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Political Party Actions and Responses

Political Party Actions and Responses. Then and Now. Some History . Political Party Actions Early Attacks Preprinted ballots or tickets Increase the power of the people Rise of the political machine, especially in state and city politics Responses New forms of Government

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Political Party Actions and Responses

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  1. Political Party Actions and Responses Then and Now

  2. Some History • Political Party Actions • Early Attacks • Preprinted ballots or tickets • Increase the power of the people • Rise of the political machine, especially in state and city politics • Responses • New forms of Government • Commission and City-Manager Systems • State initiatives, referendums, direct primaries, recalls • Rise of interest groups around issues, not parties

  3. Responses to party political actions today Congress • As parties became more important, loyalty to party ideals became a qualification for judicial and other presidential nominees. During recent years, this party loyalty test was imposed by Republicans through Senate rules that permitted a “silent filibuster” which allowed a single senator to place an indefinite hold on a nominee. • In response, Democrats recently (Nov 2013) used their majority to change the rules of the Senate so that only a majority (51) vote is needed to confirm judicial and other presidential nominees and to shut down filibusters on a list of important items. This action was provoked in part by the recent government shutdown and related filibuster.

  4. Recent Developments States and Local Governments • As parties became more powerful, partisan primaries were increasingly dominated by the far right conservatives and far left liberals, resulting in general elections between two polar opposites and few to no moderates or independents in office • Increasing use of general primaries and “run-off” general elections where the top two primary vote winners vie for the office, as in Washington’s and California’s Top-Two primary system used in state elections

  5. Using the Power of the Law • Increased Prosecution/Investigation • Payola and partisan corruption still exists and is increasingly prosecuted • Both major parties, Democrat and Republican, have had problems • Rod Blagojevich, former (D) Illinois governor convicted for trying to sell an appointment to the US Senate • Randy “Duke” Cunningham, former (R) California congressman convicted of taking bribes from defense contractors • Ray Nagin, former (D) mayor of New Orleans, on trial for bribery related to the rebuilding of that city after Hurricane Katrina • Rob McDonnell, former (R) governor of Virginia, under indictment for taking illegal gifts while in office • Use of prosecutorial/investigative actions as political weapons • Congressional investigations of Executive Branch actions • Attorney General and US Attorneys investigations, in particular investigations related to campaigns • States Attorneys General actions • Local prosecutors

  6. Parties and Interest groups • Rise of Issues Groups • As political parties lose their power, there has been a rise in political groups that work on issues. While many of these groups have been around a long time, the changes in political structure noted above make it more efficient for those who believe strongly in a cause to work toward that cause with others, regardless of political party • Recent court decisions, such as Citizens United in 2010, have empowered issue groups by allowing them to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money, through removal of limits on corporate giving, on issue related advertising and education of the electorate. As a result, new organizational types have emerged with huge war chests to spend.

  7. Refrences • http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senate-poised-to-limit-filibusters-in-party-line-vote-that-would-alter-centuries-of-precedent/2013/11/21/d065cfe8-52b6-11e3-9fe0-fd2ca728e67c_story.html • http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/10/13/is-the-gop-giving-independents-an-opening/independents-should-watch-californias-top-two-primary • http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/magazine/how-much-has-citizens-united-changed-the-political-game.html?pagewanted=all • http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/State-s-Top-Two-primary-upheld-by-U-S-justices-1267609.php • http://www.forbes.com/sites/walterpavlo/2011/12/07/fmr-illinois-gov-rod-blagojevich-gets-14-years-in-prison/ • http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304450904579367293409158198?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304450904579367293409158198.html • http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/28/cunningham/ • http://www.examiner.com/article/republican-corruption-scandals-are-exposed

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