Political Analysis of Public Policymaking (PubPol 301) Midterm 2 Review Sheet

Political Analysis of Public Policymaking (PubPol 301) Midterm 2 Review Sheet

Interest Groups

• Definition of Interest Group

  • Formal organizations representing a common cause influencing public policy.

  • Examples:

  • NRA (National Rifle Association): Advocates for Second Amendment rights.

  • Sierra Club: Environmental activism against climate change.

  • American Medical Association: Represents medical professionals advocating for healthcare reforms.

• Primary Activities:

  • Lobbying legislative members with monetary contributions.

  • Supporting candidates aligned with their goals.

  • Conducting influence campaigns.

• Types of Interest Groups:

  • Economic Interest Groups (Chambers of Commerce, Trade Unions)

  • Public Interest Groups (Consumer advocacy, Environmental)

  • Government Interest Groups (National League of Cities)

  • Civil Rights Interest Groups (NAACP, NOW)

  • Ideological Interest Groups (Americans for Democratic Action)

  • Single-issue Interest Groups (NRA, MADD)

• Predictors of Organized Representation:

  • Socioeconomic Status: Important.

  • Political Efficacy: Important.

  • Attentiveness to News: Important.

  • Political Participation: Important.

  • Size: not important

  • Political idealogy: not important

Institutionalized Interest Groups

• Characteristics:

  • Well-established, structured organizations with stability and resources.

  • Regular access to policymakers and major sectors like business and labor.

• Key Features:

  • Formal structures and leadership.

  • Established funding and media relations.

  • Ability to influence policy through lobbying and advocacy.

• Example Organizations:

  • American Bar Association

  • National Education Association

Influence on Congress

• Lobbying Techniques:

  • Providing expert information.

  • Drafting bills and amendments.

  • Grassroots mobilization (public engagement).

  • Media campaigns to sway public opinion.

• Campaign Contributions:

  • Through PACs, funding sympathetic candidates.

  • Building relationships for policy influence.

• Political Donation Patterns:

  • Donations generally directed towards reliable allies.

  • Role of money in mobilization and influencing committee behavior rather than direct influence on every vote.

  • Role of money in influencing voting outcomes is also weak

Social Movements

• Definition:

  • Informal groups focusing on institutional change through collective action often via changes in public policy

• Examples:

  • Civil Rights Movement: Aimed at ending racial segregation. Key figures include MLK and Rosa Parks.

  • Women’s Suffrage Movement: Sought voting rights for women, led by Susan B. Anthony and Emmeline Pankhurst.

• Lifecycle Stages:

  1. Emergence: Understanding discontent; early recognition of issues.

  2. Coalescence: Defined responsibilities; emergence of leadership.

  3. Bureaucratization: Increased organization and coalition-building.

  4. Decline: May result from repression, co-optation, or success.

The Judiciary

• Role in Policy Making:

  • Courts enforce laws, play a role in implementation, and influence policy through judicial review.

• Judicial Review:

  • Established by Marbury v. Madison; allows courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

• Judicial Philosophies:

  • Constructionist: Adheres strictly to the Constitution.

  • Activist: Interprets broader principles for justice (e.g., Brown v. Board of Education).

• Federal Judiciary Structure:

  • Supreme Court, State Supreme Courts, Lower Federal Courts, and Specialized Courts

Political Parties

• Functions:

  • Recruit and support candidates.

  • Develop party platforms.

  • Organize conventions, serve as identity markers.

• Persistence of Two-party System Reasons:

  • Electoral college dynamics favor large parties.

  • Single-member districting discourages smaller parties.

• Party Platforms

  • Purpose: set of policy positions that represent the party and party’s nominee and baseline for congressional voting

  • Continued relevance: define party idealogy/priorities; guide lawmakers; inform voters; signal to interest groups/donors

  • Implication of reusing 2016 platform is that it doesn’t rlly matter

Political Polarization Patterns in Congress

• Historical Context:

  • 1950s: Republicans and Democrats ideologically similar.

  • 1960s: Civil Rights movement led to migration.

• Factors of Polarization:

  • Media fragmentation and the rise of social media contributed to heightened polarization.

Political Campaigns and Voter Behavior

• Rational Self-Interest Model & Voter Theories:

  • Median Voter Theorem relevance diminished in polarization.

  • Importance of positioning in the political center for broader appeal.

• Campaign Strategies:

  • Impact of superficial public perceptions (e.g., Dukakis helmet incident).

  • Modern targeting methods: Broadcast vs. Narrowcast vs. Microtargeting.

• Political Targeting Examples:

  • Cambridge Analytica case highlighting effectiveness and normative concerns.

  • AI-driven campaigning and targeting strategies, addressing classification and the "liar’s dividend."