Chapter 4 Flashcards
What are the institutional characteristics of political parties? (3)
- National party leadership- convention
- Party platforms
- Parties at state and local levels
What do parties do for democracy? (5)
- Organize competition
- Unify the electorate
- Organize government
- Make policy
- Provide loyal opposition
Parties in legislative branch
Chairs of all committees come from majority party, presiding officials for both chambers, sit by party, congressional staff is partisan.
Parties in executive branch
Almost all presidential staff is part of presidents party, advisors have campaigned and remained loyal
Parties in judicial branch
Do not sit by party but party identification is still important part of selection.
Party identification and voting tendencies
Strong are more informed and more engaged, independents are opposite, leaning are “closet” partisans. Weak vote lower than leaners or strong.
Types of interest groups (6)
- Economic
- Single issue
- Public interest
- Foreign policy
- Public sector (cities)
- Other
What affects influence of interest groups? (4)
- Size and resources
- Cohesiveness
- Leadership
- Techniques (lobbying)
Ways to exert influence? (8)
- Mass media/ publicity
- Mass mailing/ emailing
- Direct contact with government
- Litigation
- Protest
- Contributions to campaigns
- Candidate support/ opposition
- New political party
How are factions harmful today? (4)
- Some groups better represented (old over young)
- Single issue destroy idea of compromise.
- Raise and spend vast amounts of money
- Enough disclosure?
