Pressure Groups and Political Parties

Question 1

What are the six typically ascribed functions of political parties?

Answer 1

1. Generating symbols of identification and party loyalty
2. Articulating the interests of electors
3. Providing for structured debate and opposition
4. Socialising and integrating citizens in society
5. Recruting political leaders
6. Formulating public policy and mobilising support for that policy

Question 2

What are the four explanations for the inherent weakness of US political parties?

Answer 2

1. Federalism = parities organised at state level, responsive to particular constituancy, fragmentation of power
2. Seperation of powers = Presidential and Congressional wings of party, do different things to win one or the other
3. Ideological consensus (American exceptionalism) = parties working within same consensus, no clear ideological difference
4. Ethos of individualism

Question 3

What five reasons explain the gradual weakening of these parties further in the 20th Century?

Answer 3

1. Primary elections = elections within parties, choose candidates within parties, shifts power from party bosses to party voters, candidates can’t rely on their party for money to campaign, elections become big business
2. Erosion of North-South divide = politics shaped by Civil War, erodes in 20th Century
3. Growth of mass media = 60s/70s, campaigns, reach voters through media, buy time, spot broadcasts
4. New issues on the political agenda = misalignment between party policy and constituents
5. Growth of pressure groups and PACs (e.g. NRA) = fill a gap left by parties, focus on specific issues, policy vacuum, super PACs, product of bottom up pressure, resonate within the constituency

Question 4

What six ways do political parties still arguably get power from?

Answer 4

1. Easier to vote for party than all individual candidates
2. Reference point for members of Congress
3. More organised at federal level
4. Alignment between parties and their support base, more clear what they stand for
5. Increased partianship in Cogress = negative consequences e.g. stalemates

Question 5

How do super PACs get support from government officials?

Answer 5

Fill vacuum left by parties, officials will listen to officials which they think most reflect their constituency, want to be reelected, money from own wealth or from interest groups, need these groups to provide support, close relationship between Congress and lobbyists, occassionally illegitimate e.g. bribery, offfer jobs after political retirement

Question 6

Why are PACs more likely to be successful influencing local goverment than the higher branches of government?

Answer 6

Don’t have the resources to resist that higher branches do, in particular states certain issues also dominate e.g. big business

Question 7

Why are super PACs difficult to regulate?

Answer 7

Nature of the system, creates greater partisanship which helps against stalemates, who has the better resources has the most effective campaigns, First Amendment guarentees the right of each citizen to petition the government