Parties and Interest Groups Lecture

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on parties and interest groups.

Political Party

A group of officials or would-be officials who are linked to a sizable group of citizens in an organization designed to ensure that its officials gain or retain power.

Purpose of a Political Party

To implement the party’s preferred policies – influenced by ideology. Functions are linking and leading.

Why Parties?

Parties are groups of individuals who agree to work together for common goals, or to help one another achieve ones own goals

Michel’s “Iron Law of Oligarchy”

Argues that political parties will always betray their original purpose because leadership and hierarchy create a group with distinct values, leaders deal with opposition daily, leaders benefit from the status quo, and there is a desire to grow the party, leading to compromise.

Republican Party Characteristics

Low taxes, strong national defense, traditional religion and family life, conservative ideology

Democratic Party Characteristics

Protect safety net, liberal internationalism, more open to nontraditional religions and families, progressive ideology

Interest Group

An organized group of citizens, whose central political goal is to ensure that the state follows certain policies.

Ways Interest Groups Influence Policy

Lobbying, expertise, model legislation, politician ratings, money, votes, litigation

Sectoral Groups

Corporations, unions, and other entities focused on influencing policy related to their specific industry.

Institutional Groups

Universities, the military, or other institutions that benefit from government budgets.

Promotional Groups

Groups organized around a particular point of view or cause.

Free Rider Problem

When there are many “winners” from a policy, no one wants to be the one who has to face the expense of actually seeing it passed.

Barriers to Interest Group Effectiveness

Poor organization, priority voices (disproportionate voices), interest distortion

Pluralism

A competitive political environment with a level playing field for competing interest groups.

Neo-Corporatism

Government solicits and institutionalizes some voices, giving some interest groups preferential treatment.