Unit 3 Reading Notes

How has the American 2 party system evolved?

2 major political parties at the end of Washington's term who opposed each other. Some parties disintegrated and others began. Sometimes, there were several major political parties, after the civil war though, there were 2 strong parties emerging and their dominance prevailed to today: The Democrats and the republicans.

How do Americans choose their president?

Americans choose their candidates by voting, but they're really voting for how electors will vote. Electors are people who promise that they will officially elect the president weeks later based on the popular vote in their state. These electors are members of political party choose in each state to formally elect POTUS and VP. They make up the electoral college which is made up of electors to elect the POTUS and VP.

How are campaigns run and how do they try to influence voters?

Campaigns are run by campaign managers who are responsible for overall strategies, there are staff members that handle media, finance fundraising, advertising, opinion polls, and campaign materials. Local and state party officials for local and state elections help coordinate campaigns; party officials and field workers contract workers, hold rallies, give out campaign literature, ring doorbells, canvass voters and contribute to the get out and vote effort. They try to influence voters by campaigning in states where polls show a tight race - swing states. They also try to influence voters via advertisements, TV, and social media to inform people of their issues and make them seem appealing. They can utilize propaganda to either exaggerate their appeal (for ex: only using statistics to help them or make their opponents seem weak, can be exaggerated with negative ads. These can be rumors and isn't necessarily lying or deception just tweaking the truth in your favor, not objective).

How does the 2 party system in the U.S.compare to other party systems?

Has 2 or more parties → different from a one party system. - Can have 15 parties (with 5-7 having significant influence). Similar in that they don't have much opposition in a 2 party system, many parties can exist, but few dominate and one party tends to win election after election. However, in a multi-party system, one party rarely gets enough support to control government. Several parties combine forces to obtain a majority and form a coalition government. When groups with different ideologies share power, disputes arise → coalitions break down and don't govern effectively. One party systems are more common in authoritarian government or de facto states (people might allow other groups to participate, but they have no chance at winning). Similar to the minor parties of the multi-party system.

How do political parties nominate presidential candidates?

Local party organization select representatives to a county nominating convention which chooses delegates for national conventions - choose party's presidential candidate. Now, direct primary elections are held - Closed Primary - only members of the party can vote. - Open primary - all voters can participate, but can vote in only 1 party's primary. Election laws are different for each state - different rules for each primary. Sometimes winner takes all - for convention delegate votes for some proportional - Repb. & Dem. (winner take all is usually Repb.) Cam have primary elections that are binding delegates must vote based on primary results. Some states are non-binding, but show voters' preference.

How is the president inaugurated?

On January 20th, the following year at noon. POTUS elect rides with POTUS from White House to Cabinet for inauguration with Chief Justice administration. Inaugural address is given. Inaugural Parade → Inaugural ball.

How are political parties organized and how can citizens participate in political parties?

Organized at 3 levels - state, local, and national level. Local level - Parties choose which candidates to run under the party's name and distribute information about the party and its candidate to attract voters to the polls. - Some local party officials will give recommendations for judicial and executive appointments to state or national election officials from their party. State Level - Help elect the party's candidates for state government offices. - States' party must provide assistance to local party and may help coordinate the activities of local parties. - Raise money, National Level - Consisted of representatives from 50 state party organizations. - Raise money, tout its achievements, promote national, state, and local party cooperation. - Have independent campaign committees in Congress and assist those running for Congress.

What functions do political parties serve in government?

Political parties play a big part in electing candidates as they recruit people to run for office, help raise money for them, organize rallies and meetings for them, and help people get out and vote. Political parties educate the public, bringing important issues to the public's attention and their position on issues. They present their views in speeches, pamphlets, and other types of media. They use information on voters to tailor their message to voters and usually voters aren't informed and their vote is simplified by simply voting based on party affiliation. Operating government: play a key role in running and staffing the executive and legislative branches. Congress and state legislature are organized and carry on their work based on party affiliation. A party also acts as a link between executive and legislature as POTUS works with their party members to promote their agenda. Patronage affects who is in government. Developing and implementing policy → when a party wins, they work to implement their policy into laws (legislative branch) and the executive branch tries to implement them into government programs. Government watchdog - party out of power assumes this role over government; criticizing and offering solutions → may & want to swing voters. Providing stability - stable transfer of power in elections.

What role do political parties play in the electoral process?

Political parties play a role in selecting candidates to represent the party. They select these candidates through petitions (to get them on the ballot), caucuses (private meetings of key party leaders - delegates choose candidates), nominating conventions (local and party organizations send representatives to a county nominating convention that selects candidates for county offices and choose delegates to go to the national convention who choose the presidential candidate.

What is the difference between reapportionment and redistricting?

Reapportionment is the process of reassigning representation based on population after every census. Redistricting is setting up new districts AFTER reapportionment is complete. Each state's population determines how many representatives they will have → Reapportionment. After finding out how many representatives they need/their representation, they draw the boundaries for congressional districts, 1 for each representative → district.

What are some ways that political parties at the state level can gerrymander districts?

State legislators can redraw congressional districts in the middle of the decade rather than only after a US census. Some state legislatures abuse their redistricting power in 1 or 2 ways. Can create congressional districts of very unequal population (size). States would draw district boundaries to give 1 political party an electoral advantage (gerrymandering).

What is the general trend of reapportionment due to population shifts?

States with slow growth or a population decrease can lose representatives, while state with strong population growth can gain seats. 1929 - Congress capped # of seats in the House at 435 → each census decides how seats are divided amongst states.

What types of limitations, if any, should be placed on campaign donations and spending?

There should be limitations placed on campaign donations and spending as high unregulated donations can lead to corruption (officials will pay favors to their big donors). SOme actual limits include limiting how much individuals and businesses can donate to campaigns and how much campaigns can spend → ruled constitutional. Supreme Court struck down laws limiting how much an individual unaffiliated or group can donate to an organization with a candidate. Direct contributions from individuals, national, and local parties, PACs are limited. Indirect funding: PACs→ SuperPACs collected and spend unlimited amounts of money to help a candidate. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act banned soft money and PACs from running ads specific to a candidate close an election → struck down FEC in 1975 and FECA in 1974 will regulate and give money if they limit spending.

What are the weaknesses of the Electoral College system?

Winner Take All - in all but 2 states, if a candidate gets the most popular votes, they get all the states' electoral votes, but win electoral college. Third party candidates: if strong enough, they can win enough electoral votes to prevent either major party candidate from receiving a majority of votes (need majority from electoral college to win or else goes to HOR). Election by House → when a tie, states get 1 vote in HOR - Unfair to larger states - If a majority of states' representatives can't agree → no vote. - If 3rd party is favored → hard for 1 candidate (of major or minor party) to get 26 votes.

What role do 3rd parties play in government?

hey have influenced national elections by pulling voters away from major parties. EX: Bull Moose Party, Green Party in 2000, American Independent Party in 1968, & Reform Party with Ross Perot in 1992 (brought attention to deficit). Influence politics by promoting new ideas and if these ideas gain support, the major parties might adopt their issues. EX: Women's Movement & Populists who first proposed child labor laws and 40 hour work week issues later adopted by Democrats.

Packing

put them all in district to only have 1 representative → not proportional/= representation.

Cracking

spreading minorities/opposers out → don't form a majority for a district representative.