UNIT THREE

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- 1854 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. Election Campaigns Chapter 10Section 2

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 10Section 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 • 1976- 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

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