gov interest groups and elections Flashcards
interest group goals
- gain access to policymakers
- influence public policy
- support sympathetic policymakers
policy
a government plan of action to address issues that involve the people
what do policies start with
the people who express their interest, problems/concerns, political issues
linkage institutions
the political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda
linkage institutions examples
political parties
elections
news and entertainment media
interest groups
policy agenda
items at the top of the policy agenda are taken care of firsti
policy making institutions
the branches of government charged with taking action on political issues
legislative, executive, courts
how are interest groups and political parties different
political parties fight election battles; interest groups do not run their own slate of candidates for office but just support candidates
policy specialists and policy generalists
interest groups are policy specialists and they focus on one area but political parties are policy generalists and are broad spectrum of policies
interest group strategies
- lobbying
- electioneering
- litigation
- appealing to the public
lobbying
communication by someone acting on behalf of citizens, directed to a governmental decision-maker with the hope of influencing their decision
2 types of lobbyists
regular, paid employees
temporary hires
revolving door
the movement of individuals from government positions to jobs with interest groups or lobbying firms
lobbyists
- are a source of information
- help politicians plan political strategies for legislation
- help plan political strategies for reelection campaigns
are a source of ideas and innovations
olson’s law
-small groups are easier to organize than large groups
-large groups tens to have a free rider problem
how to resolve free rider issue
- offer selective benefits
electioneering
helping candidates financially and getting group members to support them
PACS
PACS
political arms of interest groups
legally entitled to raise voluntary funds to contribute to favored candidates of parties
support incumbents
litigation
using courts to bring up issues; amaicus curiae briefs; raise additional points of view and present info not contained in briefs of formal parties
- class action lawsuits ; brought by a class of people against a defendant
litigation
using courts to bring up issues; amaicus curiae briefs; raise additional points of view and present info not contained in briefs of formal parties
- class action lawsuits ; brought by a class of people against a defendant
hyperpluralist critique
- groups become too powerful as the gov tries to appease every interest
interest group liberalism is aggravated by iron triangles
iron triangles
alliance formed by congress, bureaucrats and interest groups to make public policy
all parties benefit; congress receives campaign contributions, interest groups get favorable legislation, bureaucracies preserve job and status.
nomination
official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party
nomination game
elimination contest (primaries)
goal is to win a majority of delegates’ support at the national party convention
convention meets to nominate presidential and vice presidential
they write a party platform
iowa caucus
-first test of candidates’ vote -media circus
- meeting of all state party members for selecting delegates to national convention
new hampshire
first primary
-about image
frontloading
when 71% of pledges democratic delegates are chosen within six weeks of first primary
types of primaries
closed
open
blanket
closed primaries
only people who registered with the party can vote for that party’s candidates
open primaries
voters decide on election day a democrat or republican but must choose one or the other
blanket primaries
voters are presented with a list of candidates from all parties; most anti-party of them all
criticism of american marathon campaign
-disproportionate attention to early primaries
- prominent politicians don’t run
momentum means money
-participation in primaries is low
-too much power to media
three american elections
select party nominees
select officeholders
select options
state only election things
referendum
recall
initiative petition
referendum
a direct vote in which electorate will accept or reject a proposal
recall
removing a state or local official before the end of their term
initiative petition
means by which a petition signed by a minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote
guidelines for elections by the constitution
- house of reps = every 2 years
-senate = every 6 years
-creates electoral college
guidelines for elections by law
-congress sets date for national elections tuesday after the first monday in november
electoral college
- elects the president
states choose electors
-winner take all system
winner take all method
candidate gets all votes if majority vote in state is won by them
proportional vote method
legislative seats given to parties proportionate to number of votes
campaign finance laws goal
limit role money plays in politics
track where money goes
federal election campaign act
administers campaign finance laws for federal elections
sets limit for contributions to $1000 per individual and $5000 for PACs
requires disclosure of contributions and spending
buckley v valeo
federal election campaign act challenged to amount individual could contribute to their own campaign
- SC ruled it violated right to free speech
soft money
political contributions earmarked for party-building expenses or for generic party advertising are allowed no contribution limit
- party just can’t donate money to campaign of specific candidate
bipartisan campaign reform act(mccain)
- banned soft money
increased individual contribution to $2000 with adjustments to inflation (today $2900)
barred interest groups from running issue ads 60 days of gen election
citizens united v fec
-spending money is protected free speech
- corporations and unions can explicitly advocate for/against candidates in advertisement
- can’t contribute directly to a federal candidate orr party committee
created super pacs
retrospective voting
voting based on candidates past actions
prospective voting
voting based on predictions of how a party of candidate will perform
rational choice voting
voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizwen’s individual interest
party-line votin
supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices
impact of campaigns
- reinforcement, activation, and conversion
