Ch 7 Intrest Groups and Political Parties
Functions of Political Parties
1. recruiting candidates for public office 2. organizing and running elections 3. Preseenting alternative policies to the electorate 4. Accepting responsibility for operating the government 5. acting as the organized opposition to the party in power.
Party Platform
A document drawn up at each national convention, outlining the policies, positions, and principles of the party.
Whig Party
A major party in the United States during the first half of the nineteenth century, formally established in 1836. This party was anti-Jackson and represented a variety of regional interests.
Social Movement
A movement that represents the demands of a large segment of the public for political, economic, or social change
Splinter Party
A new party formed by a dissident faction within a major political party. Often, emerge when a particular personality was at odds with the major party.
Plurality
A number of votes cast for a candidate that is greater than the number of votes for any other candidate but not necessarily a majority.
Two-Party System
A political system in which only two parties have a reasonable chance of winning.
Unit Rule
A rule by which all of a state's electoral votes are cast for the presidential candidate receiving a plurality of the popular vote in that state.
Divided Government
A situation in which one major political party controls the presidency and the other controls the chambers of Congress, or in which one party controls a state governorship and the other controls the state legislature.
National Committee
A standing committee of a national political party established to direct and coordinate party activities between national party conventions
Indirect Technique
A strategy employed by interest groups that uses third parties to influence government officials.
Direct Technique
An interest group activity that involves interaction with government officials to further the group's goals.
Interest Group
An organized group of individuals sharing common objectives who actively attempt to influence policymakers.
Interest Group Strategies
Direct techniques: meet with government officials, provide information to law makers, testify before congressional committees. Indirect techniques: generate public pressure, use constituents as lobbyists.
Labor Movement
Generally, the full range of economic and political expression of working-class interests; politically, the organization of working-class interests.
Party Identification
Linking oneself to a particular political party.
Economic Interest Group
MOST COMMON INTEREST GROUP. Group which primary purpose is to promote financial interest of its members; secure benefit through public policies
Democratic Party
One of the two major American political parties evolving out of the Republican Party of Thomas Jefferson
Republican Party
One of the two major American political parties. It emerged in the 1850s as an antislavery party and consisted of former northern Whigs and antislavery Democrats.
Political Parties v Interest Groups
Similar - both mechanisms for representing the people. Differ - PP wants to run government where IG do not want to. PP organize to win elections, IG support candidates who promote their interests.
Party Organization
The formal structure and leadership of a political party, including election committees local, state, and national executives and paid professional staff.
Patronage
The practice of rewarding faithful party workers and followers with government employment and contracts
State Central Committee
The principal organized structure of each political party within each state. This committee is responsible for carrying out policy decisions of the party's state convention.
Service Sector
The sector of the economy that provides services--such as health care, banking, and education--contrast to the sector that produces goods.
Era of Good Feelings
The years from 1817 to 1825, when James Monroe was president and there was, in effect, no political opposition.
Political Party
a group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine public policy
Faction
a group or bloc in a legislature or political party acting in pursuit of some special interest or position
Electoral College
a group selected by the states to elect the president and the vice-president, in which each state's number of electors is equal to the number of its senators and representatives in Congress
Third Party
a political party other than the two major political parties
Independent
a voter or candidate who does not identify with a political party
Lobbyist
an organization or individual who attempts to influence legislation and the administrative decisions of government
An interest group is
an organization that actively attempts to influence government policy.
Groups recognize that the greatest concern of legislators is to
be reelected.
Legislators and government officials are often more impressed by contacts from
constituents than interest groups.
The intent of "groundswell" public pressure is to
convince policymakers that public opinion overwhelmingly supports the interest group's position.
Types of Interest Groups
economic, environmenal, public interest, single interest, common characteristics, and foreign governments
American farmers and their workers represent about 2% of the U.S. population. This fact supports the proposition that
even a small percentage of the populace can be effective if they organize.
Pork
federal money that is funneled into a specific legislative district. A member of Congress will usually insert this into a bill in order to win votes back home or to make a bill more attractive for votes.
Political endorsements by interest groups are
important because the group can publicize its choices in its membership publication.
The process of giving legislators a score based on the percentage of times he or she votes favorably on legislation of concern to the interest group is called
interest group ratings.
The Audubon Society and the National Wildlife Federation are examples of
interest groups whose focus is preservation of the environment.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) generally enters into legal disputes related to
issues arising from the Bill of Rights.
Successful interest groups and their representatives try to cultivate long-term relationships with
legislators and government officials.
Most people who join AARP are doing so based upon
material incentives.
One of the ways in which lobbyists make themselves valuable to decision makers is by
providing information and expertise whenever asked.
Since 1960, the greatest growth in unionization has occurred among
public employees.
The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) and the National Rifle Association (NRA) are examples of
single interest groups.
A free rider is
someone who benefits from the actions of a group without joining it.
Foreign governments
sometimes hire former members of Congress as lobbyists.
Importance of Third parties
spoiler effect - costs the party most closely associated with the third party votes. Promoting Issues - if they get a decent amount of votes, causes both parties to take on the issues that appealed to the public.
Indirect techniques used by interest groups include
strategies that use the general public or individuals to influence the government for the interest group.
Traditionally, labor unions such as the AFL-CIO
support Democratic candidates.
According to Fortune magazine, the two most effective interest groups in the country are
the NRA and AARP.
Public Interest
the best interests of the overall community; the national good, rather than the narrow interests of a particular group
National Convention
the meeting held every four years by each major party to select presidential and vice-presidential candidates, write a platform, choose a national committee, and conduct party business
The part of the economy that deals with health care, banking and education is called
the service sector.
Causes of Social Movements
usually the first expression of latent discontent of the system. ie. women's movement, civil rights.
Ticket Splitting
voting for candidates of 2 or more parties for different offices. For example, a voter is ________ if she votes for a Republican presidential candidate and a Democratic Congressional candidate
Strait-Ticket Voting
voting for candidates of the same party for all the offices at the same election
In Madison's view, a multitude of interests
works to discourage the formation of an oppressive majority interest.
