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61 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Concept |
1. What coalitions make up the two main political parties in the United States 2. Why do third parties so often fail in us politics 3. What effect has dealignment had on political parties 4. Are there serious policy differences between Democrats and republicans 5. Who support the two parties and why 6. How does the constitution control special interests? 7. How have interest groups helped to democratize the us political system 8. Why are interest groups a threat to democracy 9. What role do interest groups play in setting the political agenda? 10. What techniques do PACs use to get their messages across? 11. How do interest groups achieve and exert their influence? |
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Four types of political groups |
1. Political parties 2. Interest groups 3. Political action committees (PACs) 4. 527 groups |
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No partying |
The framers of the constitution disliked political parties and hoped to prevent them |
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Political parties |
A person joins with other like-minded individuals to form organizations that try to influence the outcomes of elections and legislative struggles. Political parties play formal role in both of the process. A mainstay of US election. A means of uniting those who shared political ideals, enable them to elect like-minded representatives and pursue similar legislative goals. They help election, and in return, candidates must be loyal to their party - not hierarchical, largely autonomous and serve different functions; one does not take order from the other |
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Two-party/bipartisan system |
The us has two major political parties: democrats and republicans. This is reinforced by the electoral system. Us election rules also make it hard for all but the two major parties to win a place on the ballot |
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Political characteristics |
1. Parties serve as intermediaries between the people and the government 2. Parties are made up of grassroots members, activist members, and leadership 3. Parties are organized to raise money, present positions on policy, and get their candidates elected to office 4. Parties were created outside the Constitution - they are not even mentioned in the document but we developed in the 1790s |
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Main purpose of political parties |
Get candidate elected to office. In the past, candidates are determined by the party hierarchy, with little or no public input. However, since 1960, most states have passed laws requiring parties to select candidates through state-run primary elections. |
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primary elections |
Used to elect candidates. These primaries have reduced the power of political parties. Candidates must raise their own money for primaries, campaigning for their party's nomination with little to no support from the party itself. Levels the playing field, but multiple candidates for the nomination can splinter the party membership |
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Third Parties |
New parties that do not reach the level of a majority party. - represent constituencies that fell disenfranchised from both the major parties. - represent an ideology conidered to radical by the mainstream parties |
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Splinter/bolter parties |
usually unite around a feeling that the major parties are not responding to the demands of some segment of the electorate. EX: the Reform Party, under whose banner Ross Perot ran for president in 1996: feel that politics as usual |
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doctrinal parties |
reject the prevailing attitudes and policies of the political system. EX: the Socialist Party and the Libertarian Party |
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Sing-issue parties |
formed to promote one principle EX: the American Independent Party: sponsored the segregationist candidacy of George C. Wallace in 1968 |
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Impact on election from third parties |
especially in tight races. The Green Party, which favors strict environmental policies, more government social programs, and controls over big business ran Ralph Nader for president in 2000. If he did not run, Al Gore would win the election against George W. Bush |
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Indepedent Candidates |
different from third-party, those candidates ran without party affiliation. It is very difficult for them to overcome the money and organization of the two major parties. EX: Eugene McCarthy, anti-VIetnam War candidate in 1968; John Anderson, a fiscal conservative and social liberal in 1980 |
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Why third parties fail |
- American political system is designed to support only tw major parties. - National campaigns require huge sums of money and vast organizations. - winner-takes-all system except Maine and Nebraska. |
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winner-take-all |
the candidate who receives the most voters, even if it is only by one, wins all of the votes in that state EX: during the 2000 election, Al Gore won the popular vote by about 500,000 votes nationwide, but George W. Bush was found to have won the Florida electorate, giving him all of Florida's 25 electoral voters and untimatly the presidency |
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three major subdivisions of political parties |
- the party among the electorate: voters enroll in and identify with political parties. They generally vote for candidates who represent their party. - the party in government: Government officials belong to political parties. They act together to pursue common goals, although regional and ideological difference sometimes subvert(颠覆) their efforts - The party organization: a group of people who are neither elected officials nor average voters, the party organization is made up of political professionals who recruit candidates and voters, organize campaign events, and raise money to promote the party. |
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Functions of political parties |
- Recruit and nominate candiates - Educate and mobilize voters - Provide campaign funds and support - Organize government activity - Provide balance through opposition of two parties - Reduce conflict and tension in society |
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Recruit and nominate candidates |
seek out candidates to run in their primary elections. They also create rules by which candidates seek their nominations. Nomination by one of the major parties is a prerequisite to victory |
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Educate and mobilize voters |
political parties fund propaganda compaigns to persude voters to choose their candidates (mailing, rallies,, advertisements) target regions in which support is strong and campaign to persuade voters in those regions to vote on election day. |
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Provide campaign funds and support |
National parties have committees dedicated to raising funds for House and Senate campaigns. State parties also raise funds for candidates for both state and national office. Candidates still need the help of the state or national party organization |
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organize government activity |
Parties act as an organizing force in government. the HOuse and Senate organize their leadership and committee systems strictly along party lines, as do state legislatures. |
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provide balance through opposition of two parties |
each serves a check on the other by watching and exposing hypocrisy and weakness. The minority party performs the role of the loyal opposition, constantly critiquing the performance of the party in power. |
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reduce conflict and tension in society |
promotes compromise and negotiation in two ways: - encouraging parties to accommodate voters - encouraging voters to accept compromises in policy. ex: the republican party: includes both religious social-conservatives and libertarians. (they must appease both groups. the groups in return must be willing to compromise if they wish to prevent the Democrats from prevailing.) |
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patry committees |
Organized by geographic subdivisions. - Locally: precinct, town, ward, and electoral district levels (get out the vote, door to door canvassing, and leaflet distribution; staffs are volunteers, concentrated on election time) - county: coordinate efforts in local elections and organize the efforts of committees on the precinct level; send representatives to each polling place to monitor voting procedures - state: raise money and provide volunteers to staff campaign events; provide support to candidates for both state and national office. - national: also the responsibility of the powerful congressional district and senatorial committees. they are mostly involved when the possibility exists of gaining or losing seat. |
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national conventions |
the national party plans this every four years to nominate a presidential candidate. it sponsors polls to keep party members informed of public opinion and manages issue-oriented advertising and propaganda |
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are parties in decline? |
not as powerful as before: prior to 1968, one party typically controlled both the executive and legislative branches of government after that time, only a few times it happened. Americans vote split ticket more often, more likely to consider the merits and positions of a particular candidate than to merely consider his or her party affiliation. no one party dominates government, and officials with different political agendas are elected to work together. modern candidates have taken control of their own election campaigns, relying less on party support than past candidates. They can directly appeal to the public through tv and internet. |
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Split-ticket voting |
leads to divided government |
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divided government |
one party controls the Senate or House or both and the other controls the White House.
ex: following the 2014 elections, Republicans have House and Senate majorities, while Democrats control the White House. this can create policy gridlock because these two branches are often at odds with each other. this causes them to work together to create moderate public policy. lastly, it encourages party dealignment because voters do not align with their parties as uniformly as they once did. |
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policy girdlock |
A situation when there is difficulty passing laws that satisfy the needs of the people. A government is gridlocked when the ratio between bills passed and the agenda of the legislature decreases. |
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dealignment |
Dealignment, in political science, is a trend or process whereby a large portion of the electorate abandons its previous partisan affiliation, without developing a new one to replace it. It is contrasted with realignment.
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party coalitions |
An alliance for combined action, especially a temporary alliance of political parties forming a government or of states. the larger the coalition, the more likely the candidate will win. |
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Republican coalition of 2008 and 2012 |
- veterans' groups and military supporters - religious conservatives - Libertarians - opponents of gay marriage - opponents of affirmative action - supporters of the developing natural resources on public lands - rural dwellers - South and lower Midwest are more Republicans |
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Democratic coalition |
- disaffected moderate Republicans - pro-choicers - African and Hispanic Americans - members and Supporters of labor unions - gay rights supporters - people with lower incomes - city dwellers - feminists - environmentalists - east and west coasts and the upper midwest |
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party base |
greatest ideological differences are between the liberals in the Democratic Party and the conservatives in the Republican Party. each party counts on its base to get out and vote they must avoid taking extreme left or right positions |
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Democrats' ideologies |
- less disposed to spend on defense - less disposed to use vouchers, or other public funds, to let students attend private schools - more disposed to spend money to advance social-welfare programs - more disposed to spend money to advance social-welfare programs - more disposed to use government money for public education - more disposed to spend money on government-run health insurance programs - more disposed to grant tax relief to targeted groups such as the lower and middle classes - against private ownership of assault weapons and for broader regulations on the ownership for firearm |
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Republicans' ideologies |
- more disposed to spend on defense - more disposed to use voucher for private schools and to give government aid to parochial schools - more disposed to grant tax relief to everyone, especially the wealthy and corporations - less disposed to spend money on social-welfare programs - less disposed to spend money on government-run health insurance programs - less disposed to regulate firearms |
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party realignment |
occurs when the coalitions making up the two parties fall apartm such as hen many ofthe groups that make up the majority party defect to the minority party; rare, occurs usually during major traumatic event. (great depression): signaled by critical election; over a period of time and show permanence. ex: the new deal coalition of the 1930s laste for decades. |
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critical electin |
when a new party comes to dominate politics |
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dealignment |
a result of party members becoming disaffected as a result of some policy position taken by the party. the disaffected members join no political party and vote for the candidate rather than the party he or she belongs to. this is the trend today, and the number of independents has increased dramatically. |
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interest groups |
organizations dedicated to a particular political goal or to a set of unified goals Group members often hares a common bond, either religious(Christian Coalition), racial(National Association for the Advancement of colored People), or professional(American Medical Association). other case: they share a common interest such as environment(Sierra Club), or political reform(Common Cause). i |
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Interest groups v. political parties |
interest groups do not nominate candidates, nor do they normally try to address a wide range of issues |
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lobbying |
when interest groups try to influence legislators, we say they are lobbying for a bill or issue. (historically, they waiting in the lobby of the capital so they could catch legislators coming in and out of session.) today, most lobbyists are highly paid professionals. a number of them are former legislators, making them effective (Friendship and experience in the Capitol) |
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categoies of interest groups |
- economic groups - public interest groups - government interest groups |
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economic groups |
formed to promote and protect members' economic interests. - U.S. Chamber of Commerce (represents the interest of all businesspeople) - represent specific trades and industries (American Farm Bureau Federation, American Nuclear Energy Council) - labor groups (AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers --> union members) - professional groups(American Medical Association, American Bar Association) Most groups were established a long time again, have strong ties with legislators and bureaucrats; are large, very influential, extremely well funded, and either represent or employ large constituencies. As a result, they are usually the most powerful interest groups in Washington D. C. |
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public interest groups |
nonprofit organizations that are generally organized around a well-defined set of public policy issues.
- Consumer groups: safer products and more informative labeling (Public Citizen led by Ralph Nader) - environment groups: Sierra Club: advocate preservation of wildlife and wilderness areas. - religious groups: Christian Coalition: attempt to influence public policy in such a way as to promote or protect their beliefs. - Other groups promote causes such as women's rights, minority rights, and political reform. - Single-issue groups like the National Rifle Association and Mothers Against Drunk Driving: powerful bc of the intensity of their supporters. |
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government interest groups |
most states and many cities and other localities maintain lobbying organiations in the nation's capital. A separate group represents the nation's governors' and yet another represents mayors. most foreign governments and business lobby the government as well |
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how interest groups influence government |
- direct lobbying - testifying before congress - socializing - political donations - endorsements - court action - rallying their membership - propaganda |
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limits on lobbying |
efforts to regulate run the risk of violating the 1st amendment freedom of speech. - 1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act - prohibit certain lobbying activities by former government officials, counteract the influence peddling: they must wait 1 year before lobbying Congress directly. (but they may lobby the executive branch immediately after leaving offices) - limit formal executive officials and keep them from lobbying for 5 years after they leave the agency that employed them. (Buckley v. Valeo (1976)) - campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and trade associations can be sidestepped (避免回避)through the formation of a political action committee or PAC |
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1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act |
Intended to allow the government to monitor lobbying activities by requiring lobbyists to register with the government and publicly disclose their salaries, expenses, and the nature of their activities |
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influence peddling |
the practice of using personal friendships and inside information to get political advantage |
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Buckley v. Valeo (1976) |
Equated donating money to influence election is a form of consitutionally protected free speech |
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changes to campaign financing |
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission corporations have a first amendment right to expressly support political candidates for Congress and the White House. |
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Political Action Committees (PACS) |
An organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation, especially at the federal level. Corporations, unions, and trade associations. many other interest groups form PACs to collect and distribute contributions, as do legislators. (leadership PACs) |
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1974 Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) |
allowed corporations, unions, and trade associations to form PACs as a means of raising campaign funds. it sets restrictions on contributors and contributions, and stipulated that corporate, union, and trade PACs must raise money from employees and membersand may not simply draw it from their treausuries. |
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Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002 or the McCain-Feingold Act |
further regulated campaign finance and PAC donations. |
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2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission |
overturned BCRA's limits on PAC fundraising for corporate independent expenditures. PACs that donate to specific candidates must operate under limits on their contributors and their donations, but PACs that do not donate to specific candidates are not limited in their fundraisings. political donations are considered free speech |
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super PACs |
unlimited PACs, generally financed by the ultra-rich; however, because of disclosure laws affecting such Super PACs, it can be difficult to identify donors |
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regulation of PAC in terms of money |
Donations from single-candidate PAC cannot exceed 2500 (5,000 for multi-candidate PAC). donations to national political committees cannot exceed 15000 from multi-candidate PACs and 30800 for single-candidate PACS. |
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527 Groups |
named after the section of the tax code that allows them. it is a tax-exempt organization that promotes a political agenda, although they cannot expressly advocate for or against a specific candidate. the term is generally used to refer to political organizations that are not regulated by the FEC (federal election commission) and are not subject to the same contribution limits as PACs. they avoid because they are political organizations, not political committees. ex: Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, College Republican National Committees, The Media Fun. The BCRA changed soft money rules to make establishing new 527s a more attractive option than traditional PACs |
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soft money |
a contribution to a political party that is not accounted as going to a particular candidate, thus avoiding various legal limitations. |
