1. Interest Groups and
Political Parties
What are the differences between the
Democrats and the Republicans?
What are political parties important in
an democracy?
2. Interest Groups
Definition:
Private groups that attempt to influence the
government to respond to the shared attitudes
and ideas of their members.
Examples:
PAC, Sierra Club, AARP, ACLU, Philip
Morris,
3. Operations:
Lobbying- communicate with politicians to
sway decision making
Tools to catch their attention
Money
Gifts
Mass Propaganda
4. Regulating Interest Groups
Laws
1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act:
Registration with the House clerk or Senate
secretary if interest groups had money to persuade
legislation
Act failed few interest group register b/c Supreme
Court (1954) allowed noncompliance of grass root
groups
Act did not apply to lobbying the executive branch
5. When do interest groups become
political parties?
Definition
political party is an organization that seeks to attain
political power within a government, usually by
participating in electoral campaigns.
Parties often support a certain ideology, but may also
represent a subgroups that have different interests.
7. Political Socialization
Source of political beliefs and attitudes
Family and the Social Environment
Education
Peers
Leaders’ Influence
Media
Political events
Example:
– The Great Depression
– 60’s and the Vietnam War Era
8. Impact of Institutions on Party
Structure.
One party, Two party, or Multiparty
System Contingent on:
Majoritarian or Proportional Representation
History
Presidential or Parliamentary System
Laws and Constitution
9. Theory: Lipset and Rokkan
Theory on Political Cleavages
Parties that were formed in the aftermath of political,
religious, and economic revolutions are frozen.
State vs. Church
Worker vs. Owner
Land vs. Industry
Center vs. Periphery (Fed vs. State)
These have and will continue to exist in the political
arena despite new issues and challenges.
10. The Constitution
Says nothing about
political parties.
Why?
Founding fathers felt
parties were wicked
and corrupt.
Did not want parties to
control politics.
Did not want to pervade
the entire country.
12. Ideologies:
Liberalism vs. Conservatism
Conservatives:
Favor limited governmental involvement in the economy
Economic freedom is a necessity for the good of the
society
Advocate governmental involvement to preserve
traditional values and lifestyles
Liberals:
Favor governmental regulation of the economy
Advocate a limited governmental role in social issues
Social freedom is necessary for the good of society
13. Today’s Major US Political
Parties and Ideology
Republican Party (GOP)-
Considered the more
socially conservative and
economically liberal.
Laissez-Faire Economics
Party Chairman- Ken
Mehlman
Democratic Party-
Considered more socially
liberal and economically
interventionist.
Party Chairman- Howard
Dean
14. US Parties: First Party System
(before 1824)
American Revolution
Federalist
Founded by Hamilton
Supported strong central government
Anti federalist
Founded by Jefferson
Supported more state autonomy
Also known as the Republicans
Jackson split into a Democratic party
Adams remained in the Republican party,
but latter called the Whigs
Hamiltonian vision for modernizing the United States
15. US Parties: Second Party System
(1824–1854)
Civil War
Democrats
Strong state govt
opportunities for common man such as farmers
hostile to blacks
Needed slavery for economy
National Republicans (Whig party)
active federal. govt,
economic Laissez-Faire
Against the expansion of slavery
Southern Whigs ceased to exist (dealigned)
Northern Whigs united with antislavery Democrats
and radical antislavery Free Soil party thus creating Lincoln’s
Republicans party
16. US Parties: Third Party System:
Post Civil War (1854–1896)
Post Civil War
Northern Democrats
Feared strong central govt
Catholics
Did not want to give free slaves rights
Dominated the white south for decades
Republicans
Sought to increase the power of the federal govt.
Promoted economic growth and businesses
Promoted evangelical protestant morals and values
Public schools w/ protestant curriculum
Inflation in check to maintain working class wages
Limited/prohibited the sale of alcohol
Democrats embraced populism. Advocated for small farmers
Sought high inflation for debt relief.
17. US Parties: Fourth Party System/
Progressive Era (1896–1932)
Industrial Revolution
Democrats
Traditional small govt. policy was realigned and opened
to govt. intervention in the economy
Wilson was able to win presidency because the Republican split
Republicans
Honest Impartial Govt could regulate the economy
more effectively
1912 split : T. Roosevelt ran on the Bull Moose Ticket
The platform based non progressive ideals. Protect women, children, and immigrants.
Reform corrupt govt, and give people more voice.
18. US Parties: New Deal and Fifth
Party System
Great Depression and New Deal
Republicans
Laissez Faire
State govt and private organizations
To ease the suffering
Democrats
United whites and blacks
Both sought relief from hardships
Strong federal govt
60’s
Democrats split from economic and social
Conservatives in south into republican base
60’s
social progressives
African Americans remained Democrats
19. Goals of Political
Parties
To mobilize the public in an organization
Organize and run elections
Recruit Candidates (strategy: TO WIN)
Presenting alternative policies
Accepting responsibility for the operation
of govt. (advocating party agenda)
Acting as opposition to party in power.
20. Parties: Party Structure
National Level
Pres. controls
National Convention
Party Chairperson
National Committee
State level
Governor controls
State Conventions
State party chairperson
Party Boss
Local Level (Grassroots)
County Committee
County Chairperson
District Leaders
Precinct or ward captains
Party Workers
22. Primary Elections
Candidates nomination process
Feb: Local caucus where party members select
delegate to district convention.
Mar: District Convention selects delegates to state
convention.
Jun: Presidential primaries are closed primaries.
Party member choose candidate for Nov election.
Aug: National convention officially nominates party’s
presidential candidate.
Keynote address will open convention and set the tone for
the convention and campaign.
Nov: General election registered voters will cast
ballots for their candidate in the electoral college.
23. Parties in Action
Meetings
Quadrennial party convention
Nominate presidential
candidate
Reveals party platform
Introduces new and upcoming
stars
Establishes party momentum
Government
Provides funding for
candidates
Whips legislators
Finances
Fund raising
25. Accountability to the Voters
Presidential and
Parliamentary
Systems
Viable third parties
26. Role of third parties in a two
party system
Goals of third parties:
Rally enough supports where they are noticed
by the 2 dominate parties
If you can’t beat them, then join them.
Seek to have third party interest included in main
party platform