Ch 8/9 Parties & Interest Groups Flashcards
Sources of Party Identification (5)
which political party we identify with, drive us into a party
Parents (if politically active-> strong influence) (most)
Political Personalities
Events
Spouse
Social Issues (like abortion join party bc of issue)
Political Parties What do political parties do? #1 role
get ppl elected (purpose of getting ppl in)
Political Parties
What do political parties do?
Facilitate voting Organize the planks of the platform Form coalitions Recruit candidates Polling
Political Parties
What do political parties do? Facilitate voting
Facilitate voting; (don’t need to know candidates, just party) (don’t have to think, make voting easier by listing R or D)
Political Parties
What do political parties do?
Organize the planks of the platform
Organize the planks of the platform
(person on platform above everyone else)
(planks=individual issues->make platform if their ideas were strong) (advocate standing on firm issues) (now it’s just a written document of most recent platforms, was literal but now book)
Political Parties
What do political parties do? Form coalitions
Form coalitions (groups like-minded) (sub-groups of ppl, want as many as possible (ex: middle-aged white men))
Political Parties
What do political parties do? Recruit candidates
Recruit candidates (party brings you up to run, limited # do it on their own)
Political Parties
What do political parties do? Polling
Polling; get-out-the-vote; funding& additional campaign activities
(get-out-the-vote:political party makes sure their members show up on election day (ex: drive you up to vote @ poll))
Political Party Time-Line (creation of 2 party system)*
ppl establishing party?
Anti Feds- T.Jefferson= Republican Democrats Jackson=Democrats
Feds- Lincoln= Republicans
Realignment & cross-cutting issues def realignment?
events that change the majority of registered voters from one party to another& that force polarization = realigning elections
(participated by major cross-cutting issue (ex: Civil War, Great Depression))
Realignment & cross-cutting issues
how long does realignment usually last?
25-30 yr cycle (generally last this long & then sway groups after major issue)
Cross-cutting issues
def? list of issues? (7)
big enough issue to move ppl from one party to another
- slavery
- econ pop
- prohibition
- new deal
- civil rights (& Dixiecrats)
- american war in vietnam
- reagan revolution
Republican Realignment? yes or no?
Hadn’t been, democrats still holding their own
Republican Realignment? why hadn’t their been one? true realignment? ex?
massive change in party affiliation
-reagan got southern democrats support, but they didn’t identify as republicans
Republican Realignment? De-alignment?
instead of ppl lining up for 1 party, ppl became independent (not affiliated w/ party at all)
Loyalty trends- Republicans (8)
Chambers of Commerce Non-College white men The Southwest Cuban Americans Professionals, executives, & white collar workers, the financial industry Protestants & Evangelicals Married couples Conservatives...
Loyalty trends- Republicans
Chambers of Commerce
small business association, local business ppl band together to promote their town/small businesses
-ex) want to open real-estate in Medina
Loyalty trends- Republicans
non-college white men
vote republican bc belief on taxation (like commerce)
bc threatened by other subgroups for jobs
(not many expansive views, set mindset)
Loyalty trends- Republicans
The Southwest
(Mexico, Arizona) bc independent ppl there, don’t want help, individualists (like Cowboy irony), less gov
retired ppl live here, already made their money, don’t want gov taking away their savings
Loyalty trends- Republicans
Protestants & Evangelicals
protestant: protest Catholic church which was very vertical, need individual relationship w/ God, interpret Bible way they want (like southwest, smaller gov)
Loyalty trends- Republicans
Cuban Americans
ideology if free market capitalism, anti-communistic
left Cuba bc Castro was Communist
republicans seen as less socialistic than Demo. (ObamaCare= socialistic, redistributing wealth)
Loyalty trends- Republicans
Professionals, executives, & white collar workers, the financial industry
business owners, worked hard & want to keep earnings
Loyalty trends- Republicans
married couples
settling down
Loyalty Trends- Democrats (8)
Labor union members Women & college educated men Over 80% African Americans & Hispanics Young people Catholics (until Bush) & Jews Financial industry, & so-called "neoliberals) Widows Liberals...
Loyalty Trends- Democrats
Labor union members
hard-working guys & managers nicely dressed
-management:republican, workers:democratic
Loyalty Trends- Democrats
Women & college educated men
liberal arts college
break into work force at expense of white men
women-appeal to equality and having choice (like abortion)
more nurturing than republicans
Loyalty Trends- Democrats
Over 80% African Americans & Hispanics
minorities, democrats reach out & help, not on your own
Loyalty Trends- Democrats
Young people
follow Kennedy bc gave message of inspiration & future
PROGRESSION
Loyalty Trends- Democrats
Catholics (until Bush) & Jews
BUSH- Abortion pro-life conflicted w/ Catholic
catholics opposite of protestants
Loyalty Trends- Democrats
Financial industry, & so-called “neoliberals)
neoliberal- new liberal in favor of gov expansive programs but also in favor of not so anti-capitalistic policies
less business-type but have support from group
Loyalty Trends- Democrats
Widows
need help from community, not like retired
dependent on ppl
Declining Party Loyalty?
# of independents in U.S. rose (only competing for 3-4& of ppl w/ campaigns)
Declining Party Loyalty? “leaning”?
lean to 1 party or the other (independents)
The Party’s Over?
causes of decline (loyalty)?
(Broder’s book, parties in decline)
billionaires (not brought up by party)
ticket-splitting (pick both d & r)
SIGs
Coalitions: compromise v solve (not taking on issues head-on)
Avoid cross-cutting issues (never address the issue ex: immigration)
Party decline remedies (4)
less media candidates; more conviction
more candidate support of platform
fund the party (ideas) over the person
publicly funded elections
Party decline remedies
less media candidates; more conviction
we follow ppl we like they’re a product (charmed), but need to look @ their policies
Party decline remedies
more candidate support of platform
tend to be saying things only to get elected, but need them to follow pledge (ex: youre republican & should be here on these issues (planks)) (party defines platform)
allow deviation, but need them to be more true
Party decline remedies
fund the party (ideas) over the person
candidate just charmed product, let party play the role
less enthusiastic now) (advertising politics-> interested in it & predictable
Party decline remedies
publicly funded elections
$$ doesn’t go to candidates, goes to campaigns
billionaires & corps couldn’t put themselves in
Third Parties
so-called 5 party system (eras)
third parties make progress when major parties fail to incorporate new ideas, groups, or nominate attractive candidates
(bring ideas in & hope 1 of major parties co-ops those ideas to gain followers)
-ex: immigration, 3rd party goes to D&R, wants 1 to adopt same view & we’ll support you, if not they’ll support us
Minority party successes
how many have won electoral votes? who? who didn’t but had influence?
only 8 third parties have won any electoral votes in a presidential contest, 2 of them were: 1968: George Wallace 1912: Teddy Roosevelt Other notable mentions: Ross Perot, Ralph Nader
Why 3rd parties tend to remain minor? (3)
winner-take-all-elections
hard to get on ballot
catch 22: plausibility, funding, media attention
why do ppl organize?
strength in #’s
psychology, not the only one
what’s wrong w/ a bunch of like-minded ppl getting together?
is it constitutional?
nothing wrong, peaceable assemble, naturally occurring for ppl to show grievances
yes, legitimate (it’s how coalitions & SIGs are formed)
Special interest groups goals (4)
sway public policy
pursue & protect goals
motivate ppl to work together
represent member’s interests
history of special interest groups
Anti-Catholic Know-Nothings (1840s) Abolition groups (opposed to slavery) 1880's: trade unions (truckers, plumbers, etc.) Prohibition/women's vote Civil Rights Environment
Typology (classifications) of SIGs
membership, institutional, issue/policy, industry
Lobbying & the new face of SIGs
lobbying? career? #1 job?
(how they influence)
attempting to influence policy &/or legislative process
-post-congressional career (25-50%)
#1 job: consultant/expert in issue
what makes an interest group successful? (3)
ultimate goal?
leadership, dedicated members, organization
adequate funding
notion of collective good
ULTIMATE GOAL: Influence Policy
Pushing back
grassroots lobbying
protest activities
what drives all politics?
(not powerless against SIGs: voting drives all politics)
grassroots lobbying:
-door-to-door information drives; petition drives & internet drives
protest activities (show dislike)
-nonviolent marches -civil disobedience
