Political Parties and Interest Groups - Summary

Political Parties

• Coalitions seeking government control to implement policies.

• Achieve this by:

  • Nominating candidates.

  • Electing them to office.

  • Winning elections.

• Organize government and alter policy once in power.

Interest Groups

• Influence specific policies without seeking government control.

• Lobby elected officials and contribute to campaigns.

Partisanship

• Identification with a party or cause.

• Parties mobilize citizens to vote.

• Broad coalitions including media, interest groups, think tanks, and donors.

Parties and Democracy

• Early views: parties as "factions" threatening stability.

• Current concerns: divisions, influence of interest groups/donors.

• Counterargument: parties mobilize voters, increase participation.

Two-Party System

• Proportional representation: legislative seats match vote percentage.

• Plurality system (U.S.): candidate with most votes wins.

• Duverger’s Law: plurality voting in single-member districts leads to two-party systems.

• Voters avoid minor parties fearing wasted votes.

Party Formation

• Societal conflict leading elites to mobilize support.

• Groups outside government organizing to win control.

• Party system: set of important parties at a given time.

Party Systems in US History

• First Party System (1790s):

  • Federalists (New England merchants, national bank, tariffs).

  • Jeffersonian Republicans/Anti-Federalists (Southern farmers, free trade, states’ rights).

• Second Party System (1830s):

  • Democrats (Andrew Jackson's supporters, South/West, free trade).

  • Whigs (Northeast merchants, opposed Democrats, emphasized personal qualities).

• Civil War Party System:

  • Republicans (opposed slavery, replaced Whigs, Reconstruction).

  • Democrats (South, immigrants, working class).

• New Deal Party System:

  • FDR's programs increased federal government size.

  • Democratic coalition: union workers, intellectuals, southern farmers, Jews, Catholics, African Americans.

• Modern Party System:

  • Civil Rights divisions led to Southern Whites joining Republicans.

  • Republicans added religious conservatives (opposed to abortion).

  • Democrats maintained support among union workers, minorities, those concerned with economic fairness and the environment.

Tea Party and Donald Trump

• Tea Party opposed Obama's agenda, supported conservative primary challengers.

• Coalesced around Trump in 2016.

• Policy achievements: tax cuts, Supreme Court appointments, abortion restrictions.

Party Polarization

• Parties and supporters divided on many issues.

• Voting increasingly along party lines.

• Congressional district boundaries drawn to favor the controlling party.

Party Functions

• Recruiting candidates with experience and fundraising ability.

• Party organizations (National Committees) manage day-to-day affairs, provide campaign funds, minimize disputes, and enhance media image.

• Parties organize Congress; Speaker of the House selected by majority party.

Parties and Policy

• Democrats: expanded social services, national health insurance, business regulation, legalized abortion.

• Republicans: reduced spending, reduced taxes, gun rights, opposing abortion.

Party Identification

• Psychological ties to a party, formed early in life.

• Reflects rational evaluations or "running tally" of performance.

• Strong identifiers more likely to vote and become activists.

• Roughly equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans; increasing numbers of independents.

Voter Demographics

• African Americans: largely Democratic.

• Latino voters: less monolithic, but lean Democratic.

• Asian Americans: increasingly Democratic.

• Democrats: coasts, upper Midwest, urban areas.

• Republicans: Mountain West, Great Plains, South, rural areas.

• Young people: more likely Democratic/Independent; older voters: more likely Republican.

Affective Polarization

• Growing negative feelings between partisans.

• Emotional disliking of the opposing party.

Minor Parties

• Represent interests not addressed by major parties.

• Can act as protest movements or promote specific policies.

• Can affect elections by taking votes from major parties.

• Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) may promote multiple parties.

Interest Groups

• Influence public policy through advocacy.

• Types: corporate, labor, professional, citizen/public interest groups.

• PACs raise and distribute funds for campaigns.

Interest Group Formation

• Pluralism: interests compete for influence, leading to compromise.

• Policy entrepreneurs promote their views.

• Social movements can evolve into interest groups.

Free-Rider Dilemma

• Collective goods: benefits available to all, even non-members.

• Free riders enjoy benefits without participating.

Overcoming Free-Rider Problem

• Selective benefits for members only.

• Informational, material, solidary, and purposive benefits.

Lobbying

• Influencing legislation via direct pressure on officials.

• Methods: face-to-face contact, information, testimony, campaigns.

Influencing Executive Branch

• Lobbying the president and executive agencies.

• Participating in rule-making processes.

Iron Triangles

• Cooperative relationships between congressional committees, agencies, and interest groups.

• Interest groups give campaign funds and lobbying for larger agency budgets.

• Agencies provide contracts to interest groups and members of congress.

• Congress provides larger budgets for the agency and enacts policies favored by the interest group.

Interest Groups and Courts

• Bringing suits directly.

• Financing individual suits.

• Filing amicus curiae briefs.

Interest Group Influence

• Strong leadership, resources, and knowledgeable staff.

• Access is easier to buy than actual influence.

• Providing information to allies is key.

Regulating Lobbying

• No business deduction for lobbying costs.

• Trade associations must report lobbying expenses to members.

• Limits on gifts to members of Congress.