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1 Political Parties, Interest Groups, and the Mass Media
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Political Parties, Interest Groups,

and the Mass Media

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Roles of Political Parties■ Political Party – A group that seeks to

elect candidates to public office. !

■ A political party exists as • A label - all the people who associate with the

party • An organization - all the people at various

levels who work to maintain the strength of the party between elections, help raise money, and organize conventions and functions

• A set of leaders - appointed and elected officials at the national, state and local level

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Party Systems■ One Party - only one party exists or has

the chance to win the election, membership is not voluntary, represent only a small portion of the population, result of dictatorial government

■ Two Party - may have several parties, but only two compete for power; minor parties have little impact; general consensus among citizens regarding the role of government; enhances stability because both parties want to appeal to most voters

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Party Systems■ Multi Party - several major and several

minor parties compete in elections, with any of the parties having a good chance of winning; often found in European nations; can promote instability when no clear majority exists and coalitions form

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What Do Political Parties Do?■ Recruit Candidates ■ Nominate and Support Candidates ■ Educate the Electorate ■ Organize the Government (Congress

majority v minority, appointments)

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Party Identification and Membership

■ Voluntary, based on identification, and shared views on issues or the roles of government

■ Factors that may influence party identification include: ■ ideology, education, income,

occupation, race/ethnicity, gender, religion, family tradition, region of the country, marital status

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The Two-Party Tradition In America■ James Madison - Federalist #10 warned

of the divisiveness of “factions” ■ George Washington warned against the

“baneful effects of the spirit of the party” in his farewell address

■ The conflict between the Federalist and Anti-Federalists over the role of government during ratification of the Constitution resulted in the first two political parties (Jeffersonian-Republicans and Democratic-Republicans)

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Why Still Two-Party Tradition?■ Historic Roots - British heritage and

Federalist/Anti-Federalist divisions ■ Electoral Systems - One winner per

office (single member districts) ■ Election Laws - Vary from state to

state which makes it difficult for minor parties to get on the ballot

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The Rise and the Decline of the Political Party

!

■ The Jeffersonian Republicans (preferred weaker national government)

■ The Jacksonians (a split from the Democratic Republicans - known as the party for the common man)

■ The Civil War and Sectionalism (Republicans dominate by appealing to commercial and antislavery groups)

■ The Era of Reform (New Deal Coalition)

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Party Development■ Electoral Dealignment - large number

of voters no longer support a particular candidate, an increase in independents

■ Electoral Realignment - a shift in voting patterns, new coalitions vorming (Examples: 1860, 1932, 1980, even 2008)

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Figure 9.1 Decline in Party Identification, 1952–2008

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Source: American National Election Studies, Table 2A.1, “Party Identification, 1952–2008.”

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Third or Minor Parties■ ideological - based on social,

economic, or political beliefs (communist, socialist, libertarian)

■ splinter/personality/factional - split from major party usually because of leader with strong personality; usually disappear when leaders steps aside (TR Bull Moose Progressive, Strom Thurmond States’ Rights, George Wallace American Independent)

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Third or Minor Parties■ Single Issue - parties that concentrate

on a single public policy matter (Right to Life, Prohibition)

■ Protest - usually rooted in periods of economic discontent (Greenback, Populist)

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Divided Government■ One party controls the Presidency and

another party controls one or both houses of Congress

■ Creates Gridlock - political stalemate

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Figure 9.2 Split-Ticket Voting for President/Congress, 1952–2008

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Source: American National Election Studies, Table 9B.2, “Split-Ticket Voting for President/Congress, 1952–2008.”

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The National Party Structure Today■ National convention ■ National committee ■ Congressional campaign committee ■ National chairperson ■ State and Local Organizations ■ determined by state law

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Participation and Voting■ Forms of Political Participation ■ voting ■ discuss / attend meetings ■ form interest group or PAC ■ contact public official ■ campaign for candidate or party ■ contribute money for candidate or party ■ run for office ■ protest government decisions

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Expansion of Suffrage■ Suffrage is the right to vote ■ Left to States ■ Over time restrictions have been

reduced and authority has transferred from states to the federal government

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Expansion of Suffrage■ 1800 - eliminate religion, property,

literacy ■ 1870 - 15th Amendment (race) ■ 1920 - 19th Amendment (gender) ■ 1965 - Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights

Act (grandfather clause, white primary, literacy test)

■ 1961 - 23rd Amendment (Washington DC)

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Expansion of Suffrage■ 1964 - 24th Amendment (poll tax) ■ 1966 - Harper v Virginia State Board

of Elections (poll tax unconstitutional) ■ 1971 - 26th Amendment (age lowered

to 18)

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Issue or Policy Voting■ Brought about by the Progressive

Movement of the early 20th Century ■ Direct Primary - citizens nominate

candidates ■ Recall - special elections initiated by

petition to allow citizens to remove an official from office

■ Referendum - citizens vote directly on issues (propositions)

■ Initiative - voters petition to propose issues

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Two Kinds Of Campaign Issues !

▪ Position Issues • The rival candidates have opposing views

and the issue divides the voters. !

▪ Valence Issues • The candidates are similar on an important

issue and examine whether a candidate fully supports their view.

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What Decides the Election?

■ Party ■ Issues, Especially the Economy

• Prospective voting - how might a candidate vote (campaign promises)

• Retrospective voting - looking at a candidates record (past)

■ The Campaign ■ Finding a Winning Coalition

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Low Voter Turnout - Reasons■ Increase Number of Voters ■ Failure of Parties to Mobilize ■ No Perceived Differences (candidate or

party) ■ Mistrust of Government ■ Apathy ■ Satisfaction ■ Lack of Political Efficacy (people do not

believe they can make a difference) ■ Registration Process (Motor Voter Law -

National Voter Registration Act of 1995)

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Who Votes - Factors That Affect■ Education - higher more likely to vote ■ Occupation/Income - white collar more

likely, blue collar less likely ■ Age - older more likely ■ Race - minorities less likely ■ Gender - women more likely today ■ Religion - active more likely ■ Marital Status - married more likely ■ Union Member - vote regularly

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Types of Elections■ Primary - nominating elections ■ closed - only registered party

members ■ open - voters may vote to choose

candidates from either party ■ runoff - when no clear majority the

top two candidates compete ■ General - voters choose from among

all candidates nominated by political parties

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Presidential Versus Congressional Campaigns

Presidential Race ■ More Competitive • Winner usually gets less than

55% of the vote ■ Larger Voter Turnout ■ Must Rely On The Mass

Media To Reach Voters ■ Incumbent Presidents

Are Often Held Responsible For Whatever Has Gone Wrong

Congressional Race■ Less Competitive • Winner usually gets over

60 % of the vote ■ Smaller Voter

Turnout ■ Closer Contact With

The District’s Voters ■ Even Incumbent

Congressmen Can “Run Against Washington”

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Presidential Elections ■ Exploration ■ Announcement ■ Primaries (nominating election to

decide who will represent the party in the general election) and Caucuses (meeting to select delegates who will nominate candidates to political office)

■ Nominating Conventions ■ Campaign and General Election ■ Electoral College (538 electors)

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Congressional Elections■ Problems ■ Malapportionment (flawed

distribution of representatives based on state population)

■ Gerrymandering (drawing of Congressional Districts to favor one party or group over another)

■ Winning The Primary ■ Staying In Office

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The Rise of Interest Groups

■ An interest group is any organization that seeks to influence public policy.

■ The conditions that lead to the rise of interest groups are • Broad economic developments • Government policy • Leadership exercised • Increased governmental activities

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Functions of Interest Groups■ Raise Awareness / Stimulate Interest ■ Represent Members (serve as a link

between members and government) ■ Provide Information (date and

testimony useful to public policy) ■ Channel Political Participation (enable

citizens to work toward a common goal)

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Types of Interest Groups■ Economic ■ AFL-CIO, Teamsters

■ Causes ■ specific - ACLU (American Civil Liberties

Union), NRA (National Rifle Association) ■ welfare - AARP (American Association of

Retired Persons), NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)

■ religion ■ Public Interest - MADD (Mothers Against Drunk

Driving), League of Women Voters

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Strategies of Interest Groups■ Influence Elections ■ PAC - Political Action Committees

(organized to contribue money to candidates)

■ Lobbying - attempting to influence policymakers (supply data and use staff to convince policymakers)

■ Litigation - take an issue to court if they are unsuccessful in gaining the support of Congress

■ Going Public - appeal to the public

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Regulating Interest Groups■ 1946 – Federal Regulation of Lobbying

Act ■ 1995 – Congress unanimously passed

lobbying bill • Tightened registration and disclosure

requirements • Broadened definition of a lobbyist • Did not cover grass roots organizations

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Regulating Interest Groups

■ 2007 – New regulations took effect • No gifts of any value from registered lobbyists or

firms that employ lobbyists • No reimbursements for travel costs from

registered lobbyist or firms that employ lobbyists • No reimbursement for travel costs, no matter

the source, if the trip is in any part organized or requested by a registered lobbyist or firm that employs lobbyists

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Mass Media■ All forms of communication that transmit

information to the general public. ■ Newspapers ■ Magazines ■ Radio ■ Television ■ Internet

!

■ Bias in the Media (reporters tend to be liberal, owners/editors/publisher tend to be conservative)

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Roles of Media■ Inform the public ■ Shaping public opinion ■ Providing a link between citizens and

government ■ Serving as a watchdog (investigates

and examines) ■ Agenda Setting (influence topics for

discussion)