Comprehensive Guide to U.S. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Media Influence

What are linkage institutions in politics?

Linkage institutions connect citizens to the government, including political parties, interest groups, and the media.

What is the primary function of political parties?

Political parties seek to control government by winning elections and holding public office.

How have political parties changed since the 1960s?

Political parties have weakened, with more independents and decentralized power due to federal regulations.

What is candidate-centered politics?

A political landscape where individual candidates, rather than party affiliation, dominate campaigns and elections.

What role do political parties play in nominating candidates?

Parties nominate candidates primarily through primary elections, diminishing the control of party leaders.

What is the significance of FDR's grand coalition?

FDR's grand coalition unified diverse interests and required parties to adopt more moderate positions.

What is divided government?

A situation where one party controls the presidency and another controls one or both houses of Congress.

What was the Pendleton Act?

An 1883 law that established a merit-based system for federal employment, reducing patronage.

What are the three components of political parties?

1. Party-in-Government, 2. Party-in-Electorate, 3. Party Organizations.

What is the role of the national convention in political parties?

The national convention sets the number of delegates for each state and establishes rules for delegate selection.

What does the term 'polarization' refer to in politics?

The increasing ideological distance between political parties, leading to divided government and split-ticket voting.

What is the impact of technology on political communication?

Changes in technology have influenced how political messages are disseminated and how citizens engage in politics.

What is the role of interest groups in political participation?

Interest groups advocate for specific issues and influence public policy through lobbying and grassroots efforts.

What is the trend of dealignment in political parties?

A trend where voters increasingly identify as independents, rejecting traditional party affiliations.

How do political parties simplify decisions for voters?

By providing labels that help voters identify candidates and their positions quickly.

What are some weaknesses of modern political parties?

Weak grassroots organization, loss of traditional functions, weak party discipline, and intra-party divisions.

What is the role of campaign finance in political parties?

Political parties raise and spend funds for campaigns, though this role has diminished in recent years.

What does the term 'mass media' refer to in the context of politics?

Mass media includes various platforms that disseminate information to the public, influencing political opinions and behavior.

What is the significance of the Federalist #10?

It discusses the dangers of factions and advocates for a large republic to mitigate their effects.

What is the role of political socialization?

Political socialization is the process by which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values, often influenced by parties.

What is the effect of the rise of campaign consultants on political parties?

Campaign consultants have taken over many traditional functions of political parties, reducing their influence.

What does 'freedom of the press' imply in the context of political participation?

It refers to the press's role in informing the public and holding the government accountable, impacting political engagement.

How does the structure of American political parties differ from other nations?

American parties are more decentralized, with national organizations lacking direct control over state and local parties.

What is the role of state control in political parties?

State control affects the balance of power in Congress and influences local governance and policy-making.

What is the significance of the rise of independents in the electorate?

The rise of independents indicates a shift away from traditional party loyalty, impacting election outcomes and party strategies.

What are direct primary elections?

Elections where party members directly vote for their candidates.

What legislation expanded civil service and aimed to reduce political patronage?

The Pendleton Act of 1883.

What measures increase direct democracy at the state level?

Initiative, referendum, and recall.

What does the 17th Amendment establish?

Direct election of U.S. Senators by the people.

What is the Hatch Act of 1939?

It prohibits federal civil service workers from engaging in political campaigns.

What reforms did the McGovern-Fraser Commission implement?

Prohibited winner-take-all primaries and developed a quota system for representation.

What is the role of superdelegates in the Democratic Party?

They allow party regulars to influence the nomination process for the benefit of the party.

What factors contribute to the resurgence of political parties?

Better funding, training for candidates, and strong party unity in Congress.

What is the significance of party identification (Party I.D.)?

It is the strongest predictor of voting behavior.

What are the main types of interest groups?

Institutional, membership, single issue, public interest, ideological, governmental, and PACs.

What is the goal of ideological interest groups?

To convince government to implement policies consistent with their philosophies.

What is the 'free rider' problem in interest groups?

Individuals benefit from the group's efforts without contributing to it.

What tactics do interest groups use to influence government?

Mass media, grassroots mobilization, boycotting, litigation, lobbying, and campaign contributions.

What is the definition of lobbying?

Attempting to influence government decisions and policies.

What are the reasons for the growth of interest groups in the U.S.?

Diversity of the population, multiple access points to government, and weaknesses of political parties.

What is the role of PACs in the political process?

Political Action Committees raise and distribute funds to support candidates.

What are the effects of minor parties on elections?

They can influence the outcome by acting as 'spoilers' in elections.

What barriers do minor parties face in elections?

Single-member districts, winner-take-all systems, and lack of media coverage.

What is the impact of majority parties in Congress?

They control all committees and key leadership positions.

What is the significance of the Civil Service System established by the Pendleton Act?

It reduced party influence over government bureaucracy.

What are some examples of single-issue interest groups?

Right to Life League and Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence.

What is the role of public interest groups?

To advocate for policies that benefit society as a whole.

What is grassroots mobilization?

Encouraging the general public to participate in political action.

What is the purpose of issuing 'report cards' by interest groups?

To rate candidates and congressmen based on their performance on issues.

What is the significance of the Electoral College winner-take-all system?

It can lead to third parties winning a significant percentage of votes but receiving no electoral votes.

What is an iron triangle?

An informal coalition of interest groups, a congressional committee, and a federal agency that seeks to influence public policy.

What are issue networks?

Groups that include various stakeholders, similar to iron triangles, but are less formal and can change more frequently.

What are the three components of an iron triangle?

Interest groups, congressional committees, and federal agencies.

What is cooperative lobbying?

When groups with similar purposes combine their efforts to influence policy.

What is grassroots lobbying?

Building public support for social change or to prevent change, often through local organizing.

What is netroots lobbying?

Political activism organized through blogs and online media.

What are the main functions of lobbyists?

To influence government, provide information, testify at hearings, and help write legislation.

What was the purpose of the 1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act?

To require registration and disclosure of lobbyists' activities, although it had many loopholes.

What did the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 accomplish?

It tightened registration and disclosure requirements for lobbyists.

What is the case for lobbyists?

They provide useful information, represent interests beyond geography, and have First Amendment protections.

What are some arguments against lobbyists?

They can over-represent wealthy interests, contribute to governmental inefficiency, and prioritize narrow interests over the national interest.

What are PACs?

Political Action Committees that raise and spend money to elect or defeat candidates.

What is bundling in the context of PACs?

The practice of combining contributions from multiple sources to increase the impact of donations.

What are 527 groups?

Organizations that run issue advocacy ads and are not regulated by the Federal Election Commission.

What is the impact of old media on politics?

Declining circulation of newspapers and a trend towards mergers, leading to less competition and more infotainment.

What is the role of media as a gatekeeper?

To set the national agenda, provide context for stories, and frame issues for the audience.

What is horse race journalism?

Coverage that focuses on who is winning or losing in a political campaign rather than on policy issues.

What does the term 'watchdog' refer to in media roles?

The media's role in fact-checking, investigative journalism, and holding government accountable.

How does social media act as a gate watcher?

It allows for the free flow of information without control over what is shared or disseminated.

What are the concerns regarding television news coverage?

It often emphasizes image over substance and can foster cynicism and distrust towards government.

What is the electronic throne in media politics?

The concept that the President uses media as a platform to project power and control public perception.

What is a trial balloon in media?

A tactic used by politicians to test public reaction to a proposal by leaking it to the media.

What is the significance of the lack of cameras in the Supreme Court?

It limits public access to proceedings, with only artist depictions and audio recordings available.

What does 'fake news' refer to in contemporary discourse?

It is often used to describe news bias rather than outright falsified stories.