LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS…
Not official parts of the United States government, but these institutions are
instrumental in connecting citizens with the policymaking institutions
(parties, elections, media, interest groups)
PART #1: Political parties, Elections,Voting
The Policymaking System
Figure 1.3
POLITICAL PARTIES
What is a Political Party?
• An organized effort
from office holders,
candidates and
voters to gain and
exercise power
through the
electoral process
The Constitution’s Views on
Political Parties…
Not factored into the original design
of the government. Why a big problem?
George Washington’s Views on
Political Parties
Major Functions of Parties
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Select candidates
Formulate & implement policy (platform)
Mobilization of voters (linkage function)
Organize government (Congress)
Monitor the opposing party (watchdog)
Changes in Party Preference…
 Realignment
 Dramatic shifts in party preference
 The minor party becomes the major party
 Often times comes as a result of a
CRITICAL ELECTION
 Secular realignment
 Gradual regional changes in party preference
What does a realignment look like?
Party Demographics Activity
Political Socialization: the process by which an individual acquires their political orientation
1. COMPLETE THE 10 OBSERVATIONS
2. Complete the questions on the back.
3. List 4 reasons why you think political parties might not be
as influential today as 100 years ago.
2012 Voting Demographics
Do men and women think differently about
political issues?
Who identifies as a Democrat? A
Republican?
Factors that Influence
Party Selection (#1 voting indicator)
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Family
Income
The most & least educated tend to be Democratic
Women gravitate towards the Democratic party
Religion
– Protestant (R), Jewish (D), Catholic (D & R)
• Race
– African-Americans and Hispanics tend to be Democratic
William “Boss” Tweed
1870-1920: Domination of the
political machine
Trend: Power of the Parties have
declined (dealignment)
 Candidates raise most of their own $
 Development of media & interest groups
 Elections and social services have changed
 Ballot printing, other elections duties (counting)
handled by government instead of parties
 Roosevelt’s New Deal put social services in hands
of government, not parties
 Direct Primary: Voters decided who will run
 Civil Service Laws: Government jobs stress MERIT
 Candidate-centered politics
 Shift to focus on candidates, their issues and
character rather than on party affiliation
 Leads to more TICKET SPLITTING
 Voting for multiple parties
How has the two-party system developed?
“The Era of
Good
Feelings”
A THIRD PARTY has never won a
Presidential election.
A term used to describe a party other than
the Democrats & Republicans.
Types of 3rd Parties
• Single Issue
– Free Soil Party
• Ideological
– Communist
• Splinter
– Bull Moose
• Economic
– Populist party
How would you classify the ones you looked at
on Friday?
Trend: Voter support for 3rd parties has greatly declined over the last
20 years
Why Aren’t 3rd Parties More
Successful in the US?
 Rules written by D’s & R’s
 Winner take all system
 Difficult to get on the ballot
 Major finance issues
You need to earn 5%of the vote in the
previous election to qualify for federal
funding
So What Value Do Third Parties
Have? (why do they even bother)
• Bring attention to
ignored issues
• Winning is unlikely,
but the potential to
influence election
outcomes exist
– Perot in 1992
– Nader in 2000
VOTING
Voting is the most common form of CONVENTIONAL
political participation
Conventional: what we expect good citizens to do
Unconventional: legal, but sometimes seen as
inappropriate
Who Is Most Likely to Vote…
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Wealthy (over $65,000)
College graduates
Whites vote more than minorities
Women vote more than men
Older citizens vote more than younger
Those interested in politics vote
How has the racial and ethnic composition
of voters changed?
Why Don’t Americans Vote?
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Too busy/other commitments
Lack of interest
Low political efficacy
Difficulty in registration
Number of elections
– Voter fatigue
• Weakened political parties
Why don’t people vote?
Voters often cite VOTER FATIGUE & low POLITICAL EFFICACY
How Can We Increase Voter Turnout?
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Make Election Day a national holiday
Allow early voting to take place
Allow for mail and internet voting
Make registration easier
– National Voter Registration Act (1993)- “Motor/Voter
Act”
– Allow same day registration
– Automatic registration at age 18
• Modernize the ballot
– Help American Vote Act (HAVA) -2001
2000 Presidential Election
Amendments Dealing With Voting…
• 15th: (1870)
– removed racial barriers to voting
• 17th: (1913)
– allowed for the direct election of US Senators
• 19th: (1920)
– removed gender barriers for voting
• 24th: (1964)
– eliminates use of the poll tax
• 26th: (1971)
– voting age dropped to 18
States must abide by federal regulations
(race, gender, age) but set a majority of
their own guidelines
ELECTIONS…
Purposes of Elections:
Involve the people
Fill public offices
Primary v. General Elections
 Primary Elections: who will run for office?
 Closed:
 Only registered party members vote
 Open:
 Voters pick a party’s primary to vote in
 Blanket:
 Voters can alternate between different
parties for different offices
 General Elections: Who will fill the office?
Primaries: Similarities & Differences
Between the Parties
• Both parties use primaries to award
delegates (people pledged to support a
particular candidate) to the National
Convention
• Republicans: winner take all
• Democrats:
– Proportional
– Use of SUPERDELEGATES
• Usually a national democratic party leader that can
offset the extreme elements within the party
Special Elections...
 Initiative: Voters propose legislation
 Referendum: Voters approve legislation
 Recall: Politicians can be removed