Political Parties & Elections

1. Political Parties & Elections

2. Function • Connect citizens to their government • Linkage institution • Political Efficacy – citizens can make sense of government decisions and processes; feel that government listens to them • Running candidates for political office • Need party organization to fund and coordinate campaign • Inform the public • Convey image to voters • Organize the government • Coordinate government policy making

3. Why the 2 party’s? • Consensus of values • Broad consensus in basic political values-liberty, equality, individualism • Historical influence • Began with 2 • Winner-take-all system • Pluralist – who ever wins the most in each voting district is winner; no proportional representation. Only needs 1 more than the competitor

4. Organization of Party • Grassroots – state and local control over decisions; provide foot soldiers for campaigns; 2004-2008 huge get out vote drives=higher voter turnouts • National Committee (Organize conventions); but national candidates run own campaigns!

5. Both Parties have a… • National Committee • National Chairman • National Convention • Congressional Campaign committee for incumbents and challengers • Broad ideological base – need to appeal to a large number of voters

6. History of Parties • Characterized by long periods of dominance by one party followed by a long period dominated by the other • Begins/ends with shifts in voting population = realignments

7. Federalists v. Anti-federalists(Democratic Republicans) • Ratification of Constitution; Bank, business, farmers • Era of good feelings seems to merge both party’s • Jacksonian Democracy • Whigs – interests of old federalists • Democrats – Jackson • Civil War Era • Whigs split over slavery = Republicans • Ends dominance of Democrats = REALIGNMENT

8. Republican Era 1861-1933 • Industrial Revolution • Laissez faire • Election 0f 32-33 REALIGNMENT • Democratic Era 1933-1969 • Increase Government activity/involvement

9. Divided Government 1969-2008 • Control of Executive and Legislative branches is split • Gridlock – no ability to make decisions, different policies advocated • Republicans Presidents 1969-1993 • Nixon, Ford, Reagan, & Bush • Use media and well organized committees, $$$$ • Democrats • Look to grass roots, become disorganized • 1969 – McGovern-Fraser Commission • More representation needed for minorities

10. Divided Government • 5 periods of divided government in past 9 congressional elections • 1994 Clinton • 1996 Clinton • 1998 Clinton • 2000 Bush • 2006 Bush

11. Minor Parties • 2 categories • Dominated by individual personality • T Roosevelt - Bull Moose • George Wallace – American Independent Party 1968/1972 • Organized around long lasting goal or ideology • Abolitionists • Prohibitionists • Socialists

12. Successful 3rd Parties • Populists • William Jennings Bryan • Ross Perot 1992 • Received 19% of vote

13. Influence of a 3rd Party • Platforms are adopted by major parties • Affect election outcomes (1912, 2000

14. Party Power • Dealignment - party identification has weakened among voters – independents • Straight Ticket – utilized less • Ticket Splitting – voting for candidates from both parties for various positions

15. Reforms • Primary Elections – power given to rank and file members, not party leaders • Civil Service Exam • Direct election of Senators • Voting for Women • Use of electronic media, professional consultants, direct mail recruitment of voter support weaken party influence

16. Election of 2008 • Increase in voting by young, black and Hispanic people • Vote for Obama

17. Elections and Campaigns • Foundation of democracy • Voting on 500,000 public offices • Function of Elections • Choose political leaders • Political participation • Elected officials are accountable for actions • Legitimize positions of power

18. Role of Parties • Not as important anymore • Candidates run, raise $$, personally appeal to people • Winner take all system • No proportional allocation • Need plurality – largest # of votes • America’s elections are single-member districts – in any district the election determines one representative or office • Parties try to assemble a large coalition of voters to gain a plurality

19. Primaries and General Elections • Primaries – select party candidate for office • Closed - voter declares in advance his/her party; can only vote in party primary • Open – decide on voting day which party’s primary to participate in • Blanket - Vote for candidate from any party • Caucus – IOWA • Local party members vote for candidate; send decision to regional caucuses, vote, send decision to state caucus and make final decision

20. General Election • 1 candidate from each party campaign against each other • All registered voters can vote, no matter party affiliation • Lower voter turn out in non-presidential years

21. Congressional v. Presidential Campaigns

22. Road to Presidency • Deciding to Announce – political and financial support • Presidential Primaries (choosing delegates to go to convention) • Iowa • New Hampshire • Frontloading – early primaries more important than later primaries

23. The Conventions • Held in summer • Create party platform • Formally announce Party candidate for President • Campaigning and General Election • Two candidates face each other • Presidential debates

24. Campaign and Election Reform • Campaign Spending • 1976 Amendments • Create Federal Election Commission • No cash donations over $100 • No foreign donations • Limit individual contributions • Corporations can establish PACs; limited contributions • Federal matching funds • Buckley v. Valeo • Cannot limit personal $$ for personal campaign

25. Soft Money criticized -funds not specified for candidates campaigns, but for “party building” activities - $$ gets to campaigns anyway thus……. • Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, 2002 • Banned soft $$ to national parties • Curb use of campaign ads by outside interest groups

26. Honest leadership and Open Government Act 2007 • Increase public disclosure regarding lobbying and campaign funding • Must name lobbyists that “Bundle” contributions • Combining of individual campaign funds organized by a lobbyist for the benefit of a national candidate • Bundling gains undue influence over candidate once elected

27. Problems in 2000 Election • Florida • Problems with recounts • Spotlight on local control of voting process • “Intent to vote” is interpreted differently in each county/precinct

28. 527s in 2004 • Tax code makes the tax exempt • Wealthy donors benefit • America Coming Together • Swift Boat Veterans

29. 2004-2008 Changes in Elections • Help America Vote Act • $$ for updating voting equipment • New Voting Procedures • Early voting • Same day registration • Absentee balloting

30. Critical Realigning Elections • Significant change in the way large groups votes; shift support from 1party to another; issue changes • 1860 • Whigs collapse over slavery • 1896 • Economics; farmers v. eastern laborers • 1932 • Economic issues – farmers, urban workers, northern blacks, southern whites& Jewish voters support democrats

31. Interest Groups • Group of people who enter political process to achieve shared goals • Exist outside structure of government

32. Parties v. Interest groups • Parties – influence through electoral process, run candidates • Interest groups support candidates but do not run one of their own • Parties – broad spectrum of policies; Interest groups support 1 or a few related policies

33. PACS & 527s • PACS –Political Arm of interest groups • Raise $$ • Contribute to candidates • 527s • Influence nomination, election, appointment, or defeat of a candidate • Not regulated by FEC

34. Theories of Interest Groups Politics • Elitist Theory • A few interest groups have power – corporate interests • Pluralist Theory • Interest groups benefit US • Linkage • One group is not all powerful • Those weak in one source are strong in another • Hyperpluralist • Too many groups • Political chaos

35. Growth of Interest Groups • Types • Broad based – National Association of Manufacurers • Specific – American Crick growers • Economic

36. Types of memberships • Institutional • Business or corporation • Universities • City Governemntents • Individual Interests • Afl-CIO • NAACP • NOW

37. Types of Interest Groups • Economic • Profits, prices, higher wages • Labor Unions – Union Shop (new employees must join union) • Agricultural Groups • Business Groups • Professional Groups – various occupations • Consumer and Public Interest • Public Interest Groups (PIRGS) • League of Women voters • Environmental groups – Sierra Club w can my one, little vote

38. Equality and Justice Interests, little vote • NAACP • NOW

39. How they work • Lobbying – influence government policies • Contact, meetings, lunches, committee hearings • Electioneering • Get and keep people in office • Use of PACs • Litigation (lawsuits) • Amicus curiae briefs • Class action suits • Appealing to public – ad campaigns

40. Rating Games • Rating members of Congress in terms of amount of support they give to legislation that is favorable to interest group

41. Where does the $$ come from? • Foundation grants • Funds from wealthy families/corporations for philanthropy • Federal Grants • Given to support projects the interest group supports • Direct Solicitation • Direct mail for $$ • How can my one, little vote make a difference?

42. Effective interest groups • Size • Smaller is better • Free rider – so many members = few doing work all getting benefits • Intensity • Single issue is most intense • Financial Resources • Successful fundraising

43. Revolving door • Government officials quit political jobs to work as lobbyists or consultants for special interests • Lobbying Disclosure Act 1995 • Try to limit revolving door • Must disclose lobbying activities intended to influence government • Fines and prison for violations

44. Review questions!