Unit 5: Political Participation (Linkage Institutions)
Parties in Congress
- Committee system: Chairs and a majority of members -Party leadership roles are based on party
Caucus
-A meeting of party members to choose a candidate -Synchronous rounds of voting performed via persuasive dialog -Only registered members of the party can attend
Civil disobedience
-Intentionally breaking a law to call attention to an injustice
GOTV
-Mobilize voters, get them to the polls
Free rider problem
-People who benefit from a geoup's efforts without joining (and paying dues)
Political consultants
-Professionals hired by campaign to develop media strategy, fundraise, research and conduct polling
Two-party system
A result of tradition & election polices, NOT the constitution
Campaign finance law
Candidates are now less reliant on the party for money and therefore more Independent to do as they wish
Party dealignment
Decline In party Identification and loyalty
Proposed electoral college reform
Flawed reforms: -Require Constitutional Amendment -Do not completely prevent an Electoral College loss of the popular vote winner -Inject a high degree of partisanship Most popular reform: National Popular Vote Compact: -Requires the agreement of enough states so that the total of their electors is equivalent to the majority of the Electoral College. -Surrenders state vote to winner of popular vote
candidate-centered politics
Focus on candidates as Individuals, rather than party identification
Regional realignment
South was consistently Democratic, is now consistently Republican
Party-line voting
Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices at the same level of government or voting based on personal stance of issues (easiest way to predict)
Voter apathy
Voters feel like their vote does not and will not count. They have no interest, motivation, or desire to participate in the political process.
Voter alienation
Voters feel like they should vote but do not, because they feel underrepresented and think their vote will be insignificant. Essentially, they do not see themselves in those running for office.
Prospective voting
Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future and how it will impact the voter's life later (common with considering newcomers/challengers)
Rational choice
Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen's individual interest by evaluating campaign platforms (What is best for America? Who best represents my values?)
Retrospective voting
Voting to decide whether the party or candidate in power should be reelected based on the recent past (if it's an open seat election, the voter will likely consider the track record of incumbent part/successes/failures)
BCRA
-"Stand by Your Ad" provision attempted to reduce negative ads -Banned direct contributions from corporations to candidates or political parties -Set limits on the timing of some independent political ads
National convention
-A presidential candidate is officially nominated
Rising campaign costs
-Advertising, staff salaries, direct mailers, offices, travel
Closed primary
-Only registered party members can vote -Lower turnout -More responsive to party desires
Parties
-An organization of people with similar political ideologies that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected. -The primary function of political parties is to link people to the government and its policies. Political parties are made up of three semi-independent teams: the party organization, the party in government, and the party in the electorate. -Organization that seeks political power by electing members to office -Primary purpose: gain power/win elections - -Secondary: Influence public policy -Political parties are just one way that individuals can connect to the political process. They can: • Connect voters, Persuade voters, Mobilize voters, and Educate voters -Parties are organized in a hierarchical system with written bylaws, a platform of issues, goals, and a fundraising plan. -Parties engage voters by holding monthly meetings of local party chapters, making calls to get voters to the polls, canvassing neighborhoods, or simply speaking out in favor of the party platform to friends and family. -Shape and reflect voters' political ideologies -Parties have no restrictions on who can be members -Help decide who will be the party's candidate for office -Members can be lifelong or just who the voter tends to side with on Election Day. -More active members volunteer for the party, make donations, or even run for office -Control over the drawing of legislative districts -Parties create a party platform, recruit candidates, manage the candidates campaign, fundraise for the campaign, and develop and execute a media strategy -Their main goal is to get their candidate elected, but they can also encourage voters to encourage others to vote for their candidate
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
-Banned soft money -Soft money: Contributions to a political party for party-building purposes, unlimited and unregulated by the FEC
Social movements
-Broad-based efforts to achieve major policy change -Tend to be more diffuse than interest groups -Sometimes lack leadership, resources, infrastructure, and clear policy objectives, which hinders their success -Some gather momentum and result in policy change -The Progressive Era from 1890-1920 fueled the rise of social movements and is know as an era of reform. -This era was marked by groups of individuals working together to fuel and cement lasting change. -Progressive Era Amendments: Sixteenth Amendment (1913) - Congress can tax individual incomes Seventeenth Amendment (1913)- Allowed for the direct election of senators Nineteenth Amendment (1920) - Granted women the right to vote
Party caucuses
-Closed meeting of party members to set legislative agendas, select committee members and chairs, and choose leadership
Consumer movement
-Consumers wanted to hold manufacturers accountable for making products that are safe for consumption and use -Consumers' Bill of Rights: Presented by JFK in 1962. Meant to challenge manufacturers and guarantee product safety, information, and selection -The Consumers Union formed a Washington-based interest group > Consumer Federation of America. -Ralph Nader became the movement's chief advocate. -Congress established the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 1972.
Critical elections
-Critical elections → are marked by party realignments and these elections reveal abrupt and long-lasting shifts in party loyalties. -Precede a party realignment; polarize voters around new/major issues (1860, 1932)
Delegates
-Delegates are selected by presidential candidates at the time of ballot qualification. -Number determined by party -Delegate seats awarded by allocation rules set by state -Vote as voters indicated preference on ballot -Allowed to vote as a superdelegate would if there is a brokered election
Presidential preference primaries
-Elections in which people vote for the preferred candidate from their party -Winner is the party's nominee -Held in all 50 states over the course of several months
Endorse candidates
-Encourage membership to vote for particular candidates
winner-take-all
-Faster path to declaring the nominee -Candidate with plurality wins all delegates for a state -Preferred by Republicans -50% of GOP delegates awarded by mid- March 2016
Which amendments/acts expanded expansion of opportunities for political participation?
-Fifteenth (African Americans), Seventeenth (direct election of senators), Nineteenth (Women), Twenty-Third (Washington DC), Twenty-Fourth (eliminated poll tax), and Twenty-Sixth Amendments (voting age from 21 to 18) -Originally, it was just white male property owners -1957 Civil Rights Act (established U.S. office of Civil Rights to address discrimination in voter registrations) -1964 Civil Rights Act (required equal application of voter registration rules) -1965 Voting Rights Act (Outlawed literacy tests and established a preclearance for states with historical discriminatory voting practices) -Guinn v. U.S. (ruled the grandfather clause unconstitutional) -Smith v. Allwright (ruled that the white primary was a violation of the 14th amendment's Equal Protection Clause
Changes in communication and data-management technology
-Formal Debates: Candidates formally debate one another on the major issues of the campaign -Polling & Mining Databases: Give information on voter preferences -Advantage of Timing: Campaigns hire media experts that know when and how to best time announcements for voters maximum impact -Social Media: Candidates use social media to speak directly to voters
Influences on Voter Choice
-Gender: women are more likely to vote democrat, men are more likely to vote republican -Age: Older Americans are more likely to vote than younger Americans. Senior citizens (aged 65+) have highest voter turnout among age groups Religion: Evangelicals → White, born-again Evangelical Protestants tend to support the Republican Party, creating the "religious right" Catholics > Historically vote for the Democratic Party Jews → Have a high voter turnout and tend to vote Democrat -Race/Ethnicity: Minorities are more likely to vote for Democratic candidates. -African Americans: → Most likely to support those in need through social welfare programs and criminal and social justice reform Hispanics: → Are the fastest growing minority group in the US. Cuban Americans tend support Republicans. Religion can play a role in their choice. Immigration is an important issue. Asian Americans: → Make up about 3% of the voting population. Support less regulation of businesses and protection of civil liberties for minorities.
Partisanship in elections
-Geographic and ideological self sorting -Outside group influence → "Primarying" and narrowcasting -Gerrymandering
Linkage institutions
-Groups in society that connect people to the government and facilitate turning the people's concerns into political issues on the government's policy agenda. -Linkage institutions connect individuals to the political process -Channels that allow individuals to communicate their preferences to pollcymakers -Polltical parties, interest groups, elections, media
Ideological groups
-Groups that form around a particular political ideology -Examples: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) National Organization for Women (MON) National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Single issue groups
-Groups that form to address a narrow area of concern or simply focus on one topic -Examples: National Rifle Association (NRA) American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
What can parties still do?
-Have the most data -Have the most institutional knowledge -Coordinate policy agendas -Reserve volunteers and organizers -Retain information on political elites and party donors in locales -Influence electoral practices and hold nomination contests
candidate-centered campaigns
-Historically, people identified more with political parties than individual candidates. -Since the Nixon era campaigns have become increasingly candidate-centered. -People vote for a candidate rather than a party. -Candidates now speak directly to the people. -The rise of this campaign style has weakened the parties.
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)
-In 2008, Citizens United, a non-profit organization funded partially by corporate donations, produced Hillary: The Movie, a film created to persuade voters not to vote for Hillary Clinton as the 2008 Democratic presidential nominee. Citizens United wanted to make the movie available to cable subscribers through video-on-demand services and wanted to broadcast TV advertisements for the movie in advance. The Federal Election Commission said that Hillary: The Movie was intended to influence voters, and, therefore, the BCRA applied. That meant that the organization was not allowed to advertise the film or pay to air it within 30 days of a primary election. Citizens United sued the FEC in federal court, asking to be allowed to show the film. The district court heard the case and decided that even though it was a full length movie and not a traditional television ad, the film was definitely an appeal to vote against Hillary Clinton. This meant that the bans in the BCRA applied: corporations and organizations could not pay to air this sort of direct appeal to voters so close to an election. -Because of a special provision in the BCRA, Citizens United was allowed to appeal the decision directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, which the organization did. Citizens United asked the Court to decide whether a feature-length film really fell under the rules of the BCRA and whether the law violated the organization's First Amendment rights to engage in political speech. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case and heard oral argument in March 2009. Two months later the Supreme Court asked both parties to submit additional written responses to a further question: whether the Court should overrule its prior decisions about the constitutionality of the BCRA. The Court scheduled a second oral argument session for September 2009. -Justice Kennedy wrote the majority opinion. He was joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Alito. Justice Stevens dissented and was joined by Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, and Sotomayor.
Modern campaigns
-Increased reliance on social media for campaign communication and fundraising -Because we are polarized, elections are tight
Iron triangle/issue network
-Influence how policies are made and Implemented -Committee/Interest group/agency -Congress gets electoral support & pollcy Implementation they support -Agencies get funding & political support -Interest groups get friendly legislation & beneficial regulation -Direct support for an industry's interests (iron triangle) -Issue networks (a larger, looser, more temporary coalition)
Institutional groups
-Institutional groups include: Intergovernmental groups, Professional associations, and Corporations -Intergovernmental groups → Created due to the system of federalism that allows state and local governments to receive federal funding Example: National Governors Association and U.S. Conference of Mayors -Professional associations → Groups that typically represent white-collar professions Example: American Medical Association (AMA) and American Bar Association (ABA) -Corporations → Groups that represent businesses and large corporations
Long election cycle
-Invisible primary begins following congressional election, candidates make speeches, fundraise, hire staff,etc. -Primary season -National convention -General election
Informal barriers to third-party success
-Major parties incorporate popular portions of third-party agenda into their own platforms -People feel like they're throwing their vote away
Party functions
-Mobilization, GOTV -Educating voters & policymakers -Establish a party platform -Recruit & nominate candidates -Support campalgns: fundralsing, media strategy -Committee and party leadership systems in legislature
Professional organizations
-Most groups have a defined membership and fees. -Free-Riders → When groups seek to change a law or policy and their efforts benefit everyone, not just their paying members -Professional organizations often offer incentives to encourage individuals to join. -Purpose incentives: Members contribute because they believe they are supporting a worthy cause. -Solidary incentives: Members contribute because the organization allows individuals to have gatherings with like-minded individuals. -Material incentives: Members contribute to receive specific benefits such as discounts or other complimentary items.
Attempts to Increase Voter Turnout
-National Voter Registration Act (1993): Allowed individuals to register to vote when they conduct business at their state's Department of Motor Vehicles. Increased registrations but did not ultimately increase voter turnout. -Absentee Ballots: Voters who cannot make it to their designated polling place can vote by mail. Most states require a reason such as illness or travel in order to qualify for an absentee ballot. Some states have embraced no-excuse absentee voting and mail-in voting. -Help America Vote Act (2002): Passed in response to the 2000 election. It essentially provided for national standards for voting and election management. All states had to upgrade their electronic voting formats and they had to address voting for individuals with disabilities. Šince 2000, 75% of states changed the way they vote in order to make elections more accurate. (but still required id verification to register to vote) -Early Voting: Many states now allow individuals to vote in-person several days in advance of election day and they also offer before and after work hours options. In the 2012 election, approximately 1/3 of Americans had already voted by election day.
How do structural barriers, political efficacy, and demographics influence voter turnout?
-National versus state-controlled elections -Voter registration laws and procedures -Voting incentives or penalties or fines -Election type (midterm or presidential)
Protest movements
-Oftwn protest and use civil disobedience as a way to call attention to their issues
Interest group
-Organization that attempts to influence public policy, some for a specific, others for a more general purpose -Interest groups are a linkage institution that connects people process. Remember Federalist #10 -Interest groups can also be called factions. -Interest groups aim to influence all three branches of government in order impact the policy making process. -Pluralism occurs when interest groups are vying for power and influence in government. -Interest groups can create iron triangles and/or issue networks. -Interest group tactics can be aggressive and overwhelming. -By definition, interest groups promote their groups' interests over the interests of others. -Lack of resources for smaller, less well- financed groups results in some interest groups being more powerful than others. -Hyper pluralism → when multiple competing interests develop; can result in gridlock -Free-rider problem → when individuals benefit from interest group influence without directly supporting the group Interest groups create competition for influence that helps to ensure a more equal distribution of power (i.e. all power does not rest with elites). -Interest groups engage in lobbying to apply pressure to government officials to support or halt policies. -Interest groups can represent very broad issues, such as economic reform, or very specific issues, such as eliminating drunk driving. -Our representative republic system federalism prevent the dominance of factions (Federalist # 10). -Interest groups influence, parties are trying to get candidates into office -Interest groups are a linkage institution that connects individuals to the political process. -The rise of interest groups began with the shift from an agricultural to a manufacturing society. • -They have grown and expanded in the last several decades (i.e. pluralism). -Groups formed to protect workers, represent immigrants, unite veterans, and to fight for equality and justice.
Nationalizing or congressional races
-Outside donations to key races -Caps on donations eased -Media coverage -Referendums on president
Parties modify their policies and messaging to appeal to various demographic coalitions
-Parties needs to appeal to their core demographic groups and broaden their appeal to new voters -It is important for the party to convey a positive image during televised events such as the party conventions. -Parties must adjust to changes in demographics in order to broaden their appeal.
Calendar considerations
-Parties try to keep schedule manageable. Carrot: allocate more delegates to go later Stick: take away delegates if states jump the line -States want to go as early as possible, so citizens get meaningful opportunity to influence outcome AND to make money from ads and events. Can lead to frontloading, a phenomenon where states stack primaries and caucuses early Frontloading allows for runaway candidates -The front-runner wants a quick nomination. Can seek to influence the sequence of nomination events for their benefit -All candidates want states that are relatively small, have a homogenous population, and play the voter coalition the candidate is courting. Difficult for candidates to get media attention, acquire funding, establish infrastructure, and visit
Influences on Voter Behavior
-Party Loyalists (a voter may consider the track record of the candidate, promises, new ideas of the challenger, integrity, competence) -Candidate's Character (past indiscretions, scandals) -Important Political Issues (economy + religious views)
Factors influencing voter choice include:
-Party identification and ideological orientation -Candidate characteristics -Contemporary political issues -Religious beliefs or affiliation, gender, race and ethnicity, and other demographic characteristics
Party realignments
-Party realignment → a change in the underlying electoral forces due to changes in party identification. -Causes of readjustments: 1. A party is very defeated and falls into obscurity. 2. Large numbers of voters change their allegiance from one party to another as a result of a social, political or economic crisis. -Dramatic, long-lasting shifts in party affiliation; many people change parties
Obstruction at Voter Registration
-Positive Identification -Felon Disenfranchisement & Voting Rights -Reinstatement Process -No Preregistration -No Same-day Registration -Limited Access to Register (hours, locale, wait time) -Limitations on Voter Registration Drives Voter Information Update -Advancing Final Registration Date -Limited on-line or mail-in registration -Provision of vital information** -Proof of Citizenship provisions
Political Action Committees
-Private group organized to raise money to elect a candidate -Can contribute a small amount directly to a candidate -Can raise and spend an unlimited amount of money independent of the campaign
Proportional
-Proportional extends the race and allows for more representation for coalitions. -Candidates awarded delegates based on proportion of vote above 15% -Preferred by Democrats -50% of Democratic delegates awarded by mid-April 2016
Educate voters & officeholders
-Provide expert information to government officials -Give officeholders feedback from their constituents -Draft legislation - Suggest and support legislation - Testify at committee hearings on the formulation of legislation -Write bills that can be introduced in Congress by a Representative or Senator -Create PACS - Raise & spend unlimited Independent expenditures - Corporations & labor unions can contribute to Super PACS
Environmental Movement
-Rachel Carlson published her book Silent Spring in 1962 criticizing the use of pesticides and insecticides that brought harm to birds and other wildlife. Her book sparked the modern environmental movement and rise of organizations such as the Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society, and the Audubon Society. -Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1963 and the Clean Air Act in 1964. -Congress created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970. -The Superfund was created in 1980 to tax chemical and petroleum companies and put the revenue into a trust fund to be used for cleaning up environmental disasters.
Obstruction in Vote Strength
-Racial or Partisan Gerrymandering -Changes between At-large and Single Member Districts -Incorporation/amnexation of locales -Changes to composition of govemment boards and panels -Plurality, Wimner-take-all, and Instant Rum-off Voting -Off-cycle and special elections
Intensive fundraising efforts
-Raise money from individuals, PACS, Super PACS
Super PACs
-Real name: Independent-expenditure-only committee -May raise unlimited money from corporations, unions, and individuals -All spending must be independent of a candidate's campaign
How have parties lost influence?
-Reforms like the McGovern Frasier Commission democratize candidate nomination -Coalitions within parties realigned -Endorsements from politicians less impactful in desire for an "outsider" -Party money for campaign less critical to nominee
Open primary
-Residents can vote in either party's primary -Public declaration v. private choice -Can lead to raiding the ticket
Mobilization and education of voters
-Robocalls: Pre-recorded phone messages to remind people to vote for their candidate and to discourage voting for the opposing candidate. -Voter Registration Drives: Volunteers canvas neighborhoods to spread the party philosophy in attempts to convince individuals to vote. -Three Levels of Party Support: National, state, and local party committees educate their membership through gatherings, mailings, robocalls, and door-to-door visits.
Delegates vs. Electors
-Selected (mostly) via elections -Names are not seen on ballot -Power is mostly symbolic; tied to the votes -Expected, if not required, to vote as the plurality of voters prefer -Delegates select each major party's presidential candidate; electors select the winner of the EC -Delegates are distributed by party; electors required constitutionally -Delegates are accrued during the nomination cycle; electors on General Election Day in November. -There is an advantage to geography over population in the distribution of electors, courtesy of the Great Compromise
Casework
-Service and assistance provided to constituents
Barriers to Third-Party Success
-Single Member Districts: The candidate with the most votes wins. For a third party to have chance at a seat in the legislature they would have to win a majority of the votes in a district. -Money: Third-party operations are much less organized than the two major parties so they have a harder time raising money. Third-party candidates also have a hard time getting on the ballot and that usually involves a fee determined by each state. The media tends to ignore third-party candidates. -Taking of Third Party Platforms: The major party most closely aligned to the third party will "suck up" the party platform ideas and claim it for themselves (i.e. environmental ideas of the Green Party are often championed by the Democratic Party). -Winner-Take-All: The single largest barrier to third-party success. Applies to all states except Maine and Nebraska. Because of winner-take-all, a third party will cannot win a majority of the popular vote in a state and thus cannot secure any electoral votes. -Plurality system
Inequality or political and economic resources
-Some groups have larger membership or are very well-funded, Increasing the Influence they have
Primaries
-Somewhat asynchronous -One-time voting via ballots -Features the Australian ballot: Paid for by state, Distributed by state, Marked in private, Features all qualified candidates -Adaptations such as blanket primaries and rank choice voting seek to limit partisanship
Pro electoral college
-States retain importance in choosing the president -Ensures geographic balance; can't only focus on densely populated areas -Guards against mob rule by uninformed voters
Obstruction at Voting
-Strict Photo Voter ID -Non-photo ID Card -Excuse Required Absentee Ballots -No Early or Extended Voting -Poll book Purges -Changes to Precinct Location -No Language Mfinority Ballots/ Access to Translators -Exclusive Party Primaries (firehouse primaries, caucuses, conventions, canvass) -Out-of-precinct Voting -Australian Ballot***
Citizens United v. F.E.C. (2010)
-Struck down parts of BCRA, including the ban on soft money and limits on timing of political ads -Political spending by corporations and labor unions is a form of protected speech -Led to a significant Increase In the amount of money contributed to political campaigns -Corporations cannot give money directly to a candidate but they can contribute to a PAC
Superdelegates
-Superdelegates: Individuals in the party organization party the government who are granted the right to vote individual preference at the party nominating convention -Found in both parties -Democratic party (15% in 2016) -Republican party (7% in 2016) -Similar to pre-McGovern Fraser Commission delegates -nominated regardless of the public's preference for presidential candidate.
Civil Rights Movement
-The NAACP was founded in 1909 to seek racial equality and social fairness for African Americans. -There was a dramatic rise in membership in the 1950s -Rise in membership = increased influence in Washington. -Main goals: Organize black communities to seek redress in courts. Work to defend wrongly accused African Americans. Assure justice in criminal cases. -Their work continues today.
Money in politics & free speecg
-The Supreme Court has ruled that spending money is a form of free speech (some people have more money to advertise their thoughts, thus they have more free speech)
Incumbency advantage
-The current officeholder (incumbent) typically wins re-election over 90% of the time -Strongest in the house -More contributions from PACS -Name recognition -Campaigning experience/larger staffs -Districts are often drawn to favor incumbents (safe districts) -Franking privilege: Congressmen can send mall at no charge
Women's Rights Movement
-The first women's rights convention was held in New York and known as the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848. This meeting launched the women's suffrage movement. -The Feminine Mystique was published in 1963 and the National Organization for Women (NOW) was formed in 1966. -Women were granted the right to vote in 1920. Other Key Issues: Abortion rights- Roe v Wade (1973); National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL). Athletics - Title IX (1972) brought focus, funding, and equality to school athletics. Equal Rights Amendment- passed in Congress, but failed in the states
Electoral college
-The people who represent each state and officially elect the president -538 total electoral votes, 270 to win; popular vote doesn't matter -47 states are winner take all -Candidates focus on competitive, big states AKA swing states
Congressional (midterm) elections
-The president's party almost always loses seats in midterm elections -Lower turnout than presidential elections -The electorate is typically more partisan
General election
-The winner takes office
incorporation of third-party agendas into platforms of major political parties
-Third Parties are also known as minor parties. -Despite our two-party system, significant third parties have emerged in American politics. -Technically, both Jackson's Democrats and Lincoln's Republicans began as minor parties. -Since Lincoln's victory in 1860, no minor party has ever won the White House. -Third parties can play the spoiler in elections by pulling votes away from a major party. -Third parties are known as policy innovators because the major parties are likely to adopt third party platforms as their own. -More ideological voters may not feel like they are being properly represented by the two major parties. -There are many examples of third-party formation dating back to the formation of the Socialist Party in opposition to the robber barons and wealth inequalities of the early 1900s: Ideological parties (i.e. Libertarians) Splinter parties (i.e. Bull Moose Party of 1912) Economic-protest parties (i.e. Greenback Party of late 19th century) Single-issue parties (i.e. Prohibition Party in 1869 & Green Party in the 1970s)
General Elections & Electoral College
-Timing of election Federal general elections required by Constitution on even numbered years Federal law: first Tuesday after the first Monday in November -Election selects electors How electors are chosen is left to states to determine by the Constitution. Most states award electors via winner-take-all Winner of the plurality of the vote state-wide Maine and Nebraska have a modified district distribution called the Congressional District Method -Relative importance of state contests Swing states/battleground states: distribution of electors and composition of voting public means only competitive states with large populations matter Include VA, PA, OH, CO, FL, NC, MI Large, homogenous states less significance in the race (TX, CA, NY)
Mobilize membership
-To apply pressure to legislators and civil servants -Social media, phone, email, main, town halls, etc.
Lobbying
-To persuade political leaders to support the group's position -Lobbyists are policy specialists, congressmen are policy generalists -Testify at committee hearings -Draft legislation -Pressure legislators/threaten fundralsing support -Interest group strategy -Access to legislators: Many former legislators are lobbyists. Lobbyists establish contacts who have access to government officials. -Building relationships: Lobbyists provide information on proposed legislation to government officials such as data on the public opinion of their constituency. Lobbyists often know more about pending legislation than lawmakers do. -Strategizing: Studies show that lobbyists don't often change a legislator's vote and they are not successful in "bribery." The goal of lobbyists is to gain information and knowledge so they can best lobby for their groups' interests. -Expertise: Lobbyists are researchers and very knowledgeable in matters of public policy. They fact-check, take opinion polls, testify before committees, and create focus groups to investigate and research the issues they care about. -Campaigns: They can endorse candidates for election. They run television and radio ads. They use direct mail marketing and polling. -Grassroots Lobbying: Occurs when the interest group tries to inform, persuade, and mobilize large numbers of people Primary form of lobbying for the AARP -Framing the Issues: They can set the tone and frame an issue to their advantage. Example: environmental legislation can be framed positively or negatively depending on the goals of the interest group. -The Media: Interest groups use television, radio, social media, and the Internet to influence policy. They can make "cold calls," conduct person-in-the-street surveys, and broadcast their beliefs and opinions widely. Well-funded interest groups can capitalize in this area.
Campaign finance
-Transparency requirements are minimal -Impacted by diverse state law -Federal cases influence role of money in politics
Presidential incumbency advantage
-Very well known -Has command of the bully pulpit -Has experlence winning a presidential election -Has a network of campalgn contributors, staff, and volunteers -Is already seen as "presidentlal" -Acquisition of campaign skills, resources -Better at campaigning -Voter attitudes and name recognition towards incumbent: -Prospective voting -Retrospective voting
Influences on Voter Turnout
-Voter Registration: Most states require enrollment in the electoral roll 30 days in advance election. Motor Voter Law (1993) made it possible for individuals to register to vote when they conduct business at their state's Department of Motor Vehicles. -Voter ID Laws: Laws requiring some form of identification to vote have passed in 35 states. Some states accept many forms of ID (utility bills, paycheck stub, etc.), but require government-issued photo ID. These laws are generally supported by Republicans and not by Democrats, who claim these laws put an undue burden on the poor and minority populations. Shelby County v Holder (2013) reinforced constitutionality of voter ID laws -Election Day Issues: Long lines at the polls: Most voters wait an average of 14 minutes to vote, but 5% of voters wait more than 2 hours to vote. • Election day is not a holiday and most voters go to work. States determine how many polling places will be open and their hours of operation. This can be a partisan decision.
Anti electoral college
-Voters have access to enough information to make informed decisions -Gives too much power to voters in swing states -Anti-democratic; ignores the popular vote -Winner take all feature discourages 3rd party candidates -Third-party candidate's spoiler role -Winner-take-all plurality votes -Flaws of the Electoral College -Barriers to third-party success -Voting -Article II Section 1 -Article IV -Amendment X -Battleground state/swing state -BONUS: Ballot construction & Voter obstruction
Unequal access to decision makers
-Well-funded groups & those with large memberships typlcally have more access to policymakers
winner-take-all voting districts
-serve as a structural barrier to third-party and independent candidate success -The candidate with the most votes wins the congressional seat -(No) Proportional representation: Congressional seats apportioned according to the % of votes won by each party
Party platform
A list of goals outlining a party's positions on issues and political priorities.
Voter turnout
The number of voters who actually cast their votes in the percentage of the voting age population (very low in u.s.)
Primary system
The role of party leaders in nominating candidates has been weakened as people are able to vote for their preferred candidate in primary elections
