PSC 311 Exam 1

Presidential Nominating Conventions (Now Part 2)

- Democrats changed their rules in 1936 to only require a majority of delegates (up until this point they had required 2/3 for nomination): Republicans never required 2/3 - 1968: - Johnson challenged by Eugene McCarthy and won 42% of the vote in NH; Johnson decides to drop out and is replaced by VP Humphrey -Humphrey entered too late to file for primaries -Not every state held primaries, so Humphrey focused on winning support among party leaders in convention states -Robert Kennedy and McCarthy split the primary states -Kennedy wins in CA, which puts him ahead of McCarthy, but then he is assassinated -George McGovern enters the race to take Kennedy's place and appeal to Kennedy delegates who liked neither McCarthy nor Humphrey -At the convention in Chicago, thousands showed up to protest the Vietnam war and Mayor Daley used force against them -Even though Humphrey had skipped all primary contests, he won the nomination easily, winning 1759.25 votes to McCarthy's 601 and McGovern's 146.5 -Humphrey loses the 1968 election against Richard Nixon 191 - 301 (electoral college votes)

Presidential Nominating Conventions (Then)

- First nominating conventions were held in 1832 to nominate Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay -Impromptu, almost unplanned events - Clay nomination: 130 delegates originally (some stragglers joining later); each state delegation credentialed itself; only decisions made were nomination of presidential ticket and drafting of an "address to the people"

How do interest groups differ from Political Parties?

- parties are paramount in elections, have a full time commitment to political activity, they mobilize large numbers, they endure, serve as political symbols. -Interest groups do not want to operate the government or put forth political candidates

Partisan affect

-(feeling thermometer ratings of two parties) become stronger (more polarized)

Direct Primary

-A direct primary, which is now used in some form in all U.S. states, functions as a preliminary election whereby voters decide their party's candidates. In an indirect primary, voters elect delegates who choose the party's candidates at a nominating convention.

grass-roots activism

-A grassroots movement is one which uses the people in a given district, region, or community as the basis for a political or economic movement. Grassroots movements and organizations use collective action from the local level to affect change at the local, regional, national, or international level. -Grass roots activities: organizing campaign events, voter registration, canvassing, and get out the vote drives, voter contact by the phone and email, and distributing lawn signs and literature;

Party Bosses

-A leader in a political party who does favors for urban residents in return for their votes; controls votes and dictates appointments; associated with corruption and organized crime; do not necessarily hold public office. -By giving patronage jobs to party supporter, the party's leaders could be assured that city workers would remain loyal to the machine and work to help it win elections by delivering not only their own votes but those of their family, friends, and neighbors as well. After all, if the party lost the elections, then these patronage workers would loose their jobs.

Party Convention

-A meeting of party delegates to vote on matters of policy and in some cases to select party candidates for public office. -Political convention, meeting of delegates of a political party at the local, state, provincial, or national level to select candidates for office and to decide party policy. -Pros: Party platform, rules, nomination of candidate Cons: Contributes to polarization

Party Activist

-A party member who helps to organize and oversee party functions and planning during and between campaigns and may even become a candidate for office. -"A person who tries to bring about political or social change" (dictionary definition) - "A person who is engaged in political activity beyond voting" (political science definition) - Examples: volunteer for a political party or campaign, write letters, protest, phone bank, host fundraisers, canvass etc -Tension for party leadership: - Activists and their enthusiasm needed for volunteer and grassroots work - Activists push parties towards more extreme positions, which could alienate moderate voters the parties need to attract to win

Party Machines

-A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern. -They controlled the nominations to elective office. It had the hierarchical structure that today's local parties lack. It relied on material incentives-giving out jobs and favors-to build support among voters. Above all, it controlled the government in a city and country. -Party machines fell during the 1900's. Political reform took away patronage jobs which was used to reward party loyalty. People got government jobs by scoring well on civil service exams, Federal entitlement programs such as social security and food stamps reduced favors that party machines could provide. Economic jobs growth boosted many american income. Higher education increased

Presidential Nominating Conventions (Now)

-Also a sign of the nationalization of parties -There now is a national party organization with some powers and roles, one of them being setting up the nominating convention and writing a party platform - Early conventions: this is where presidential nominees were actually chosen -Party leaders would bargain with one another to determine the nominee

What caused these shifts: Local,State, National

Local: -Direct Primaries -Merit Based Civil Service -BCRA (Grassroots) -Mass Media - Other ways to vote:absentee -Party activist -Non-Partisan elections State: -Direct Primaries -Merit Based Civil Service -BCRA -Mass Media -Reform( Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy) -Party activist -Non-Partisan elections National: -Procedural-Reform Path -Service Party Path -Non-Partisan election

The roles of Political Parties?

Short version: •Transmit voter preferences • Elect candidates • Present policy alternatives • Serve as symbols/shortcuts • Govern -They raise issues that they want the government to address. Long Version: -They tell people what the government is doing. -By bringing people together with shared interest, they amplify these people's voices in speaking to the government. -They keep an eye on one another as well as on the actions of public officials. -Different intermediaries specialize in different political activities. -Parties focus on nominating candidates, helping to elect them, and organizing those who win. -American parties focus on election activities.

Soft money: explain what it is and how it impacted party organizations and activities

Soft money is money that is donated to political parties where the purpose is not to promote a specific candidate. -Role of "soft money" (BCRA prohibits national party committees from raising or spending money not subject to federal limits, even in state and local races or when discussing issues) -banned soft money contributions to national political parties from corporations and unions; independent expenditures by corporations, labor unions, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations are sharply restricted, The elimination of "soft money" -money donated to political parties in a way that leaves the contribution unregulated. - there are no limits attached to the amount that can be received. -Role of "soft money" (BCRA prohibits national party committees from raising or spending money not subject to federal limits, even in state and local races or when discussing issues)

Describe the power shifts among local, state, and national party organizations and be able to cite five examples to illustrate what caused these shifts and which effects they had (STATE)

Then: -Traditionally weak link in the party organization -They began as loose federations of semi independent local party chairs. -Progressive reforms kept the state party organizations weak - Direct primaries limited the influence of state parties on campaigns for state offices -Candidates could win party nominations in primary elections, raise money for their own campaigns, and run them without party organizational help -in 1960, the Democratic party adopted reforms that greatly increased the number of primaries in the presidential nominating process. That reduced the state party's role in selecting presidential candidates. The voters, rather than the state party organizations choose most convention delegates, and state party leaders no longer control the delegates vote. -One party dominance on several states during the first half of the 1900s left several state parties weak and conflict-ridden -Roles • Recruit candidates for statewide offices (governor, state treasurer, attorney general etc)/state legislature • Candidate training • Fundraising assistance • May coordinate with local parties on GOTV, voter registration, canvassing Powers • For a long time seen as weak link between powerful local organizations and national umbrella organizations • Weaknesses: they started out as loose associations of fairly independent local party chairs • Just as national party has little power over state parties, state parties have little power over local parties Powers • Direct primaries further reduced power of state parties because it decreased state party organizations' influence over selecting presidential nominees • Factions and divisions within the state parties and lack of unification Fundraising • BCRA => national parties no longer able to transfer soft money to states • State parties increased own fund-raising post-BCRA, but: could not make up lost funds • Competition from activist groups and PACs => state parties shift towards grassroots activities -Building organizational strength • Republicans more organized than Dems for a long time • Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy created parity • State parties rely on allied groups for labor, money, and candidate services -Increasing strength: Powers • Since the 1960s: state parties have organizationally matured • Permanent staff, permanent headquarters, full-time paid executive directors -number of state parties with a permanent headquarters and full time, paid executive director(most important) has increased greatly, almost every state party have both -Campaign services: state parties have used their volunteer labor to focus on grassroots mobilization and targeting. To run an effective campaign, state legislative and statewide candidates need field workers and voter lists, and they often turn to the state party organizations to provide these services. -State parties, whose budgets are better suited to field activity than to big media buys, have been able to comply -Parity in organization strength: Republican _rich -largest budgets- specialized staff.( provide greater services to their candidates such as polling field staff, and researchers) ..democrats .....Howard Dean provided state party chairs that he would give every state, enough resources to hire at least three or four field organizations and access to party database of voters. -Allied groups: labor unions(government and teacher employees) have worked closely with their state democratic party organizations to provide money, volunteers, and other services to party candidates. -Republicans: conservative groups, pro lifters , Christian groups provide help -States provide campaign and organizational services to candidates who in earlier years would not have dreamed of looking to their state headquarters for help. -Flow of resources, money, and leadership from national parties help modify traditional flow of party power.

Describe the power shifts among local, state, and national party organizations and be able to cite five examples to illustrate what caused these shifts and which effects they had (LOCAL)

Then: After machines failed, local party organizations weakened. locals starved for leadership, money, and volunteers. They focused in providing services to candidates Now: -They only function only during campaign season, and they rely on unpaid volunteers. Pain staff members are rare. -Most county parties report that they concentrate on labor intensive grass roots activities: organizing campaign events, voter registration, canvassing, and get out the vote drives, voter contact by the phone and email, and distributing lawn signs and literature; and again motr local parties report conducting these activities now than they did in 1980. In addition, county parties are increasing their uses of the internet and social media. Websites, can be more accessible to prospective volunteers that are local headquarters. -Recently, many country party leaders have stepped up their efforts to promote absentee and early voting. -Local parties are more active in during election season, in competitive and urban areas -These organizations that once were at the very center of election activity, county parties have become service providers to candidates who often have several other sources of help. -Parties provide labor in the form of volunteers, but they are no longer a major source of campaign funds. POWERPOINT: Weak parties? • Scholarship shows that in 80s and 90s parties remained strong • Provision of services to more independent candidates • Facilitate connections between candidates and donors/ supportive activist networks -2000s? Rise of internet and passage of BCRA (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002) -BCRA (Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act) in 2002 • Russ Feingold (D-WI) and John McCain (R-AZ) • Meant to address: • Role of "soft money" (BCRA prohibits national party committees from raising or spending money not subject to federal limits, even in state and local races or when discussing issues) -Issue advocacy ads (this is overturned in Citizens United vs FEC) Effect of BCRA on parties: • Return to mobilization and grassroots activity (canvassing, phone banking etc) • Decline in financial/resource/money focused activities (such as buying ads or giving money to candidates' campaigns) Five major themes: • Local parties have matured structurally • Despite this, they still lack some enduring features of permanent organizations (such as year-round offices and paid staff) •Shift from money-centered to labor-centered activities post-BCRA -Parties evolve not 100% symmetrically • Decline in cooperation between state and local parties

Issue advocacy ads

ads that focus on issues and do not explicitly encourage citizens to vote for a certain candidate

Proportional Voting

-An election system in which every party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to it's proportion of vote

BCRA

-BCRA (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002): -Russ Feingold (D-WI) and John McCain (R-AZ) -Meant to address: • Role of "soft money" (BCRA prohibits national party committees from raising or spending money not subject to federal limits, even in state and local races or when discussing issues) -Issue advocacy ads (this is overturned in Citizens United vs FEC) -The BCRA prohibits the use of nonfederal funds (often called "soft money") to pay for these activities, and requires that some FEA be financed only with federal funds, although other types of FEA may be paid for with a mix of federal funds and a new category of funds, called "Levin Funds" (see below). -Decline in financial/resource/money focused activities (such as buying ads or giving money to candidates' campaigns)

How are interest group and Political Parties alike?

-Both are organized groups of people working toward specific goals in the government and both promote politicians and raise money to accomplish those goals.

Party in Government

-Composed of the men and women who run for and hold public offices on the party's label ( Party candidates for public office and state, local, and national public officials) - They often work together to meet shared goals, but they may have different priorities in reaching those goals.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

-Corporations have 1st amendment right to support political candidates -the Supreme Court held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited, because doing so would violate the First Amendment.

Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy

-Created parity: the state or condition of being equal, especially regarding status or pay. -Howard Dean provided state party chairs that he would give every state, enough resources to hire at least three or four field organizations and access to party database of voters. -Howard Dean pursued an explicit "fifty-state strategy" as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, putting resources into building a Democratic Party presence even where Democrats had been thought unlikely to win federal positions, in hopes that getting Democrats elected to local and state positions, and increasing awareness of Democrats in previously conceded areas, would result in growing successes in future elections. Democrats who supported the strategy have said that abandoning red states as lost causes only allowed the Republican Party to grow even stronger in areas where it was unchallenged, resulting in lopsided losses for Democrats in even more races

Gerrymandering

-Drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent. -Redrawing of district lines in favor of a specific political party. Limits party competition on the state level . Drawing district lines to maximize one's own party's strength and disadvantage the other party.

Describe the power shifts among local, state, and national party organizations and be able to cite five examples to illustrate what caused these shifts and which effects they had (NATIONAL)

-Each major party supreme national authority is the national convention. Hold it every year to nominate a presidential candidate. -governing bodies are national committees -Fundraising and candidate support • Some call them "presidential SuperPACs" because their main activity revolves around presidential elections • Set primary rules and calendar, primary debate calendar, write party platform, hold nominating convention -National organization will often merge with presidential campaign after end of primaries/convention -Fundraising and candidate support • Also: polls, policy, assistance to state parties, candidate recruitment/training/fundraising -Service Party Path : a party organization that supports candidates' campaigns with money and other resources, as opposed to running the campaign itself -the rnc used the money to offer services such as candidate recruitment • RNC: reaction to electoral defeat and Watergate • Focus on providing assistance and services to state and local parties and candidates • Party building and fundraising • Marketing techniques to reach voters -Procedural-Reform Path : make the nominating process more open and democratic and, in particular more representative of the concerns of people like young,black, and women • DNC: reaction to civil rights movement and Vietnam War protests • McGovern-Frasier-Commission overhauled nominating process after 1968 Democratic Convention • Gave national party control over nominating process and limited power of the state parties -McGovern-Frasier-Commission overhauled nominating process after 1968 Democratic Convention -Gave national party control over nominating process and limited power of the state parties -Limited to Democrats but: state laws also affect GOP -McGovern-Frasier-Commission overhauled nominating process after 1968 Democratic Convention -a commission formed at 1968 democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups and others who sought better representation. NOW: Two national party organizations look more similar again • Primaries and caucuses used universally • Both parties have transformed their national party organizations into service providers for candidates and state parties

How did the Federalists view parties and why?

-Federalists: in favor of strong federal government -They viewed them as Bad! - Parties vs "will of the people" -Federalist led by Alexander Hamilton; he believed that the nation's economic survival required centralized (federal government) control over the economy, especially by the executive branch. -They pushed for central banking system and high tariffs to help american industries and help fund the federal government. -Solutions? Eradicate sources of factions and Eradicate effects

Interest Groups

-Focus on single issue groups, labor unions, political action committees -Influence policy makers - Tend to sharpen issues in an attempt to promote a position on a specific issue, such as gun control or agriculture. -They do not want to operate the government or put forth political candidates

Party Organization

-Includes party leaders and the activist who work for party causes and candidates such as party committees, party leasers, and activist - Charged with promoting candidates and it stands on major issues just an individual candidate or two.

What are Political Parties?

-Intermediary Organizations: a link between government and the population transmit preferences -A party is a group organized to nominate candidate, to try to win political power through elections, and to promote ideas about public policies. -Local, State, and National

Parliamentary and presidential system

-One single executive directly elected by the people vs. a prime minister chosen by the legislature -Proportional Representation vs Plurality Voting with Single Member Districts

McGovern-Frasier-Commission

-Overhauled nominating process after 1968 Democratic Convention -Gave national party control over nominating process and limited power of the state parties -Limited to Democrats but: state laws also affect GOP -A commission formed at the 1968 Democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups and others who sought better representation.

What might be some arguments in favor of more party organization control over nomination processes?

-Partisan affect (feeling thermometer ratings of two parties) become stronger (more polarized) -Growth of their political party as organization ,electorate, and government (National, state, and local) -Have a greater influence on candidates and platforms etc.

Pragmatist

-Party "regular"; loyal to the party, even when it does not do exactly what they would like: willing to compromise to achieve progress; a lot of party elites are pragmatists that have worked their way up through the party organization over the course of decades

Three parts of US Political Parties

-Party Organization -Party in Government -Party in the electorate

Purist

-Party activity only seen as means to achieve issue-based goal; no party loyalty; little to no willingness to compromise; might defect to third parties if parties do not embrace their exact policy preferences

Plurality voting

-Plurality voting is our current system. A plurality electoral system is an electoral system in which candidates can win seats without receiving a majority of the votes. Each voter votes for one candidate, and the candidate with the plurality (most votes) wins; regardless of whether that candidate gets a majority or not. Plurality voting works when only two candidates are running, but it cannot work effectively and be fair with more than two candidates.

Be able to discuss how the factors we discussed in class have contributed to polarization and which changes/reforms might help de-polarize the party system as it relates to the material we have covered in class so far

-Political polarization - the vast and growing gap between liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats -Factors that contribute to polarization of parties -Before the reform of the party system :Party machine Patronage (rewarding individual with job if job) -Indirect Primaries: Votes choose delegates, who choose party candidate at the nominating convention -Currently: Party Activist : Activists push parties towards more extreme positions, which could alienate moderate voters the parties need to attract to win -Party conventions: ideal, rules , supports etc. (ISSUE ADVOCACY ADS) This causes :Partisan affect (feeling thermometer ratings of two parties) become stronger (more polarized) Depolarization/bipartisanship: Agreement and cooperation between two parties -Factors that contribute to the depolarization of party system: -Reform for Merit Civil Service rewards a person for skill -Direct Primaries function as a preliminary election whereby voters decide their party's candidates. -Currently:Proportional voting: each party has a certain amount of seats -Non-Partisan Election -Third parties: Adopt ideals from third parties

Non-partisan Elections

-Progressive movement's treasured achievements was to restrict the role of parties by removing party labels from many ballots, mostly in local elections. -About three quarters of American cities and towns, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Atlanta, run their local elections on non-partisanship bias -Many states select judges using non partisan ballots -Nonpartisan adds to the parties burdens; even the strongest local parties have to work much harder to let voters know which candidate are affiliated with their party. -Removing party labels from ballot has not usually removed partian influences where parties are already strong. A resourceful party organization can still reflect its candidates and persuade voters when party labels are not on ballot. -Even where local voters local elections are nonpartisan, local voters are still affected by the partisan content of state and national elections. -Researchers use to believe that nonpartisan elections gave an advantage to republican candidates, who were more likely to have financial resources to attract voter attention in the absence of party labels. -More recent research suggest however that is is the minority party in an area that benefits, because the nonpartisan ballot takes away the party cue that would remind the majority's voters to choose the majority party's candidates. Nonpartisan elections also reduce voter turnout. -Most voters use the party label as a helpful shortcut for making choices in elections. When this shortcut is not listed on the ballot, fewer people make the effort to vote.

Be able to discuss the pros and cons of weak versus strong party organizations

-Strong Parties (Advantage): -Common Platforms -Candidates from party run as a team -Party discipline in legislatures -Party voting -Unified National Party -Larger budgets - More full time employees -Paid staff members -Work effectively to register voters, tell about party candidates, and get them to polls on election day -Party win more races -Filling ticket with attractive candidates -Party get platform enacted into law Strong Parties (Disadvantage): -Not much diversity -No split ticket voting -Weak Parties (Advantage): -Diversity of view -Candidates run separately -Low Level of Discipline -Split-ticketing -Regional Diversity -Weak Parties(Disadvantages): -Fewer staff -Not large budget -Fewer voter

Incumbent

-The incumbent is the current holder of an office or position, usually in relation to an election. For example, in an election for president, the incumbent is the person holding or acting in the office of president before the election, whether seeking re-election or not.

Plurality voting with single member districts

-The single member plurality voting system (SMP) is the most commonly used voting system in the United States. SMP works with single-member districts, meaning geographically-defined districts that send one representative to a legislature. Voters in a given district cast one vote for their favorite candidate, and the candidate receiving the most votes is elected. This system commonly works in a series of two elections, in which primaries are held to determine a nominee from each major party, followed by a general election that pits the primary winners against one another.

Single-member district:

-The single member plurality voting system (SMP) is the most commonly used voting system in the United States. SMP works with single-member districts, meaning geographically-defined districts that send one representative to a legislature. Voters in a given district cast one vote for their favorite candidate, and the candidate receiving the most votes is elected. This system commonly works in a series of two elections, in which primaries are held to determine a nominee from each major party, followed by a general election that pits the primary winners against one another.

Explain Clark & Wilson's theory of incentives (material, solidary, purposive)

-The three benefits for joining a political party; changes depending on what type of person you are •Material: Patronage (receiving a government job in return for party work and loyalty); but also: setting themselves up to run for office • Solidary: social contact with like-minded individuals as reward • Purposive: Issue-based rewards; activists/volunteers convinced that their work makes a difference ADDITIONAL -Material ( work very hard, patronage job in government) -Solidary ( what do you get out of this, the good incentive of people that share your values. Some interest, and outlook on a number of things.) -purposive ( support for policies and issues you care about) -parties have evolved from offering mainly material to offering mainly purposive incentives

How does the two party system represent the interests of third party voters? Give an example of how the two parties can incorporate interests and policy demands of smaller parties

-Third parties, especially left-wing third parties, declined after the New Deal because their policy demands were co-opted by the Democratic Party -What does co-opted mean in this context? => their platform was adjusted to address many of their policy demands -Some argue that minor parties deserve the credit for a number of public policies-programs that were first suggested by a minor party and then adopted by a major party when they became politically popular Ex: Socialist party- democrat party passed the minimum wage law in 1930 after the socialist party advocated for more than 2 decades -Major parties usually purpose a new policy once a lot of americans party might have picked up the new proposal from any of a number of sources in addition to the socialist. -minority parties result from the failure of the preferences of voters, manage the economy, select attractive and acceptable. Thus, minor parties gain support when they promote attractive ideas that major party candidates, rather than because many voters believe in a multiparty system as a matter of principle. -support because don't feel represented. Larger parity want them to become their voter.

Party in the Electorate

-Those citizens who express an attachment to the party (Citizens who identify with the party) -See themselves as Democrats or republicans. The citizens feel some degree of loyalty to the party, even if they never set foot in the party's headquarters or met in its candidates -They are called partisans or party identifiers. Partisans usually support their party's candidates and issue stands, but nothing forces them to do so. -Without this reliable base, the party would have to work much harder to win and keep power.

How did George Washington view parties and why?

-Washington worries that parties will undermine the Constitution. How? Gridlock and Dishonesty -GRIDLOCK: In politics, gridlock or deadlock or political stalemate refers to a situation when there is difficulty passing laws that satisfy the needs of the people. ... Gridlock can occur when two legislative houses, or the executive branch and the legislature are controlled by different political parties, or otherwise cannot agree. -DISHONESTY: a fraudulent or deceitful act. - In the 7,641-word document, the nation's first president called for the American people to remain unified, resist the rise of political factions and avoid the influence of foreign powers. -Importance of Unity: Washington's farewell address urged Americans not to put their regional and sectional interests above the interests of the nation as a whole. -The 'Worst Enemy' of Government: Loyalty to Party Over Nation According to Washington, one of the chief dangers of letting regional loyalties dominate loyalty to the nation as a whole was that it would lead to factionalism, or the development of competing political parties. When Americans voted according to party loyalty, rather than the common interest of the nation, Washington feared it would foster a "spirit of revenge," and enable the rise of "cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men" who would "usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines, which have lifted them to unjust dominion." -Danger of foriegn entanglements: Just as regionalism would lead to the formation of political parties, Washington believed, partisanship would open the door to "foreign influence and corruption." While he advocated for the United States to be on good terms with all nations, especially commercial relations, he argued that "inveterate antipathies against particular Nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded."

- What is Seth Masket's argument against trying to "fix"parties? Be able to name two of the examples he uses.

-We need parties to structure our votes. If voters serve as the thermostat determining whether the government has gone too far or not far enough, they require meaningful party labels on the ballot. Partisans have a sense of what they want and what ideals they support. There must be a type of collective ideal for everyone to vote on. -Voter ballot runoff decreased ( minnesota state senate elections between 1972 and 1976, nonpartisan ballot and partisan ballot) -People who showed up to vote in the presidential election or congressional races were more likely to cast a vote in the state legislative races when the ballot were partisan. -Incumbency had less of an effect on the vote when the partisan was restores. Incumbents still tended to do better than challengers, but not by as much when toters could see the partisan identity of the candidates -It changed because voters have less of an sense of who their state legislative candidates are. D or R plates a huge part. -``Parties are more than simply necessary, as I will argue. They are a positive force in democracy. They establish grounds for debate, enable constructive criticism of a ruling regime, provide voters with policy alternatives, imbue elections with meaning, and allow for greater public involvement in the political system." - Seth Masket, ``The Inevitable Party", p. 4 -``Despite parties' unpopularity, they remain the greatest instruments for organizing elections, turning out voters, running government, and developing policy ideas and seeing them enacted that we've ever produced. At the very least, those who wish to weaken or abolish our parties should bear the burden of explaining why that is worth sacrificing." - Seth Masket, ``The Inevitable Party", p. 167

Patronage

-those awarded on the basis of party loyalty instead of qualifications

merit-based civil service

A personnel system in which bureaucrats are hired on the basis of the principles of competence, equal opportunity (open competition), and political neutrality; once hired, these public servants have job protection. EX: In this system, the large majority of jobs in individual bureaucracies are tied to the needs of the organization rather than to the political needs of the party bosses or political leaders. This purpose is reflected in the way civil service positions are advertised. A general civil service position announcement will describe the government agency or office seeking an employee, an explanation of what the agency or office does, an explanation of what the position requires, and a list of the knowledge, skills, and abilities, commonly referred to as KSAs, deemed especially important for fulfilling the role. A budget analyst position, for example, would include KSAs such as experience with automated financial systems, knowledge of budgetary regulations and policies, the ability to communicate orally, and demonstrated skills in budget administration, planning, and formulation. The merit system requires that a person be evaluated based on his or her ability to demonstrate KSAs that match those described or better. The individual who is hired should have better KSAs than the other applicants.

The Two-Party System

An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections. -Institutional reasons: single executive, plurality voting, single member districts - Re-alignments over course of US history => different party systems and coalitions - Pros and Cons of different electoral systems: representation vs gridlock, separation of powers, minority rights vs majority rule