Modern Democracy: Parties, Elections, and Interest Groups

What is a Party?

Political Party- group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.

Major Parties-Democrats and Republicans

What do they do?

Nominate Candidates Inform and activate supporters Ensure good performance of its candidates Partisanship- strong support of policy and

party Watchdog-overlook party in “power”

Democrats

Party of Jackson Liberals Donkey The Left Blue State

Stricter gun control Pro-choice Strong anti-discrimination

laws are necessary Higher tax percentage for

higher income More government programs

to aid society Decrease military spending No death penalty Pro Gay Marriage

Republicans

Party of Lincoln Conservatives Elephant The Right Red State GOP (Grand Old

Party)

Opposes more gun legislation Pro-life Anti-discrimination is

something that should come though better education & individual conscience

Lower taxes overall benefit the economy

Less government programs, but more community programs

Strong military is important For death penalty Against Gay Marriage

http://news.yahoo.com/who-knew/political-party-symbols-where-did-the-idea-for-the-democratic-donkey-come-from-30495602.html

Sociological Trends

Lower income Manual Labor Women Younger Catholics Jews African Americans Asian Americans Mexican/Puerto Rican Native Americans Inner cities New England and West

Coast

Higher Income Professional Jobs Business Jobs College Graduates Men Older Protestants Caucasian Cuban Suburbs South and Midwest

Minor Parties

Ideological-based on a set of beliefs– Libertarian (individualism)– Communist, Socialist, etc.

Single Issue– Right to Life

Minor Parties (con.)

Economic Protest-exist when economy is in trouble– Tea Party

Splinter Parties– Bull Moose Party– Dixiecrats– Green Party

Why Minor Parties are Important

Minor Party actually started the convention concept (Anti-Masons 1831)

Spoiler Role Critic or innovator

Voter Behavior

Many choose to not vote during off-year elections

Why many do not vote– Illegal aliens– Travel or illness– Mental health facilities, jails, or religious beliefs– Feel does not make a difference

Other Factors

Inconvenient registration requirements Long ballots Long lines Time Zone fallout (polls close earlier in east

so feel no need to vote once hear results) Lack of Interest Bad Weather

Other Trends

Tend to vote as your family does Decrease in party identification More “Independents” The concept of straight-ticket voting Increase in focus on issues to influence

voting

Candidates on the 2008 AZ Ballot

OBAMA, BARACK Democrat McKINNEY, CYNTHIA Green BARR, BOB Libertarian ALLEN, JONATHAN  (Write-In) BALDWIN, CHUCK  (Write-In) JAY, CHARLES  (Write-In) NADER, RALPH  (Nomination by other than by

Primary) McCAIN, JOHN Republican

President Party Trend

Tends to be generational 1861-1932- Republican

– 2 Dems (Cleveland, Wilson)

1933-1968-Democrat– 1 Rep (Eisenhower)

1968-2008-Republican– 2 Dems (Carter, Clinton)

Now-Unknown

Swing States

States that tend to be fairly independent in elections and that could “swing” to either party in any given election or that current election year

Recent examples: FL, NV, CO, OH, MO, VA

Interest Groups

Organized effort to protect group interests Influence public policy Parties concerned with their views due to

necessity of votes

Good?

Stimulate interest in public affairs

Represent members based on shared attitudes

Provide useful, specialized, and detailed information to government

Promote political participation

Add another element to checks and balances

Compete with one another in the public arena

Bad?

Influence beyond proportion to size, importance, or contribution to public good

Hard to tell who they represent Do not represent views of people they claim

to be for Use tactics that potentially would undermine

entire political system

Types of Interest Groups

Business Groups Labor Groups Agricultural Groups Professional Groups

Groups that Promote Causes

Organizations that Promote the Welfare of Certain Groups

Religious Organizations

PACS

Political action committee (PAC)-any organization in the United States that campaigns for or against political candidates, ballot initiatives or legislation.

Federal level-receive or spend more than $1000

Citizens United v. FEC

PACs who did not give to candidates, parties, or other PACs could accept unlimited contributions from individuals, unions, and corporations (both for profit and not-for-profit) for the purpose of making independent expenditures

Result-Corporations can influence elections and have free speech like citizens

Super PACs

No $ limit Cannot coordinate directly with a candidate

or party Can support a party or candidate Can go against a party or candidate

Super PACs (con.)

Restore Our Future (Romney) Priorities USA Action (Obama) American Crossroads (Anti-Dems) Freedomworks for America (Tea Party)

– 100 individual super PAC donors in 2011–2012 made up just 3.7% of contributors, but accounted for more than 80% of the total money raised

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-january-17-2012/colbert-super-pac---not-coordinating-with-stephen-colbert