AP GOVERNMENT COOKBOOK Unit III: Political Parties, Interest Groups and the Media.

AP GOVERNMENTCOOKBOOK

Unit III:

Political Parties, Interest Groups and the Media

SYLLABUS - Unit III Description

III. Political Parties, Interest Groups and The Media Students should understand the mechanisms that allow citizens to organize and communicate their

interests and concerns . Among these are political parties, elections, political action committees (PACs), interest groups, and the mass media . Students should examine the significance of the historical evolution of the U .S . party system, the functions and structures of political parties, and the effects they have on the political process . Examination of issues of party reform and of campaign strategies and financing in the electronic age provides students with important perspectives . A study of elections, election laws, and election systems on the national and state levels will help students understand the nature of both party and individual voting behavior . Treatment of the development and the role of PACs in elections and the ideological and demographic differences between the two major parties, as well as third parties, forms an important segment of this material

Students must also consider the political roles played by a variety of lobbying and interest groups . Important features of this section of the course include an explanation for why some interests are represented by organized groups while others are not, and the consequences of this difference in representation . Students study what interest groups do, how they do it, and how this affects both the political process and public policy . Why are certain segments of the population able to exert pressure on political institutions and actors in order to obtain favorable policies?

The media are a major force in U .S . politics . Students are expected to understand the role of the media in the political system . In addition, the impact of the media on public opinion, voter perceptions, campaign strategies, electoral outcomes, agenda development, and the images of officials and candidates should be explored and understood by students . Understanding the often symbiotic and frequently conflictual relationship among candidates, elected officials, and the media is also important . Students should be aware of the goals and incentives of the media as an industry and how those goals influence the nature of news coverage . They should also understand the consequences of the increasing concentration of major media outlets in fewer hands, as well as the growing role of the Internet .

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Unit II Vocabulary: Political Beliefs and Behaviors Pt. 1

AARP American Association of Retired Persons; Nationwide organization for people over 50 that offers discount drug purchases, health & auto insurance, publications, & other activities

Amicus Curiae Brief - literally, a "friend of the court" brief, filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case

Caucus - a private meeting of party leaders to choose candidates for officeConstituent - a person whom a member of Congress has been elected to representConvention - a meeting of delegates of a political party to form policies and select candidatesDealignment- Weakening of partisan preferences that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of Independents.Delegate- a person appointed or elected to represent othersDivided Government- Governance divided between the parties, as when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress.Faction - a group, usually a small part of a larger group, united around some cause; disagreement within an organizationGrass Roots - the common people at a local level (as distinguished from the centers of political activity)Gridlock- the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the governmentHatch Act 1939 - Made it illegal for federal civil service employees to take an active part in political management or political

campaigns by serving as party officers, soliciting campaign funds, running for partisan office, working in a partisan campaign, endorsing partisan candidates, taking voters to the polls, counting ballots, circulating nominating petitions, or being delegates to a party convention. Gradually took federal employees out of machine politics.

Ideological Parties- Parties based on a particular set of beliefs, a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political mattersIncumbent - the official who holds an officeInterest Group- a social group whose members control some field of activity and who have common aimsLinkage Institutions - the channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. In the United

States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.Lobbying- direct contact made by an interest group representative in order to persuade government officials to support the policies their

interest group favorsLobbyist -representative of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy makingMerit System- A system of public employment in which selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political

patronage.Muckrakers -Journalists who attempted to find corruption or wrongdoing in industries and expose it to the publicNAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)- works for the rights of colored peopleNational Organization of Women (NOW) -organization formed to work for economic and legal rights of womenNRA -a powerful lobby that advocates the right to own and bear arms and rejects any gun regulation by the governmentPolitical Action Committee (PAC) -committee formed by a special-interest group to raise money for their favorite political candidatesPatronage System- An approach to managing the bureaucracy whereby people are appointed to important government positions as a reward for

political services they have rendered and because of their partisan loyaltyPolitical Efficacy- one's own influence or effectiveness on politicsPolitical Party- a group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct

government, and determine public policyPolitical Party Machine- a party organization that recruits its members by dispensing tangible incentives to get favors from government; only

cares about winningProportional Representation an electoral system used throughout most of Europe that awards legislative seats to political

parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election.Prospective Voting voting based on the imagined future performance of a candidate; based on what the candidate has promisedPublic Interest Lobbies- organizations that seek a collective good which does not only benefit their membership.Purposive Incentives- the benefit that comes from serving a cause or principle from which one does not personally benefitRealignment- when popular support switches from one party to anotherRetrospective Voting- voting for a candidate because you like his or her past actions in officeSierra Club- America's oldest and largest grassroots advocacy group that protects forests and national parksSplit Ticket Voting- Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same electionStraight Ticket Voting- practice of voting for candidates of only one party in an electionThird Parties-political parties that are smaller than the two major parties and introduce new ideas or press for a particular issueTwo- Party System- An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections.Winner- Take- All Representation- System in which the candidate with the majority of the popular vote in a state gets all the electoral votesPAGE 2

What are LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS?

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LINKAGE INSTITUTION: the channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda.

POLITICAL PARTIES

INTEREST GROUPS

THE MEDIA

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Government’s Decision Makers

Political Parties choose candidates who share the

concerns of their members. They work to get their candidates elected to

office.

Interest Groups collect donations citizens who share

concerns. Interest Groups spend money on lobbying,

campaign contributions and litigation.

The Media collects and reports on public opinion through polls and news

coverage. Through coverage, the media can draw public attention to

certain issues.

What are POLITICAL PARTIES?

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Political Parties - a group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy

A Brief History of American Political Parties:

• Political Parties are NOT MENTIONED in the Constitution.

• Though Madison warned us against the dangers of factions in the Federalist Papers, Political Parties formed almost immediately.

• The earliest American political parties were Hamilton’s Federalists and Jefferson’s Antifederalists.

• Washington warned against the dangers of political parties in his farewell address.

• Though the names of the dominant political parties have changed throughout the years, there is usually two powerful parties. One Liberal and One Conservative.

• The origin of the Democratic and Republican parties can be traced back to

• Various factors lead us to a two party system (next slide).

** Passing Laws and Determining Public Policy are Secondary Goals***

Why a TWO PARTY SYSTEM?

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Several aspects of the American political system have fostered and strengthened the two party system:

Because of these factors, THIRD PARTIES have little to no chance to win the Presidency and/or seats in Congress. Therefore, only two major parties can

reasonably expect to win.

Third Parties in the Parliamentary System:In contrast, parliamentary systems (England, France, etc.) award legislative seats

based on percentage of total vote. For example, if a party receives 3% of the vote in a given election, that party would earn 3% of the legislative seats. This gives

third parties a chance to get their voice heard.

**** THE TWO PARTY SYSTEM WAS NOT PLANNED***** PARTIES ARE NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION

The Role of Third Parties in the Political Process

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Though they rarely win offices, Third parties playA vital role in our political system.

2. The Green party can bring the

environmentalism to a national audience by

running candidates for political office

1. Voters dissatisfied with

the major parties’ stances on

environmentalism formed the Green

Party.

2. The Green party may have their issues

incorporated into the Democrats’ platform in

exchange for votes.

The NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THIRD PARTIES:

Vote Splitting: If a third party candidate runs in a general election against members of the two major parties, the party LEAST like the third party benefits.

EX 1: In 1992, Ross Perot ran a third party conservative candidate. He cut into George Bush’s voting base and swung the election towards Clinton.

EX 2: In 2000, Ralph Nader ran as a third party liberal candidate. He cut into Al Gore’s voting base and swung the election to George W. Bush.

NOTE:

While major parties have a broad political

platform, Third parties are often

single issue parties.(Ex. Right to Life

Party)

The role of Political Parties in Electing a President

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Political Parties are crucial in selecting nominees for the presidency.

Since Political Parties are not a formal part of our political system, the rules governing the nomination process often change with the whims of the parties.

Ex: The Republican primaries of 2012 had fewer winner-take-all elections than in years past.

Primaries and Caucuses

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Primary - A State level election between presidential candidates from the same party.

Caucus - A meeting of voters from a particular state. During these meetings, voters choose among presidential candidates from the same party.

Both Primaries and Caucuses serve the same purpose:

Types of Primaries

PRIMARY PROBLEMS:

1. TOO LONG: Primaries occur over the course of five months. Campaigns last over a year.

2. TOO EXPENSIVE: Long campaigns are extremely expensive. Richest candidate usually wins.

3. INEQUALITY: The earlier a state’s primary, the more impact that primary has.

4. FRONT LOADING: States fight to move their primary up on the calendar to get more power, resulting in a front loaded schedule.

5. BANDWAGON EFFECT: Voters tend to support candidates who win the earliest primaries.

National Party Conventions

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KEY TREND: In the last 60 years, primary elections have become a MORE important part of choosing a candidate. National Party leaders have become LESS important in part of choosing a candidate. This falls in line with America’s “elitism to populism” trends.

SUPERDELEGATES Unlike state delegates, superdelegates have a choice of who they support. Superdelegates tend to be high ranking party members, governors, senators, etc. Superdelegate endorsements are highly prized. When superdelegates choose a candidate, they are said to be “pledged.”

What happens if no candidate has a majority of delegates on the first vote?

BROKERED CONVENTION

In a brokered convention, “horse trading” takes over. Horse trading refers to behind the scenes politicking that will eventually result in a

winner. This is very rare in modern politics.

What are Interest Groups?

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The Big Goal:

SIX TYPES OF INTEREST GROUPS

How do Interest Groups impact decision making?How has the government attempted to limit their impact?

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Factors that expanded the power of Interest Groups:

Decisions that limited the power of Interest Groups:

1. Buckley v. Valeo: Corporations’ right to spend money campaigning for candidates is protected by 1st Amendment. (Corporate soft money legal)

2. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission: Removed limits on PAC contributions from individuals, unions and corporations for “independent expenditures” – Spending cannot be associated w/ candidates, but is unlimited.

3. Lengthy and Expensive Elections: Candidates are increasingly dependant on interest group donations.

4. Incumbency Advantage: Since incumbent politicians are the most frequent recipients of donations, they are unlikely to push for organizational change.

5. The “Revolving Door” - Congressmen and regulators often take lobbyist positions with Interest Groups after they leave public office

1. Federal Election Commission established in 1974. Established PAC’s . Put limits on the amount of hard money a person or organization could donate ($5K for candidate, $15K for party).

2. McCain-Feingold Act (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act): Banned Soft Money ads 60 days before a general election and 30 days before a primary.

3. Issue Networks: Often, there are interest groups with opposite messages seeking to influence an election, minimizing impact.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

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A Political Action Committee (PAC) is an organization in the United States that campaigns for or against political candidates ballot initiatives or legislation. PAC’s must register with the FED.

CITIZEN

PAC

Candidate Party

$5,000 $30,800 $2,500

$5,000 $15,000

** Dollar amounts are donation maximums **

UNLIMITED

Independent Expenditures (Ads, etc.)

***Spending limits adjusted for Inflation in odd numbered years***

***PACs Cannot Coordinate Independent Expenditures with Candidates or Parties***

Unions and CorporationsCANNOT contribute to PAC’s

SUPER PACs

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A SUPER PAC is a new type political action committee that was approved by the FEC in 2010. Super PACs have different fundraising and spending rules and permit donations from unions and corporations. They are immensely powerful. SuperPAC’s must register with the FEC.

SuperPAC

Candidate Party

UNLIMITED

BANNED BANNED

UNLIMITED

Independent Expenditures (Ads, etc.)

***SUPERPACs Cannot Coordinate Independent Expenditures with Candidates or Parties***

UNLIMITED UNLIMITED

CITIZEN UNIONS CORPORATIONS

***SUPERPACs Cannot give money directly to candidates or parties***

BIG IDEA!

SUPERPACS ARE PROVING TO BE EXTREMELY INFLUENTIAL. UNIONS AND

CORPORATIONS ARE BECOMING AN ENORMOUS PART OF THE POLITICAL

PROCESS.

Important Interest Groups

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INTEREST GROUP TYPE DESCRIPTION

AARP (American Assoc. of Retired Persons

Citizen Action/Multi Issue

One of the largest interest groups in America. They represent the needs of everyone over 50. Their power lies in high voter turnout.

Sierra Club Citizen Action/ Single Issue

Nation’s largest environmental protection interest group. Typically support liberal candidates.

NRA (National Rifle Association) Citizen Action/ Single Issue

Largest Pro-Gun interest group. The NRA supports conservatives and the right to own guns.

NAACP (National Assoc. for the Advancement of Colored People)

Citizen Action/Multi Issue

Protects equal rights for all Americans, especially underrepresented racial and economic minorities. Support liberal candidates.

AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor- Congress of Industrial Orgs.)

Peak Organization

Represents many different unions and the civil rights of all Americans. Support liberal candidates.

NARAL- Pro Choice America (Nat’l Assoc. for Repeal of Abortion Laws)

Citizen Action / Single Issue

Defend women’s reproductive rights. Support liberal candidates.

National Association of Realtors Trade Assoc. Represent the national interests of Realtors and Real Estate Agents.

National Right to Life Committee Citizen Action /Single Issue

Fights to reverse current abortion laws and ban abortion. Supports conservative candidates.

American Bankers Association Trade Assoc. Represents the national interests of Banks and bankers.

American Medical Association Prof. Assoc Represents the interests of doctors and medical professionals.

INTEREST GROUPS

Often Register

PACs

The roles of the media in the political system

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Trends in the Political Media:

1. Elitism to Populism: With the rise of the internet and the blogosphere, there are now more people creating media content.

2. Slow to Fast: The shift from newspapers to cable News and the internet have given speed to reporters.

3. Independent to Conglomerate: News organizations are being increasingly purchased by a few select individuals, creating media empires (Viacom, Disney, Fox News)

4. Fact to Opinion: With the expansion of news coverage, reporters are concentrating less on “what happened” and more on “what should happen next”. Editorial programming is rampant.

5. Accuracy to Sensationalism: With more news outlets, reporters must compete for viewers/readers. Reporters must sensationalize or “sell” their news.

6. Liberal Bias to Dual Bias: The traditional liberal bias of the media has been balanced through the emergence of conservative news sources.

7. Accuracy to Inaccuracy: The race to get news out before anyone else causes sources to take risks. The results are often inaccurate.