Political Party is a group of (1)_______ _________ who organize to win (2)_________ to (3)_______ the government and to determine (4)_____ ______.
1. political activists
2. elections
3. operate
4. public policy
Political Party is a group that competes for (1)________ _____ by contesting (2)________, mobilizing (3)______ _________ and advocating (4)__________ positions thus linking voters to the (5)_________ _______.
1. political power
2. elections
3. social interests
4. ideological
5. political system
Political Party an organization built around (1)_____________.
1. partisanship
A Political Party platform is a party document written during the (1)_______ __________ that contains party (2)__________, (3)__________ and (4)__________ on the issues
1. national convention
2. philosophy
3. principles
4. positions
Political party platform parties organize (1)__ _________ around (2)_________ _____.
1. US government
2. competing ideas
Political party platform a party is an agent of (1)________ ____________ and (2)_________ about how the government works and which public policy to (3)_______/_______.
1. political socialization
2. education
3. support/oppose
What are the three components of political parties?
party organization
party in government
party in electorate
Three Components of Political Parties...
Party organization
formal political party structure, local, state and national leadership, election committees, active members, fundraisers, pollsters, PR experts, paid staff
Three Components of Political Parties...
Party in government
candidates, office holders, staffers, appointees
Three Components of Political Parties...
Party in electorate
registered members/supporters, largest sector, various degrees/levels of commitment
electorate
is also voters is also body politics and is used interchangeable with electorate
DTS
decline to state
Liberalism and Conservatism
are the two ideologies most commonly referred to in discussion of US politics; the fundamental or core cleavage/departure between liberalism and conservatism is over the role of government in the economy and society
Liberalism
is a political view supporting change in the (1)________, (2)______ and (3)________ status quo
1. political
2. social
3. economic
Which political party are liberals generally associated with?
Democratic Party
Liberalism
Government is a means to correcting injustices through programs that reduce economic and social inequality
Liberalism
What do liberals believe in?
social change, that government should take positive action to reduce poverty
Liberals
What are Democratic factions?
progressives
organized labor
civil rights
**Liberalism
Regulate the economy
Redistribute the wealth
Take care of the environment
More tolerant
Skeptical of military action
Reproductive rights
Immigrant rights
**Conservatism
Characterize by the defense of the status quo
Conservatism
Conservatives are against...
major changes in the social, economic and political realms. They are also less tolerant.
Conservatism
Conservatives are opposed to...
civil rights legislation and regulation of the economy
Conservatism
Conservatives support...
strong fiscal responsibility, decrease government spending, lower taxes, property rights
Conservatism
Conservatives defend...
business as the primary mainstay of the good society
Conservatism
Conservatives have a strong adherence to
individual initiative and self-reliance
Conservatism
Conservatives believe that the rich and poor...
get what they deserve
Conservatism
Conservatives believe that people are low-income because they are...
lazy, incapable, and unmotivated; there is no involuntary poverty
Conservatism
What political party is associated with Conservatives?
Republican Party
Conservatism
Sanctity of...
private property
Conservatism
Conservative factions
opposition to abortion, affirmative action, same-sex marriage; support for gun rights, school prayer, states' rights, immigration restriction, US intervention to spread free markets and democracy around the world
Conservatism
There is a (1)_________ orientation in most conservative movements. Examples of their movements are...
Family Research Council, Faith and Freedom Coalition, Alliance Defending
Freedom, American Family Association, Focus on the Family
The Republican Party is traditionally (1)___-_______ and (2)_______ individuals.
increase as their income, property-owning and education levels rise
Conservatism...
Conservatives believe that business has the right to...
make a profit off other people’s labor and to enjoy the benefits and privileges of
wealth.
Conservatives blame the nation's ills on...
decadent morality, decline of family & Christian values
Democratic Party snapshot:
non-white - (1)
Caucasian - (2)
College Degrees - (3)
1. 36%
2. 64%
3. 21%
Which political party does better among younger voters? What ages are considered "younger"?
Democratic Party
18 - 30 years old
Which political party is significantly more diverse?
Democratic Party
Which race is the core base for the Democratic Party?
African-Americans
Most democratic nations have which political system?
Proportional representation
Which country comes closest to a "pure" two-party system than any other nation in the world?
The United States of America
Winner-take-all
a system in an election where the winner is the person who gets the most votes.
The candidate who wins the state will get all of the states electoral vote.
Proportional representation
An electoral system in which each party is represented in the legislature in proportion to the percentage of the popular vote.
Political equality
each person has the right to participate in politics on equal terms
Party Identification
a political term to describe a voter's underlying allegiance to a political party. This can be based on gender, age, race/ethnicity, income
Mechanisms of Political Change...
Realignment
A change in the nature of issues that distinguish or divide political parties
Mechanisms of Political Change...
Realignment
The South switched from being solidly under democratic control for three reasons:
- Race
- Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, affirmative action
Mechanisms of Political Change...
De-alignment
A major drop-off in support for the parties.
More people are finding that the (1)___ major (2)_______ ________ are (3)________ to their (4)_________ and (5)_____.
1. two
2. political parties
3. irrelevant
4. interests
5. needs
Southern Democrats
A strategy that some candidates use
Duopoly
a situation in which two suppliers dominate the market for a commodity or service
i.e. Republicans and Democrats
Partisanship
taking the side of a political party or espousing a viewpoint that reflects a political party's principles or position on issues
Political Action Committee (PAC)
An organization that raises money privately and employs lobbyists to influence legislation.
527 organization
a tax-exempt organization created for the purpose of influencing the election or appointment of public officials
527 organization example
The term 527 group is used to refer to political organizations that are not regulated by the Federal Election Commission and are not subject to the same contribution limits as political action committees.
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
is a sovereign regulatory agency that was established by the United States Congress.
What are the duties of the Federal Election Commission?
Its duties include revealing campaign finance information, enforcing provisions of the law and overseeing the public funding of Presidential elections.
Religious Right
United States political faction that advocates social and political conservativism, school prayer, and federal aid for religious groups and schools
Party in Power
governing party, government party, party in office
Electoral College is a group selected by state legislatures to represent the popular vote in federal elections.
general election
An election involving most or all constituencies in a state (or nation) in choosing candidates for office and voting on ballot measures
incumbent
the official who holds an office and is running for re-election
turn-out
the number of people who participate in or attend an event
electoral votes
the number that is equal to the number states U.S. senators (2 in each state) plus the number of its U.S. representatives which varies according to the state's population
paradox of voting
is that for a rational, self-interested voter the costs of voting will normally exceed the expected benefits
function and role of elections...
Why do elections not lead to a greater degree of democracy?
low turnout, educational and income disparity in participation rates; dominant role of wealthy groups and contributors
function and role of elections...
Democratic theory places elections at the center of popular sovereignty/the essential tool by which citizens control what the government does. True/False
True
function and role of elections...
For elections to be democratic, participation must occur across all (1)____ ______ equally [(2)____, (3)______, (4)_________, (5)________, (6)______ __________]
1. socially groups
2. race
3. income
4. occupation
5. religion
6. region differences
function and role of elections...
Elections are limited as instruments of linking...
elites with non-elites.
function and role of elections...
Elections do not serve as mechanisms for choosing personnel. True/False
False
function and role of elections...
Elections serve as a mechanism for choosing policy. True/False
False
function and role of elections...
Candidates are not required to support their party's platform. True/False
True
threats to the democratic process...
Two-party duopoly
threats to the democratic process...
Winner-take-all system
threats to the democratic process...
Ex-offenders disenfranchised (5 million)
They did not commit murder, may be drug related, traffic-related, etc.
threats to the democratic process...
It is very, very difficult to resolve social and economic inequality through the electoral process
threats to the democratic process...
The 'consent of the governed' is manufactured
threats to the democratic process...
Elected officials are not bound by their campaign
threats to the democratic process...
Redistricting
threats to the democratic process...
Gerrymander
threats to the democratic process...
Voter suppression/Photo ID. At certain locations, voters were asked to provide two photo IDs. True/False
True
threats to the democratic process...
In Florida in 2000, 36,000 minority and low-income registered voters turned away. They were told that their names were not added to the voter rolls. True/False
True
threats to the democratic process...
Polls closed on-time. True/False
False
threats to the democratic process...
State troopers searched cars
There were also claims that individuals were held in contempt and let out after voting polls closed.
threats to the democratic process...
Requiring two photo IDs
4-6 million votes were left uncounted in 2000 election
Registration forms disappeared
Absentee ballots mailed out too late
In 2004, 3 million voters living abroad did not receive ballots
Democratic voters stricken from the polls due to felonies never committed
threats to the democratic process...
Right-wing activists/religious fundamentalists distributed flyers warning voters who had unpaid traffic tickets, an arrest warrant or owed child support would be arrested at the polls.
If voters came under such circumstances, could they be arrested?
No.
threats to the democratic process...
in Warren, Ohio, Republican officials announced a "terrorist attack" - after press left ballots moved to a warehouse where the secret counting produced 14,000 more votes for Bush he received in 2000
threats to the democratic process...
The touch-screen voting machines made by Diebold, Sequoia and ES & S which were ardent Bush supports.
Voting Behavior
Party affiliation
family and friends, role of the mass media, age, religion, education, occupation, economic status, race/ethnicity, ideological convictions, high/low stimulus
Voting Behavior
Group Benefits
Voting Behavior
Candidates
experience, leadership personal qualities/image
factors that influence voting
party affliation
family and friends
role of mass media
age
religion
education
occupation
economic status
race/ethnicity
ideological convictions
high/low stimlus
why people do not vote...
People are too (1)____, not (2)_________, did not like (3)_________, (4)_________ _________ towards politics, two major political parties are (5)_________.
1. busy
2. interested
3. candidates
4. negative attitude
5. irrelevant
why people do not vote...
Voters are not given the kind of information that would provide
an incentive
why people do not vote...
There is a broad-based distrust
of government and politicians
why people do not vote...
Elections have become a
futile formality, a deMOCKracy
popular vote
the actual number/percentage of votes garnered as opposed to the number/percentage of seats won
campaign platform
what a political party stands for
Interest group
is a group of people organized to pursue a common interest or interests through political participation to obtain favorable public policy decisions from government
Interest group is also an organization
which shares common political and economic interests and seeks to influence public policy by electioneering and lobbying
Interest groups are protected by the 1st Amendment. True/False
True
Lobbying
is any communication directed at a government decision-maker with the intent of influencing public policy decisions
Lobbyist
a person or firm that contacts government officials on behalf of a particular cause or issue for their clients or membership
Super-PAC
a type of independent political action committee which may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals but is not permitted to contribute to or coordinate directly with parties or candidates
mass associations
Interest groups that have a large number of dues-paying individuals as members.
revolving door
former members of Congress become lobbyists (300)
Former congressional aides become lobbyists
Former White House staff become lobbyists
elitism
pluralism
interest group state
a government in which most policy decisions are determined by the influence of interest groups
types of interests groups
economic groups
trade association
professional associations
ideological groups
public interest groups
public sector groups
public interests
deal with organizations and associations that seek to secure protection and benefits beyond their own members, often for society at large (public good)
Citizens United
a conservative non-profit organization in the United States
What case is the Citizens United most known for?
Citizens United v Federal Election Commission
U.S. Supreme Court held that the 1st Amendment protection extends to corporations.
ways that interests groups influence public policy/ interest group strategies...
access
information (knowledge of legislative process, expertise, information about the group's position on issues [from think tanks]
campaign contributions
hard money - congress has attempted to regulate
soft money - is not regulated. difficult to track.
iron triangle
Congressional standing or sub-committees
Government bureaucracy
Organized interest group
private interests
concern organizations and associations attempting to gain protection or material advantages from government for their own members
inside strategies
direct lobbying, drafting legislation and regulation, research, testimony
outside strategies
grassroots mobilizing, directly involving interest group members in lobbying and advocacy efforts (fax, letter, writing campaign, emails), influencing public opinion
