Political Culture
Define: widely
shared beliefs,
values, and
norms that
citizens share
about their
GOV.
Characteristics
• Liberty
• Individualism
• Equality
• Democracy
• Civic Duty
• Mistrust?
• Pragmatic
• Political
Tolerance
Political Efficacy
Internal: one’s personal confidence in
understanding political affairs- stable
in America since 1950’s
External: belief that one can have an
impact upon government- declined
since 1960’s
Ideology and Public Policy
Background
Liberalism
Conservatism
Populists/Socialists
Libertarianism:
Classical Liberalism
• Classical: Governs the least is best
• Modern: Pure Liberal
• Pure Conservative
Political Socialization
Socialization Factors
Family
Media
Gender
Schools
Religion
Protestant Catholic Jewish
Race
Income
Opinion Leaders
Cross Pressure
Be aware that all of these different traits can
pull voters and ideologies many different ways.
Example: a conservative who is pro animal
rights
Public Opinion
Types of
Publics
• Elites
• Attentive
• Mass
Types of
Opinions
• Stable/Fluid
• Latent/Intense
• Consensus/Polarized
Measurement of Public Opinion
• Elections
• Straw Polls: inaccuracies
• Scientific Polls
• Construction
• Evaluation
• Uses
• Abuses
Factors Affecting Voter Behavior
Geography
Coattail effect
Time
Party affiliation
Others
• Sex, Race, Social Class, Religion, Issues, Candidate appeal
Voter Turnout
Reasons for low
turnout
Historical
qualifications for
suffrage
Current
qualifications
US turnout v. other
nations
• Ramifications of Bush v.
Gore?
• Institutional barriers
• Registration
• Age
• Citizenship
• ID?
• Political Reasons
• Apathy, time, don’t
care…etc
Path To Presidency
Primary Season
Nominating Convention
General Election
Electoral College Vote
Inauguration Day
Congressional Elections
Primary Elections
• Closed
• Open
Factors affecting outcomes
•
•
•
•
•
•
Incumbency
Type of election
Coattail
Media
Party
Issues
Electoral College
Reasons for
Allotment of electoral to states
Selection
Winning Votes
Winning the Election
Criticisms
Alternatives
Campaign Finance
Sources of Campaign Money
Federal Election Campaign Acts 71-74
•
•
•
•
Est. FEC
Must disclose contributions and expenses
Prez. candidates subject to limits
Contribution limits
• Individuals: $2000 per candidate per election cycle (General/Primary),
25,000 total per year
• PAC’s: 5,000 per year no caps
Reform?
• Analysis of Campaign Finance
• McCain/Feingold 2001

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA)
The Numbers
Citizens United..
Function of Political Parties
Nominate candidates
Raise campaign funds
Simplify decisions for voters
Register voters
Unify diverse interests
Act as moderating influence in government
Provide loyal opposition
Reduce diffusion of power in government
Inform public
Rise of Political Parties
Origins:
Areas of party strength
Relative party strengths
• National Gov: 113th Congress
• President: Democrat
• Senate: 45 Repub. /53 Demo. /2 Indep.
• House: 234 Repub. /199Demo./ 6 Non Voting (Territory/DC)
Rise of Political Parties cont’
State Governments:
• Governors: 21 Democratic/ 29 Republicans
• Legislatures: House: 29R/20D/1 Non-Partisan
(Nebraska: Republican)
Third Parties
• Types
• Reasons for
• Obstacles
Party Weakness
Lack rank and file members
Tension between party regulars and
purists/candidate loyalists
• Party regulars
• Issue purists/candidate loyalists
Not responsive to social reform
Impact of parties on Government
Congress
• Majority party controls all committees
• Minority party is always in opposition
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
Party Reform
Historical abuses
Reforms of Progressive Era
Other factors that have led to dealignment
Democratic Party Reforms during 70’s
• McGovern-Fraiser Commission
• 1986 Fairness Commission
Interest Groups
Define
Madison’s dilemma
Pluralism
Reasons for growth
Types of Interest Groups
Traditional
Nontraditional
Single Issue
Public Interest
Ideological
Governmental
PAC’s
Tactics of Interest Groups
Use of Media
Boycotting
Endorsement
Targeting
Report Cards
Litigation
Initiative
Amicus curiae briefs
Lobbying
Campaign contributions
Mass mail
Factors Influencing Group Strength
Nature of Membership
•Size
•Structure
•Leadership
•Resources
Political Action Committees
Growth since 1970’s
Growth of contributions
PAC strategies
• Campaign contributions
• Voter education projects
• Independent spending
• “Bundling”
PAC’s continued
Who has Pac’s?
Dangers of Pac’s
In defense of Pac’s and Interest Groups
• Anybody?
Lobbying
Attempting to influence Government
•
•
•
•
Influence
Provide information
Testify at hearings
Help write or write legislation
1946 Fed Regulation of Lobbying Act
• Provisions
• Loopholes
Case for Lobbyists
Case against Lobbyists
Who are the Mass Media?
Major media:
• Newspapers: NY Times, Wash. Post, Wall Street Journal
• TV: CBS, ABC, NBC
• Magazines
New Media:
• FOX, CNBC, Daily Show, Twitter, Drudge Report, Huff Post…..Facebook
• More interactive
• Info-tainment
• Personalized
• Emotional
• Lack of any analysis: shock value!
Media and Public Opinion
Does the media influence public opinion?
Impact of newspapers
• Revolving door journalism
Impact of TV
• Largest source of information (passive)
• Electronic throne of the President
• Does Bush use TV?
• Lack of competition