Political Influences

1. Political Influences • Political Parties • Interest Groups • The Media

2. Political Parties • Role of parties: • Party in the electorate – people who associate themselves with one of the two major parties • Party in government – appointed, elected officials at all levels of the government • Party in organization – maintain strength of the party between elections, raise money and organize the conventions

3. Party Systems • One party system • Membership might not be voluntary • By law – dictatorships; by circumstance – Solid South • Two party system • Minor parties with little effect • General consensus on principles and values • Single member district promotes • Win the largest number of voters • Multiparty system • 4 to 20 different parties • Instability possible due to the rise of coalitions and compromise • Proportional representation • Meaningful choices

4. What do parties do? • Recruit candidates - • Who is interested in running – especially if the incumbent is not running (find the best) • Nominate and support candidates for office • Raise money and run the campaign • Educate the electorate • Information, and encourage voters to be involved • Organize the government • Majority v. minority party, political appointments

5. Party Identification and membership • Voluntary • More and more as INDEPENDENTS (not a third party – dealignment) • Why? • Ideology • Education • Income • Occupation • Race • Gender • Religion • Family tradition • Region of the country • Marital status

6. Why two parties in the US? • Historical roots • Federalist v, Anti Federalist • British Roots • Electoral system • Single member districts – one winner per office (not proportional) • Election laws • How to get on the ballot – difficult for third party candidates

7. Party Development in the US • 1789-1800 • Hamilton (strong national government) v. Jefferson (states’ rights) • 1800-1860 – Democratic domination • Democratic Republicans until 1824, then a split with Andrew Jackson • Democrats – party of the common man • 1860-1932 • Republican Domination – Grand Old Party (GOP) • 1932-1968 • Return of the Democrats – economic issues – New Deal Coalition formed (Blacks, City dwellers, blue collar, Catholics, Jews, and women) • 1968-present – Divided Government • Gridlock could take place?

8. Divided Government • Electoral Dealignment - • People not registering with a party • Independents • Electoral Realignment – • New coalitions formed • 1860 and 1932 examples • 1980 might be (Reagan)

9. Types of Third parties • Ideological • Particular set of social, political or economic beliefs • Communists, Socialists, Libertarians • Splinter/Personality/Factional • Split away from major party • Strom Thurmond’s States’ Rights; T. Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Progressive • Single Issue • Single public matter • Free Soil, Right to Life and Prohibition • Protest • Economic problems • Greenback and Populist party

10. Structure of parties • National Convention • Select nominee for president and vice president, more of a rubber stamp today due to primaries and caucuses “frontloading” • National Committee • Works between • National Chairperson • Congressional Campaign Committee • State and Local Organization • State law regulates • Better organized and better funded today • No patronage • Dependent on national party due to soft money being filtered to them • Remember – very decentralized, no chain of command

11. The future for parties? • Third party challengers? • Spoiler role- take votes away • Loss of support by party loyalists? • More independents • Increase in split ticket voting • Lack of perceived differences between the parties • Are they different? • Party reforms • Greater diversity and openness – conflict within the party • Methods of campaigning • More independent for candidates - no reliance on parties – direct contact with the voters

12. Interest Groups • Federalist 10 – Madison warned against “factions” but stated that the separation of powers would moderate their effect

13. Functions of Interest Groups • Raise awareness of public affairs • Stimulate interest in public affairs • “linkage” between government and their membership • Information to the government – data and testimony • Political participation

14. Types of Interest Groups: • Economics • Most interest groups • Labor – AFL-CIO and Teamsters • Business – Chamber of Commerce, NAM • Professional groups – AMA, NEA, ABA • Agricultural Groups – Grange and National Farmers Union • Groups that promote causes • Specific causes: ACLU and NRA • Welfare of groups: AARP, NAACP, VFW • Religion based: National Council of Churches • Public Interest Groups • Common Cause, League of Women Voters, MADD

15. Strategies of Interest Groups • Influencing Elections • PACs – contribute money • Lobbying • Information, data to officials • Direct – personal contacts • Grassroots – members send messages • Coalition lobbying – common goals join together • Litigation • Amicus Curaie briefs filed • Going Public • Attention to an issue – gain support through mass mailings

16. Legalities • PACs – developed in the 1970s – case of Buckley deals with 1st amendment and right to spend money • Regulation • 1946 - first attempt – register • 1995: lobbying disclosure act – who is being “lobbied?”

17. Trends in News Coverage The role of the media

18. Television • News coverage has been reduced to “Sound bites” of 30-45 seconds • 24 hours a day coverage • “Real time” coverage • Ideological agendas with the news – CNN Crossfire, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Glenn Beck Program, The O’Reilly Factor • News from Late Night shows – Daily Show

19. Consequences • Superficial coverage – no in depth coverage • Credibility of reporters due to “liberal” or “conservative” bias • “Fake news” that becomes “Real news” • More choices available to the American public

20. Talk Radio • 9/10 Americans listen to radio, especially in the cars • Radio personalities: Howard Stern, Al Franken • NPR as legitimate news radio

21. Newspapers • 33% of Americans read the newspaper on a daily basis • Rise of National Papers – Wall St. Journal, USA Today, Washington Post • Intense advertising competition • 60% of cities have competing newspapers

22. Internet • Major source of news and information • 37% of Americans receive their news information at least once a week • Younger, male, better educated and affluent - news audience statistics

23. Roles of the media • Inform the public • Shape public opinion • “linkage” between citizens and government • Watchdog that investigates wrong doings • Agenda setting – which topics will be national political issues

24. Government Regulations • Technical regulations • FCC in charge of regulating • Structural regulations • Ownership and organization – Telecommunications Act broadened competition • Content regulations • First amendment protections, but lawsuits do occur

25. Media and the President • News release – prepared text • News Briefing – announcements and daily questioning (press secretary) • News conference – questioning of high level officials • Leaks – anonymous information released • On the record – quoted by name • Off the record – cannot be printed • On background – no official associated with the information • On deep background – print what the official said, but not connection to anyone

26. Media and Congress • C-SPAN and C-SPAN II – some of the happenings are broadcast