Political Parties and Interest Groups

POLS 1101

Open Primary

A primary election in which voters are not required to declare party affiliation

Closed Primary

Only voters registered with a given party can vote in that party’s primary

Political Parties

A coalition of people who seek to control the machinery of gov by winning elections

Party Platform

A formal, public statement of a political party’s core principles, goals, and positions on a range of issues

Party Organization

The formal structure within a political party that handles its operations, including creating a platform, recruiting candidates, and managing campaigns

Duverger’s Law

The principle that in a single - member district with plurality rule (where the candidate with the most votes win), a 2 party system will emerge

Political machine

A hierarchical party organization that uses tangible rewards like jobs and money to gain and control votes, and maintain power through a tight-knit leadership structure

Initiative

An approach to direct democracy in which a proposal is placed on an election ballot when the requisite number of registered voters have signed petitions

Referendum

An approach to direct democracy in which a state legislature proposes a change to the state’s laws or constitution that all the voters subsequently vote on

Recall

A specific number of citizens can demand a vote of the electorate on whether an elected holder of public office should be removed from that office before the end of the term of office

Patronage

The practice of awarding jobs, grants, licenses or other special favors in exchange for political support

Insider lobbying tactics

Direct, behind the scenes strategies used by interest groups to influence policymakers, involving face to face meetings, testimony, drafting legislation, providing info, resolving conflicts, and building relationships within the gov

Outsider lobbying tactics

Aim to influence policymakers indirectly by mobilizing public opinion, using strategies like social media campaigns, media events, public protests, etc, to create public pressure making an issue to politically costly for officials to ignore

Public interest group

An organization that tries to influence gov policy for the benefit of the general public, often advocating for causes that affect the community as a whole