POL-111 Linkage Institutions

responsible party model

party government when four conditions are met:

1. clear choice of ideologies

2. candidates pledged to implement ideas

3. party held accountable by voters

4. party control over members

Roles for Parties

1. Party in Electorate

2. Party in Government

3. Party Organization

Party in Electorate

members of public who identify as belonging to a party

Party in Government

party members who have been elected to serve in government or were appointed to positions that make them beholden to an elected official

Party Organization

official structure that conducts business of parties (National Committee, state-level, county-level); helps party candidates win elections

theories to explain two-party system

1. Dualist Theory

2. Duverger’s Law/Institutional Factors

3. Social Consensus Theory

Dualist Theory

parties defined by regional and geographical reasons rather than ideology (regional factions)

Duverger’s Law/Institutional Factors

“rules of the game”; single-member districts, plurality elections with first-past-the-post system

Social Consensus Theory/Median Voter Theory

“race to the middle”; race to get the median voters

interest groups

organization whose members act together to influence public policy in order to promote their common interests

special interest groups

serves special & unique interests of members (ex: Economic interest groups like agriculture and manufacturing)

public interest groups

non-economic (ex: civil rights organizations and ideological organizations)

free rider problem

people don’t join interest groups because they can reap the benefits of their work without having to join and work for the benefits (such as environmental groups: everyone reaps the benefits of cleaner air and water)

reasons individuals join interest groups

1. material benefits: tangible rewards like discounts, free luggage, information (groups publish magazines, newsletters)

2. solidary benefits: interaction and bonding with group members, shared interests

3. expressive benefits: expression of your values and interests

Astroturf

refers to indirect lobbying efforts that are created for sole purpose of manipulating or creating public interest (fake bottom-up power)