interests
Democratic-republicans dominated until a new party the NATIONAL-REPUBLICANS/WHIG PARTY
Remaining Demo-Rep. became known as DEMOCRATS
1850 – slavery divided the Whigs and some anti-slavery activists formed the REPUBLICAN PARTY in 1854

7. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TODAY
REPUBLICAN Stereotype
more likely white, conservative, male and affluent
DEMOCRATS: Stereotype
more likely part of a minority, female, liberal & less affluent
DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
SIZE OF NATIONAL GOV.
Large with many policies
Limited with more state control
TAXES
Tax cuts for the poor and raise taxes for the rich
Broad tax cuts to increase the economy
REGULATION OF BUSINESS
Support gov. regulation of business
Opposed
SOCIAL ISSUES
Support abortion and gun control but no prayer in school
Want prayer in school but no abortion or gun control
MINIMUM WAGE
Regular increases
Unnecessary

10. POLITICAL INTEREST GROUPS aka “PIGS”
GROUPS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS THAT ARE SEEKING INFLUENCE IN GOVERNMENT

11. START OF PIGS FEDERALIST PAPER #10 PLURALISM=answer Today… GOAL:
Madison wrote of factions posing a threat to government if left unchecked
They are inevitable and good, but…how?
PLURALISM=answer
Power should be distributed and shared among groups in society
COMPETITION + CHECKS AND BALANCES = 1 group not gaining too much power
Today…
Allow people to participate in government
Speak on issues
Monitor government in action
Keep people informed about government
GOAL:
Get a candidate to support their interest

12. TYPES OF PIGS ECONOMIC INTEREST GROUPS: CITIZEN INTEREST GROUPS:
Business groups, trade organizations, professional associations and labor unions
Ex. – UAW
CITIZEN INTEREST GROUPS:
Promote public interest, may be motivated by a political ideology
Ex. – ACLU
GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST GROUP:
Could be at every level of government
Ex. - NEA

13. SO WHAT ELSE… Why Join? Organization Funding Information and benefits
Agree w/the groups goals
Want to be part of the community
Organization
Elected board of directors or trustees who set up policy and decide how resources will be used
Both national and state chapters
Funding
Dues, member fees, fundraising campaigns, government grants and foundations

14. POLITCAL ACTION COMMITTEES (PACS)
Interest groups influence government by contributing $ to political parties and candidates during elections
WHAT ARE PACS?
Private groups sponsored by corporations, trade associations or unions
Collect donations and give $ to campaigns
Could work for individual PIGS
Gives them a lot of influence in elections

15. INTEREST GROUPS AND POLICY
INTEREST GROUPS AND POLICY
LOBBYING
Attempt to influence government by persuading public officials to favor or oppose action on a specific issue
RESEARCH AND POLICY PROPOSALS
PIGS carry out research and write policy proposals sometimes working with “THINK TANKS.”
LITIGATION
Filing a lawsuit to influence policy
GRASS-ROOTS MOBILIZATION
Rallying strong and vocal support from a large group of people at the local level
Could be OWS – eventually!

16. WHAT MAKES A PIG POWERFUL?
SIZE AND $
Large membership w/lots of $ can produce media ads and gain support
UNITY OF PURPOSE
Commitment from members
EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP
Good leaders can explain a message and gain support
INFORMATION AND EXPERTISE
Know how to gather information and deliver to decision makers

17. MAKING PUBLIC POLICY
WHAT IS PUBLIC POLICY? Government actions or programs designed to achieve certain goals
STEPS TO PUBLIC POLICY:
ISSUE IDENTIFICATION : Budget, Defense, etc.
AGENDA SETTING
Which issues deserve priority at a specific time.
Set a PUBLIC AGENDA
Political parties and interest groups take part in setting the agenda
POLICY FORMULATION
Can take place in any branch of government or at the local/state level
Can ask experts to offer opinions or invite PIGS to help
POLICY ADOPTION
Going through the political process can result in many revisions
Could make changes to gain support or avoid legal issues
IMPLEMENTATION
Assigned to a specific government agency and it is up to them to make it work.
EVALUATION
Government officials and PIGS determine if goals are met
If not, the policy making process begins again

18. TO REVIEW…OR IN ADDITION TO!
An IDEOLOGY is a body of ideas put forth by a person or group.
A PLATFORM is a statement that puts forth a party’s position on the issues.

19. 3RD PARTIES GOAL: Not to get elected but to influence policy on one or more issues!