Interest Groups/Political Parties

Convention delegates

The party members or officials who vote on nominations and ratify their party's platform. They are party activists.

Professional Interest Groups

The smaller ones are less politically active and work to only improve their profession. (American Medical Association, National Education Association)

political efficacy

Americans are joiners. Americans have a high degree of confidence that they can make an impact on public policy.

Political Action Committee (PACs)

The political arm of an interest group, there are 4,000 of them. They pool voluntary contributions of their members into a single fund and give their funds to favored candidates.

Why are the two parties close in ideology?

Americans are ideologically homogenous, so are the two major parties

Demosclerosis

The inability of the government to make any significant changes due to the power of interest groups.

Synonyms of "interest group"

"pressure groups" or special interest groups

Criticisms of the Two Party System

-Corruption -Don't care about the issues that affect people -No difference between the political parties on basic issues -The major parties discourages competition from third parties -Pursue selfish interests -Divisive nature that polarize the electorate

Economic Protest Parties

-During times of economic discontent concerning Wall Street, Bankers, Railroads, produced parties like the Greenback, and Populists of the 1890's -gained popularity in certain regions of the country.

The spoiler role of third parties

-If a third party draws enough votes away from a major party, it can prevent that party from winning -Ex: Ralph Nader in 2000 kept Al Gore from winning

Criticisms of interest groups?

-Influence of out of proportion to their size -Hard to tell how many people a group represents -Many groups do not represent the view of all of the people for whom they claim to represent -Some engage in illegal activity (bribery, fraud, etc.), quid pro quo -Revolving door problems

Big differences between interest groups and political parties

-Interest groups want to control/influence the POLICIES of government, while political parties want to control government itself. -Interest groups are more private, political parties adhere to the general public

Things that weaken party strength

-More independents -More split-ticket voting -Direct primary -The use of TV, direct mail, and individual websites make candidates less dependent on the political party organization -Growth of single-issue organizations like PACs (over 4000 now) that raise money for candidates who support their views

Ideological parties

-Mostly Socialist or Marxist but also the Libertarian Party -long history in the U.S. More comprehensive than the others covering social, economic, and political matters.

Problems of Multi-party Systems? (3)

-Multiparty systems produce instability in government -These parties have narrower interests -No clear majority and minority

Splinter Parties

-Some third parties form when part of a major party breaks off in protest -Ex: progressives (Bull Moose), 1912 States Rights (Strom Thurmon 1948), and AMerican Independent Party (George Wallace 1968) -Synonym: Strong personality party

Why are minor/third parties at disadvantage?

-The general acceptance of the two party system -The difficulty in raising funds -Often difficult to get on the ballot -Voters do not want to waste their vote -The two major parties make the rules

4 reasons why interest grips are rising?

-economic developments -government policy = war = veteran groups pro union legislation -growth of government = growth of interest groups -social movements = civil rights environmentalism. Ralph Nader has caused more than a dozen consumer public interest groups

critic and innovator role

-established many political precedents -ex. the Anti Mason Party: first to have a national nominating convention, others soon followed this practice

How do interest groups get funded?

-foundation grants (ex: ford foundation) -federal grants/contracts to support projects of organizations (ex: summer youth programs) -Direct mail to raise funds -Membership dues (not important source of their funding though)

Functions of interest groups?

-provide legislators and agency heads useful, specialized, and detailed information, concerning their interest which is their greatest contribution - educate the public and draw citizen attention to their point of view. By doing this they hope to stimulate public interest in public affairs and participation - like minded people can pool their resources for collective political action- interest groups are another example of a linkage institution -they keep fairly close tabs on the behavior of officials in the government (check & balance)

third party ideas

-third parties propose government policies and practices. -Ex: graduated income tax, womens suffrage, railroad, and banking regulation, plus old age pensions

What do lobbyist have to report to Congress?

1. The names of their clients 2. their income and expenditures 3. the issue (s) on which they worked

The national convention has evolved from....

1.)King Caucus - in the early days of the republic where party members in Congress choose the presidential candidates for each party 2.) During the period known as Jacksonian Democracy (1820s-40s) national party conventions replaced King Caucus system 3.) Primary elections to choose the presidential candidates appeared during the progressive era (ca. 1910)

Lobbyist Activities/Methods/Resources

1.)Testify- Access to committees at critical debate times 2.) Meet- Must have great control and effective one on one skills 3.)Research- Should have expertise and staff resources that even members of Congress might not have 4. )Lead-They can mobilize active voters, conduct letter-writing campaigns, spend time canvassing neighborhoods, and educate the public about their cause. 5.)Funding- This is their most powerful action, Lobbyists often represent large groups with many followers and lots of money. They can have tremendous influence over who gets elected. 6.)Litigate- Lobbies can attack acts, rules, and regulations they feel are unfair to them. They must have the funds and the data to go to court (lawyer).

Where in the Constitution can interest groups points to for their right to exist and pursue their activities?

1st Amendment- "... the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Agricultural groups

2% (5 million) live on farms today. (National Grange, American Farm Bureau)

"Quid Pro Quo"

A problem with interest groups, when something is given with the expectation of receiving something in return"

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

Banned soft money in 2002

What makes an interest group effective?

Being very organized and keeping issues and goals in the spotlight. Effectiveness is judged by being honest and having good and accurate information.

One party system

Called "dictatorship"... In the U.S. there were areas of solid party majorities like the "solid South" (Democratic, now largely Republican)

Roosevelt coalition

Democrats became the majority party for a while because Roosevelt promised the American people economic success during a crisis. This is an example of realignment

What is the most common type of interest group?

Economic interest groups/business

Socio-economic factors

Educational level, age, race, income, occupation, and religion. These factors also affect party choice and one's tendency to vote.

Single-Issue Parties

Focus on a particular issue. (Ex: Free soil, Know nothings, right to life party) Most have very short lives. But, the Prohibition party still exists.

Political socialization

How you become politically aware and shape your political opinions. The biggest influence on your politics are your parents views expressed at the dinner table.

Straight-ticketing

Independents that always vote for either all Republicans or all Democrats

The Force of Tradition

It's accepted because the U.S. has always had a two party system. There has been a two-party system for the past 150 years so they seem legitimate.

What interest groups have declined and which have increased?

Labor unions have decreased, public interest groups have increased

Governmental Function

Legislatures are organized by political parties, so their business is party business. Appointments to office are made with party considerations. Parties provide the channels through which the legislative and executive branches are able to work together.

What are interest groups an example of?

Linkage institution (structure within a society that connects the people to the government)

Business groups

Most common type of interest group, they seek pro-business benefit. Ex: National Chamber of Commerce

Ideological Consensus

Only the Civil War and the Great Depression created sharp cleavages (divisions) in politics; Vietnam and the Civil Rights movement did to a lesser degree. When there is a particular issue in the country, Democrats take one side of the issue and Republicans take the other side. During the Great Depression, people moved away from Republic and towards Democrat because Roosevelt was very promising and Hoover did little to help the people in the time of economical crisis.

Free Riders

People who reap the benefits from public goods without actually contributing to the group that won those goods. The free rider phenomenon is particularly troublesome for noneconomic interest groups, esp. ideological interests groups.

Informer-Stimulator Function

Political parties help educate and stimulate voter enthusiasm for the democratic process. They take stands on issues and criticize the opposition party. They do this through advertisements, stickers, signs, commercials, etc. Party labels help voters make decisions. Parties help register voters.

Nominating and Campaign Function

Political parties recruit candidates, and gather support to get them elected. They raise funds and do research for the campaigns and strive to unify the party under the presidential incumbent/ nominee.

Seal of Approval Function

Political parties want their best to be put forward for public support, so they weed out the weak and ineffectual. Parties prompt its successful candidates to perform well in office.

Modern third parties

Reform Libertarian U.S. Taxpayers Socialist Prohibition Natural Law Peace and Freedom American Independent The Green Party

Historical basis for the two party system?

Since the early days of the republic there has been a two party system beginning with those who were for and against the ratification of the Constitution 1787-89. (federalists vs antifederalists)

Strong personality party?

Some people join third parties because of the charismatic personality of the party's candidate. If the leader leaves the party, however, the party often collapses, which is what happened to the Ross Perot's Reform Party in the mid-1990s.

"Revolving door" problem with interest groups

The "revolving door" is when a former head of a government agency becomes a lobbyist for a group the agency was overseeing or regulating. There is a two year required waiting period for the former agency employee and former MOC (Member of Congress) and staff to lobby.

Watchdog Function

The watchdog function is done by the party out of power, who criticizes the policies and behavior of the party that's in power, and can force compromises. They become the loyal opposition.

Economic interest groups

Their goal is to protect their economic well-being, & seek some sort of economic advantage for their members

independents

These voters do not belonging to any party, and they willingly vote for the best candidate regardless of that person's party affiliation.

On what basis do interest groups unite members?

They unite on the basis of shared attitudes rather than on the basis of geography. Ex: a labor union member in Chicago has more in common with a labor union member in Seattle than a farmer outside Decatur III.

Realignment

This is a shift of party loyalty, sometimes due to a major historical event. Voters switch party identification because of the actions of the president, etc. Ex: Roosevelt coalition

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995

Twice a year all registered lobbyists must report to both houses of Congress

Public Interest Groups

Type: NON-economic interest group. Claim to work for the good of the whole society, not just one part of it. These have grown tremendously since the 70s. (Common Cause, League of Women Voters.) Their direction is shaped by their leadership elites.

The National Committee Chairperson

Usually selected by the presidential candidate. He/she directs the work of the party's headquarters, promotes party unity, helps raise money and recruits new voters and candidates.

Split-ticket voters

Voting for both Republicans and Democrats for different offices in the same election. This has caused a number of divided governments in which one party controls the presidency while the other controls at least one house of Congress.

Dealignment

Weakening of party preferences, rise in the number of independents. This describes the United States' voting pattern changes in recent years.

Soft money

When parties raise unlimited amounts of unregulated money.

Interest group

a private organization of the "grass roots" (average voters and citizens) that tries to persuade public officials to respond to the shared attitudes of its members

Political Party

an alliance of like-minded people who work together to win elections and control of the government.

Trade associations

concerned with a particular industry or segment of the economy (American Petroleum Institute, American Bankers Association)

Material incentives

provide services

The National Committee

includes all the State chairpersons. They do not have much power. They state the National Conventions.

national nominating convention

most important event by the the national committees held every 4 years.

Who is a lobbyist

people who spend at least 20 percent of their time lobbying. people who are paid at least $5,000 in any six month period to lobby. corporations and other groups that spend more than $20,000 in any six month period on their own lobbying staff.

The Electoral System

promotes the two party system like the single member districts, winner-take-all system, and having one candidate per office. Election laws favor the two party system.

solitary incentives

sense of pleasure, stats, or companionship. Small local chapters offer this.

4 reasons to join an interest group

solitary incentives, material incentive, purpose incentive, political efficacy

Purpose incentives

the appeal of their goals and they benefit nonmembers like a public interest group or environmental interest

Unions/Labor groups

work to increase wages and improve working conditions for both skilled and unskilled workers. Largest labor union: AFL-CIO which is made up of 100 separate unions. There has been a decline in labor unions.

Congressional Campaign Committee

works to reelect or retain seats that are being given up and to unseat their opponents.