political parties and interest groups slides

Question 1

Approach of a political party

Answer 1

Direct: try to gain power by nominating candidates for election to public office

Question 2

Approach of an Interest Group

Answer 2

Indirect: Try to influence those in power by applying political pressure

Question 3

Focus of a political party

Answer 3

Broad: Takes positions on a variety of issues encompassing many different interests

Question 4

Focus of an Interest Group

Answer 4

Narrow: Takes a focused position on just one issue or set of related issues

Question 5

Visibility of a Political party

Answer 5

Must operate in the open to appeal to the electorate

Question 6

Visibility of an Interest Group

Answer 6

May work entirely behind the scenes if it wants

Question 7

Winner take all

Answer 7

in each election contest, there is just one winner

Question 8

plurality rule

Answer 8

the winner is the candidate with the largest share of votes

• It’s like an olympics with only gold medals, no silver or bronze.

-Once two parties have attracted enough support to compete for a plurality, there aren’t enough voters left for any other party to reach that level.

Question 9

Ballot access

Answer 9

State laws commonly require minor parties to petition and pay fees.

Question 10

What system is common in US politics?

Answer 10

The two party system

Question 11

What is the alternative method of politics?

Answer 11

The biggest difference from the two party system, is that it includes proportional representation, meaning that more than one party can have seats in the house of reps, for example

Question 12

Proportional Representation

Answer 12

An electoral system where legislative seats are given to political parties based on each party’s percentage of the vote.

• you vote for parties instead of candidates

-It’s like an Olympics with more medals than gold, silver, and bronze. They also give out medals for 4th place, 5th place, 6th place, and so on.

-For example, if a minor party gets only 5% of the vote, it doesn’t mean they lose; it means they get 5% of the seats in the legislature

Question 13

What are the consequences of voting for a third party?

Answer 13

In a two party system, voting for a minor party helps your least favorite major party win.

• example, voting for green will help republicans win

-for example, voting for libertarian will help democrats win

Question 14

What is the party-in-the-electorate?

Answer 14

Voters who identify with the party

Their job:

• nominate the party’s candidates (primary elections)

-help those candidates win (general elections)

What about independents?

• independents outnumber republicans and democrats, but few are truly independent… (they usually lean to one side or the other)

Question 15

What is the party organization?

Answer 15

people in the party’s management structure, such as delegates to the national convention and members of the national committee

Question 16

What is the party in government?

Answer 16

people from the party who are elected to public office

• their job is to pass legislation turning the party’s ideas into law

Question 17

What are the 3 components of a party?

Answer 17

1-party in the electorate (voters)

2- party organization (people that manage the party [for example, delegates to the national convention, or members of the members of the national committee)

3- party in government (legislators that were elected)

Question 18

why might the party in government have a hard time?

Answer 18

federalism (may lack authority over the matter)

bicameralism opposing party may hold other house

separation of powers (opposing party may hold presidency)

Question 19

What is unified government?

Answer 19

when the same party holds the presidency, the house, and the senate

Question 20

what is divided government?

Answer 20

when one party holds the presidency while the other party holds part or all of congress

Question 21

polarization

Answer 21

occurs when people move toward one side or another, dividing into groups that are so far apart that compromise is difficult

It’s the opposite of bipartisanship, where Democrats and Republicans work together and moderate their views to get things done.

  Benefits and drawbacks

1- Voters have clear options on Election Day because the parties are so different.

2 - Less willingness to work with the opposition moves the debate within the party, which may divide party members into factions.

3 - If the parties can’t agree, then the government has a hard time getting things done because each party usually controls some part of the government.

Question 22

interest group

Answer 22

A formal group of individuals or organizations that attempts to influence government decisions.

Question 23

faction

Answer 23

A minority of the population organized around a common issue or cause, possibly to the detriment of the majority.

Question 24

interest groups do the legwork

Answer 24

So you don’t have to be a political expert to participate in politics

 Things they do:

Monitor the government to know when lawmakers are addressing an issue of concern to the group

Provide information to group members on what the government is considering and which outcome would be best

Formulate a plan for the group to influence politicians

Question 25

tension between freedom and democracy

Answer 25

Group politics may harm democracy.

   Because each group focusses narrowly on its own members, if government responds to a particular group, it may not be addressing the public good

Yet group politics is secured by the Constitution.

  Right to peaceably assemble

  Right to petition the government

Question 26

what are the 4 interest group strategies?

Answer 26

lobbying

electioneering

outside lobbying

litigation

Question 27

lobbying

Answer 27

Face-to-face contact with policy makers, trying to influence their decisions

People who do it are called lobbyists.

Two main tools:

  Money to gain access

  Information to persuade

Question 28

electioneering

Answer 28

Trying to influence who wins elections

Mainly through money

  Campaign contributions through political action committees (PACs), which collect money and distribute it to candidates

  Bundling individual contributions from members of the group

  Issue advocacy through Super PACs, which can spend unlimited sums as long as their ads don’t mention candidates

Question 29

outside lobbying

Answer 29

Trying to get the public on your side; pressuring policy makers indirectly, through their voters

Some tactics, or strategies:

    Advertisements

    Rallies and demonstrations

    Petition and letter-writing      campaigns

Question 30

litigation

Answer 30

Taking action in court (lawsuits)

Including…

     Class action lawsuits where numerous plaintiffs join in the same case

     Amicus (amigo) briefs, which allow you to make written arguments to the court even though its not your case

Groups also lobby the president and the Senate for appointment of favorable judges.