Unit 3
Political Parties
1. What functions do political parties provide? Nominate candidates to run for
office. Main goal is to win elections so a party can create policy. They also
provide information to the public (linkage institution). Raise and spend money on
candidates running, etc.
2. How has the nomination process for candidates changed and what impact has that
had on political parties? Party leaders used to select nominees for Pres, Senate, or
House. Now the people select the nominations through the primary election
process.
3. What is a party platform? How the party stands on the different issues: (taxes,
economy, foreign policy, edu, etc.)
4. What is a linkage institution? List at least two examples. Links people to the
government: Parties, interest groups, media, voting.
5. What were the attitudes of the framers about political parties (factions)?Didn’t
like them, thought they were destructive to our country. Necessary evil. Should be
avoided if possible.
6. How did they address these concerns through Federalist 10? Large Republic to
control the effects of faction (interest groups). Large Republic would ensure that
someone running for office would have to gain the support of many voters, and
that makes it unlikely that an unqualified or immoral individual would win. Also,
with a large country, there will be many factions competing for power, and that
will ensure that no one faction will dominate our government decisions.
7. Describe the historical development for political parties below:
1796-1824: Era of good feelings
1828-1856: Jacksonian Democrats: 1st Democratic era
1860-1892: First Republican Era: Civil war division
1896-1928: Second Republican Era: East/ West split (agriculture v. industry)
1932-1964: Second Democratic Era: New Deal Coalition…
1968-present: Era of divided government
8. What is divided government?One party controls the office of President, while the
other party controls at least one house of congress. Gridlock is a characteristic of
divided government.
9. What is party de-alignment, and what has help cause it? No loyalty to either party
(independents). The weakening of our parties has helped cause this. Also the
increase of interest groups and more candidate centered campaigns (media).
10. Why did Republicans gain an advantage on presidential elections during the
divided government period? Electronic media and computerized mailings
(fundraising), along with the use of professional consultants. Dems were involved
with the Mcgovern Fraser commission at the same time.
11. Why have political parties become weaker? Lost the primary election function to
the people, people look to interest groups for policy change more often (unhappy
with party), decentralized organization, anyone can join a party without being
held accountable, and finally, use of media to make campaigns more candidate
centered.
12. How are political parties organized? Decentralized, and largely independent at the
national, state, and local levels.
13. How do parties impact committees (their makeup), and leadership positions in
Congress? Every committee will have more members from the majority party on
it. All committee chairmen will be from the majority party too. As a result, the
majority party controls legislation every step of the way. All top leaders are
selected by the majority party as well (Speaker, majority leader, majority whips,
etc.)
14. What did the McGovern-Fraser Commission do? Democratic party mandated that
a certain number of women, minorities, and younger Americans be delegates at
the Democratic National Convention. It was done to create more diversity within
the party and to broaden its membership.
15. What are some reasons why we have a two party system? Single member districts
and the use of plurality to win those districts (House of Reps). Winner take all of
electors for President. Less money and media coverage of minor parties, Also,
third parties are excluded from debates.
16. List and describe the different types of third parties. Single issue, personality
(Bull Moose), and ideological.
17. What contributions do third parties make? They force one of the main parties
(Republican/Democrat) to address an issue or policy objective.
18. What impact/effects do third parties have? They can sway an election to either
one side or the other, especially if the main parties continue to ignore the issue or
policy objective that the third party makes important to many Americans.
19. What was the most influential third party in the U.S. history?
Populists
Elections
1. What are primary elections, and what are the different types, and which one is used
the most? Elections within the party to select their nominee for an office (pres, house,
senate). Closed, open, blanket. Closed is used the most often.
2. What are delegates? How do candidates win delegates? People that reflect how the
people of a state voted in the party primary. Candidates win by gaining a most of the
votes of the people. Democrats split up the delegates based on % of vote one, and
Republican typically use a winner take all feature to win them. It takes around 1144
delegates to win the nomination.
3. What are superdelegates? Usually people that hold elected office (Senator or
governor) that do not have to pledge allegiance to the candidate who won the popular
vote. They can support any candidate they choose.
4. What is a caucus? Informal meeting to select the nominees. Accomplishes the same thing
as the primary, but it is done in an informal meeting.
5. What is an incumbent, and why do they win 90 to 80 percent of the time? Someone
already in office. They have the incumbent advantage….Franking, more money
(PACs), staff in place, case work, committee work, better known, etc. In the house
they may be in gerrymandered districts as well.
6. Which elections are the most and least competitive between the House, Senate, and
presidential? Most: Presidentleast: House of Representatives.
7. What does a single member district refer to? Someone running for House of Reps.
They run in districts of the state. Senators are state wide positions.
8. What is the path one would have to take to become president? Announcewin
primariesNational conventionGeneral election (electoral college).
9. What is frontloading? Idea that the early primaries are more important than the later
ones. Early states can influence later state primaries. Also, the candidates need to do
well early in order to continue to gain support (money).
10. What is the national convention used for? Formality of counting up the delegates
(accept the nomination), unify the party, put forth the platform get ready for the
general election campaign.
11. What does balancing the ticket refer to? Picking a running mate (VP) that will help to
bring in more electors throughout the country.
12. What are the characteristics of voters that participate in primaries and delegates at
national conventions? They are much more active towards politics. They are
considered to be more ideological and educated since so few people actually vote in
these.
13. What are some differences between the President and Congress during campaigning
and elections? District or state wide constituency vs. a national election. More
publicity and money in the presidential election.
14. What are some criticisms of the Electoral College? Possible for someone to get more
votes nationwide and still lose the electoral college due to the winner take all feature.
Also, small states are overrepresented.
15. What does plurality mean? Most votes wins.
16. Winner takes all? Win the popular vote in a state, you win all of the electors.
Campaign Finance
1. Why is money called the “mother’s milk” of politics? Without money, there is
no way a campaign can be successful. Money is essential.
2. What is soft and hard money? Soft money is money given to a political party
for party building activities: Hard money is money given directly to the person
running for office.
3. What did the FECA do? Set up the following: $1000.00 hard money limits by
an individual, set up the FEC to monitor the campaign finance, must disclose
cash over $100.00. NO foreign contributions, allowed corporations to set up
PACs in order to give hard money. Set up the matching funds program, and
set PAC limits to $5000.00 hard money donations.
4. What effect did Buckley v. Valeo have on FECA? Money is speech, so a
person can give their own campaign as much as they would like if they,
themselves, are running for office. However, the hard money limits that an
individual can give to someone running for office were upheld. Didn’t want
big money (outside money) to influence an election.
5. What did the BCRA do? (McCain/Feingold): This banned unlimited soft
money donations to national party committees (national parties), but doubled
the hard money limits on FECA. It also set up 30/60 day restrictions on
electioneering ads before a primary/general election.
6. What are matching funds, and who gets them? Program set up to help those
Presidential candidates only. They must qualify by raising money on their
own first. If win the primaries, the general election can be paid for entirely by
the government, but the money is limited to around 90 million. Thus, most
candidates usually turn it down now since they raise much more than that.
Also, there is not matching funds program in Congressgives the incumbent
an even bigger advantage.
7. What are independent expenditures and 527’s? Money not spent in
coordination with any campaign. It is not regulated. 527s are a tax exempt
code for IRS purposes. It is basically an independent expenditure too.
8. Electioneering? Campaign signs, ads, etc. that promote a candidate for office.
(Vote for Mr. DuBois)
9. What are issue advocacy ads? Ads that got around many regulations since
they did not advocate for any particular candidate.
10. What has happened to the cost of campaigns? Why? They have skyrocketed.
Media costs continue to climb. Also consider the use of the internet and how it
has impacted fundraising.
11. What is a critical realigning election and when have they occurred? When
voters change their traditional voting patterns for long periods of time. Civil
War, 1896 (east/west split and populism), 1932 or so with the Roosevelt
coalition for the Democratic party.
12. What happened with the Citizens United Case? It said that Corporations are
people and that they can give directly to SuperPacs that run ads advocating for
or against a person. It basically struck down the 30/60 day restrictions on ads
from BCRA.
13. What is the difference between a Super Pac and a Federal Pac? Superpacs are
basically independent expenditures that advocate for or against candidates.
They spend money on ads. Whereas a federal pac is an organization formed
by an interest group/corporation/or union in order to give hard money
donations to candidates.
Interest Groups
1. What is an interest group? Group of individuals that want to influence
government/ policy makers.
2. Why do people join interest groups? Stronger voice, make a difference, social
aspects, and for some of the material incentives.
3. Why have the number of interest groups increased throughout the years?
Political parties have weakened throughout the years and have not solved as
many problems for the people, and as a result, people have sought out interest
groups for policy changes instead.
4. List and describe the different types of interest groups: Single issue, Economic
or traditional, PIRGs, and Equality Justice Groups.
5. What are the different tactics employed by interest groups? Lobby, grass roots
lobby, use of media, form PACs and give money, and voting blocs, courts etc.
6. What factors affect the strength and effectiveness of interest groups? Large
size can make a difference, but it can also make the group disorganized and
harder to accomplish its goals. A smaller group that has a high intensity
among its members and well financed may make a real difference.
7. What is a free rider problem? Members do not do anything and just join for
the benefits. This term could also apply to non-members. They could be seen
as even worse since they do not pay any dues and could get all of the benefits.
More common in larger interest groupsmore members.
8. What is amicus curiae? Friends of the court. It is when an interest group files a
brief (argument) helping one side or the other in a court case so they can
influence the outcome.
9. Revolving door? Interest groups hire government workers or members of
congress to work for their firm.
10. What is lobbying? Lobbyist influence policy makers. Usually by providing
information on technical issues that are not well known.
11. What is grass roots lobbying, and when would it be used by an interest group?
Protests such as sit-ins to gain attention so that pressure can be applied to
policymakers.
12. When is lobbying generally the most effective? Technical unknown issues.
13. What is the number one thing a lobbyist does? Provide information, not wine
and dine!
14. List some arguments for and against lobbyists/interest groups. Only concerned
with their cause, and that may not be in the best interest of the entire country.
They can be very influential as well. However, they provide a link for people
to the government (linkage institution) and a means of participation.
15. What is a PAC, and what does it do? What prompted the formation of PACs?
Political Action Committees: They raise money and spend it on their favored
candidates. Help them get elected/ buy access. They have been growing ever
since the FECA. It gave a legal way for corps and unions to give hard money
to candidates.
16. Who do PAC’s support the most? Incumbents. There is more PAC money
involved at the congressional level.
17. Where do most PAC’s come from? Corporations
18. Who takes more PAC money: Presidential candidates or congressional
candidates? What impact does that have on the incumbency advantage? See
#16