Political Parties, Campaigns, and Elections Notes

Who Are “We the People”?

• Refers to the electorate: the body of people allowed to vote.
• The idea of the people’s will being central to democracy.
• Evolved over time as voting rights expanded.

Expanding the Right to Vote

• Key Milestones:
  • 15th Amendment (1870): Prohibits denial of vote based on race.
  • 19th Amendment (1920): Women gain the right to vote.
  • 24th Amendment (1964): Ends poll taxes in federal elections.
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965: Banned literacy tests and other discriminatory practices.
  • 26th Amendment (1971): Voting age lowered to 18.

Voter Models

• Types:
  1. Rational Choice Voting
     • Based on individual interest and policy alignment.
     • “What’s in it for me?”
  2. Retrospective Voting
     • Based on evaluation of past performance.
     • “Am I better off than I was?”
  3. Prospective Voting
     • Based on predictions of future performance.
     • “What will they do if elected?”
  4. Party-Line Voting
     • Voting consistently for one party.

Influences on Voter Behavior

• Demographics (age, race, education)
• Political Socialization
  • Family
  • School
  • Media
  • Religion
• Party Identification
• Candidate Image and Personality
• Key Issues (e.g., economy, healthcare)

What is Voter Turnout?

• The percentage of eligible voters who actually vote in an election.
• Important indicator of democratic participation.

Influences on Voter Turnout

• Registration Requirements
• Voter ID Laws
• Weekday Voting
• Long Lines
• Low Political Efficacy
• Type of Election
  • Presidential elections have higher turnout than midterms or local.
• Age and Education
  • Older and more educated individuals vote more.

Influences on Voter Choice

• Party Identification
• Candidate’s Personality and Image
• Issues
• Policy Performance
• Media Influence

Linkage Institutions

• Definition: Connect people to government.
• The Four Key Linkage Institutions:
  1. Political Parties
  2. Interest Groups
  3. Elections
  4. Media

Political Parties

• Purpose: Recruit candidates, run campaigns, inform public, coordinate policy.
• Structure: National, state, and local levels.
• Help organize government.

Interest Groups

• Aim to influence public policy.
• Use lobbying, grassroots campaigns, litigation, and media.
• Iron Triangles: Relationship between interest groups, Congress, and bureaucracy.
• Issue Networks: Looser, broader alliances of interest groups and policy makers.

Elections

• Mechanism of representative democracy.
• Includes primaries, caucuses, and general elections.

Media

• Informs public
• Investigates government actions
• Shapes public opinion
• Acts as a watchdog
• Can be biased or selective in coverage

Changing Nature of Political Parties

• Shift from party-centered to candidate-centered campaigns.
• Decline in party loyalty; rise of independent voters.
• Media and technology allow candidates to bypass party.

Candidate-Centered Campaigns

• Candidates build personal brand/image.
• Use social media, television, and direct communication.
• Fundraising and media management are essential.

Building Coalitions

• Parties build coalitions of various interest groups to win elections.
• Example: FDR’s New Deal Coalition
  • Southern Whites
  • Northern Black voters
  • Urban dwellers
  • Farmers

Critical Elections

• 1932: FDR and New Deal Era
  • Dominated by Democrats until 1968.
  • Shifted allegiance of Black voters to Democrats.
• 1968: Nixon Wins
  • Southern realignment: many White Southerners switch to Republicans.
  • Cultural divisions exploited via wedge issues (e.g., abortion, voter ID, immigration).

Communication

• Campaigns rely on:
  • TV, radio, internet, social media
  • Ads, press conferences, interviews

3rd Parties

• Why Do They Form?
  • Represent overlooked or extreme views.
  • Response to dissatisfaction with two-party system.
• Barriers to Success:
  • Winner-take-all system
  • Ballot access laws
  • Lack of funding
  • Media inattention
  • Voter perception of “wasting vote”
• Spoiler Effect:
  • 3rd parties can split the vote and change the outcome.

Interest Groups – Resources

• Funding
• Expertise
• Networks
• Lobbyists
• Grassroots mobilization

Lobbying

• Attempting to influence policymakers.
• Can involve testifying, providing research, meeting with officials.

Stages of Presidential Elections

1. Invisible Primary (fundraising, endorsements before official start)
2. Primaries and Caucuses (state-by-state contests)
3. National Conventions (official party nominations)
4. General Election (Nov – final vote)
5. Electoral College Vote (Dec – electors vote)

Caucus vs. Primary States

• Caucus: Discussion-based, lower turnout.
• Primary: Private voting, higher turnout.

General Elections and Electoral College

• 538 electors total
• 270 votes to win
• Most states are winner-take-all
• Emphasizes battleground states

Why is $ Necessary for Elections?

• Media ads
• Staff and travel
• Polling and data
• Events and logistics
• Fundraising platforms
• Legal and consulting fees