Political Influences Political Parties Interest Groups The Media

Political Parties Role of parties:

Party in the electorate – people who associate themselves with one of the two major parties

Party in government – appointed, elected officials at all levels of the government

Party in organization – maintain strength of the party between elections, raise money and organize the conventions

Party Systems One party system

Membership might not be voluntary By law – dictatorships; by circumstance – Solid South

Two party system Minor parties with little effect General consensus on principles and values Single member district promotes Win the largest number of voters

Multiparty system 4 to 20 different parties Instability possible due to the rise of coalitions and

compromise Proportional representation Meaningful choices

What do parties do? Recruit candidates -

Who is interested in running – especially if the incumbent is not running (find the best)

Nominate and support candidates for office Raise money and run the campaign

Educate the electorate Information, and encourage voters to be

involved Organize the government

Majority v. minority party, political appointments

Party Identification and membership Voluntary More and more as INDEPENDENTS (not a third party –

dealignment) Why?

Ideology Education Income Occupation Race Gender Religion Family tradition Region of the country Marital status

Why two parties in the US? Historical roots

Federalist v, Anti Federalist British Roots

Electoral system Single member districts – one winner per

office (not proportional) Election laws

How to get on the ballot – difficult for third party candidates

Party Development in the US 1789-1800

Hamilton (strong national government) v. Jefferson (states’ rights)

1800-1860 – Democratic domination Democratic Republicans until 1824, then a split with

Andrew Jackson Democrats – party of the common man

1860-1932 Republican Domination – Grand Old Party (GOP)

1932-1968 Return of the Democrats – economic issues – New Deal

Coalition formed (Blacks, City dwellers, blue collar, Catholics, Jews, and women)

1968-present – Divided Government Gridlock could take place?

Divided Government Electoral Dealignment -

People not registering with a party Independents

Electoral Realignment – New coalitions formed 1860 and 1932 examples 1980 might be (Reagan)

Types of Third parties Ideological

Particular set of social, political or economic beliefs Communists, Socialists, Libertarians

Splinter/Personality/Factional Split away from major party Strom Thurmond’s States’ Rights; T. Roosevelt’s Bull Moose

Progressive Single Issue

Single public matter Free Soil, Right to Life and Prohibition

Protest Economic problems Greenback and Populist party

Structure of parties National Convention

Select nominee for president and vice president, more of a rubber stamp today due to primaries and caucuses “frontloading”

National Committee Works between

National Chairperson Congressional Campaign Committee State and Local Organization

State law regulates Better organized and better funded today No patronage Dependent on national party due to soft money being

filtered to them Remember – very decentralized, no chain of command

The future for parties? Third party challengers?

Spoiler role- take votes away Loss of support by party loyalists?

More independents Increase in split ticket voting Lack of perceived differences between the

parties Are they different?

Party reforms Greater diversity and openness – conflict within the

party Methods of campaigning

More independent for candidates - no reliance on parties – direct contact with the voters

Interest Groups Federalist 10 – Madison warned

against “factions” but stated that the separation of powers would moderate their effect

Functions of Interest Groups Raise awareness of public affairs Stimulate interest in public affairs “linkage” between government

and their membership Information to the government –

data and testimony Political participation

Types of Interest Groups: Economics

Most interest groups Labor – AFL-CIO and Teamsters Business – Chamber of Commerce, NAM Professional groups – AMA, NEA, ABA Agricultural Groups – Grange and National Farmers

Union Groups that promote causes

Specific causes: ACLU and NRA Welfare of groups: AARP, NAACP, VFW Religion based: National Council of Churches

Public Interest Groups Common Cause, League of Women Voters, MADD

Strategies of Interest Groups Influencing Elections

PACs – contribute money Lobbying

Information, data to officials Direct – personal contacts Grassroots – members send messages Coalition lobbying – common goals join together

Litigation Amicus Curaie briefs filed

Going Public Attention to an issue – gain support through mass

mailings

Legalities PACs – developed in the 1970s –

case of Buckley deals with 1st amendment and right to spend money

Regulation 1946 - first attempt – register 1995: lobbying disclosure act – who

is being “lobbied?”

Trends in News Coverage

The role of the media

Television News coverage has been reduced to

“Sound bites” of 30-45 seconds 24 hours a day coverage “Real time” coverage Ideological agendas with the news –

CNN Crossfire, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Glenn Beck Program, The O’Reilly Factor

News from Late Night shows – Daily Show

Consequences Superficial coverage – no in depth

coverage Credibility of reporters due to

“liberal” or “conservative” bias “Fake news” that becomes “Real

news” More choices available to the

American public

Talk Radio 9/10 Americans listen to radio,

especially in the cars Radio personalities: Howard Stern,

Al Franken NPR as legitimate news radio

Newspapers 33% of Americans read the

newspaper on a daily basis Rise of National Papers – Wall St.

Journal, USA Today, Washington Post

Intense advertising competition 60% of cities have competing

newspapers

Internet Major source of news and

information 37% of Americans receive their

news information at least once a week

Younger, male, better educated and affluent - news audience statistics

Roles of the media Inform the public Shape public opinion “linkage” between citizens and

government Watchdog that investigates wrong

doings Agenda setting – which topics will

be national political issues

Government Regulations Technical regulations

FCC in charge of regulating Structural regulations

Ownership and organization – Telecommunications Act broadened competition

Content regulations First amendment protections, but lawsuits

do occur

Media and the President News release – prepared text News Briefing – announcements and daily

questioning (press secretary) News conference – questioning of high level

officials Leaks – anonymous information released On the record – quoted by name Off the record – cannot be printed On background – no official associated with the

information On deep background – print what the official

said, but not connection to anyone

Media and Congress C-SPAN and C-SPAN II – some of

the happenings are broadcast