Chapter 11 Political Parties and Interest Groups Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 American Government 2006 Edition (to accompany the Essentials Edition)

Chapter 11

Political Parties and Interest Groups

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005

American Government2006 Edition(to accompany the Essentials Edition)

O’Connor and Sabato


What Is A Political Party? A group of office holders, candidates,

activists, and voters who identify with a group label and seek to elect to public office individuals who run under that label.

Consist of three separate but related entities: Governmental party. Organizational party. Party in the electorate.


Evolution of American Party Democracy

Federalists and Anti-Federalists Hamilton and Jefferson

Jefferson’s group (later the Republicans) preferred a federal system with more powerful states.

Hamilton’s group preferred strong central government.

No broad-based party organizations existed on either side to mobilize popular support.

Congressional factions primarily governmental party factions


American Party History at a Glance


The Modern Era Versus The Golden Age: Is the Party Over?

Social, political, technological, and governmental changes have contributed to party decline since the 1920s. Government assumed functions of party

Printing ballots, conducting elections, providing social welfare services.

1930s social services seen as right not privilege extended in exchange for support.

Flow of immigrants slowed dramatically.


Why Third Parties Tend to Remain Minor Electoral system

Single-member, plurality elections v. proportional representation A voting system that apportions legislative seats

according to the percentage of the vote won by a particular political party

State laws Democrats and Republicans in state legislatures

protect their interests Public funding rules News media tendencies Voter behavior Can’t win syndrome


Political and Social Changes Direct primary Civil service laws Issue-oriented politics

Post-WWII era: rise in education associated with rise to focus on politics in context of specific issues Civil rights, tax-cutting, environmentalism rather than

party labels Issue politics leads to more ticket-splitting.

Shift from urban to suburban locales Privacy and detachment (hurt party organizers)

Television Emphasizes personalities rather than abstracts like

party label


The Parties Endure Evolved Changed form Have been reliable vehicles for mass participation in a

representative democracy Orchestrated the gradual expansion of suffrage in quest of new

supporters Some efforts to contract electorate

Southern Democrats and black participation Flexible and pragmatic Competitive

Of the 30 presidential elections from 1884 to 2004, Republicans have won 17 and Democrats 14.

Have bounced back from landslide defeats Contemporary parties are starting to stand for very different

pictures of political reality.


The Functions of American Parties

Mobilizing support and gathering power

Force for stability and moderation Unity, linkage, and accountability Electioneering Voting and issue cue Policy formation and promotion

National party platform


Political Party Organization in America


What Are Interest Groups? An organized group that tries to

influence public policy Robert Putnam

“bowling alone” Social capital Civic virtue


Why and How Interest Groups Form and Maintain Themselves

The Role of Leaders The Role of Patrons and Funding The Role of Members

Collective good Free rider problem


The Roots & Development of American Interest Groups

National groups emerge (1830-1889) Communication networks enabled

nationalization of groups First were single-issue groups deeply rooted in

the Christian religious revivalism Temperance, Peace, Education, and Slavery

Other groups emerged after the Civil War Lobbyists

Interest group representative who seeks to influence legislation that will benefit his or her organization through political persuasion.


The Roots & Development of American Interest Groups The Progressive Era (1890-1920)

Grew out of concern for impact of rapid industrialization, influx of immigration, monopolistic business practices, crime, poverty, poor working conditions

Organized Labor AFL Clayton Act: allowed unions to organize free from

prosecution and guaranteed their right to strike Business Groups and Trade Associations

Trade Associations: a group that represents a specific industry

National Electric Light Association


The Rise of the Interest Group State 1960s and 1970s saw

a reappearance of the Progressive spirit. Civil Rights Women’s Rights Elderly Poor Consumers Environment

Common Cause and Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen

Conservative Backlash: Religious and Ideological Groups Jerry Falwell and the

Moral Majority Pat Robertson, the

700 Club and the Christian Coalition

National Rifle Association


Conservative Backlash: Religious and Ideological Groups

1978: Rev. Jerry Falwell founded first major new religious group, the Moral Majority

1990: Pat Robertson, The 700 Club and the Christian Coalition

The NRA (National Rifle Association)


How NRA Membership Has Fluctuated


What Do Interest Groups Do? Lobbying

The activities of a group or organization that seeks to influence legislation and persuade political leaders to support the group’s position

23 ways for lobbyists and organizations to lobby on the state and national level Most often they: testify at legislative

hearings, contact government officials directly, help draft legislation


Lobbying Congress Members of Congress targets of

lobbyists Many lobbyists former members

Former Senators Bob Dole (R-KS) and Robert Mitchell (D-ME) earn well over a million dollars a year as Washington lobbyists.


Lobbying Congress Today lobbyists try to develop

close relationships with members to gain access to the process of policy making. Information is critical.

Lobbyists also work most closely with representatives who are their friends.


Attempts to Reform Congressional Lobbying Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act, 1946 Lobbying Disclosure Act, 1995

Employs a strict definition of lobbyist Requires lobbyists to:

Register with the clerk of the House and the secretary of the Senate

Report their clients and issues and the agency or house they lobbied

Estimate the amount they are paid by each client Makes it easier for watchdog groups to track the

lobbying activity


Lobbying the Executive Branch

As the scope of federal government has expanded, so has lobbying of the executive branch Many potential access points Lobbyist seek influence at formation and

implementation stages. An especially strong link exists between

interest groups and regulatory agencies.


Lobbying the Courts

Can take two forms Direct sponsorship Filing amicus curiae briefs

Brief that informs the court of the group’s policy preferences, generally in guise of legal arguments

Interest groups also attempt to influence who is nominated and placed on the bench.


Grassroots Lobbying

A form of pressure-group activity that attempts to involve individuals who contact their representatives directly in an effort to influence policy

Persuading ordinary voters to act as the group’s advocates


Protest Activities

Some groups resort to more forceful, legal as well as illegal measures to attract attention to their cause. Sometimes violent, illegal protest

(Boston Tea Party, Shay’s Rebellion) Civil Rights Movement

Marches with permits legal


Election Activities

Candidate recruitment and endorsements

Getting out the vote Rating the candidates or office

holders Political action committees


What Makes An Interest Group Successful?

Leaders Patrons and Funding

Person who finances a group or individual activity

Members Free riders: potential members fail to join

a group because they can get the benefit, or collective good, sought by the group without contributing to it.

Documents

Chapter 11 Political Parties and Interest Groups Pearson Education, Inc. © 2005 American Government 2006 Edition (to accompany the Essentials Edition)