1101 Section (March 1, 2013)



Attendance Roll Call
Announcement: Public Opinion not on Midterm 2
Textbook Highlights: Political Parties
Learning outcomes and key terms
 Georgia comparisons


Textbook Highlights: The President
Discuss organization of office, management of budget
 Comparisons to Georgia governor

Political Parties – Learning Outcomes

L01: Define the concept of a political party, and
explain how political parties participate in the
political system.
 Political
party: “A group of political activists who
organize to win elections, operate the government, and
determine public policy.” (p. 244)
 Distinct from “faction” “social movement” “interest
group”
Political Parties – Learning Outcomes

L04: Identify the three major components of the
political party, and explain why these components
are not necessarily consistent with each other.

Party in the Electorate:

The People


Who identifies with which party
Party Organization:
Includes state chairperson, county organizations, college
groups
 Candidate Recruitment
 Campaigning (shared with candidate)
 G.O.T.V. Efforts
 Parties do not prepare ballots


Party in Government:

Emphasized in chapters on Congress and Georgia General
Assembly
Political Parties – Learning Outcomes

L02: Demonstrate an understanding of how the
political parties originated in the United States and
how their strength has increased or decreased over
time.
Parties Chapter Highlights (3/4)

There have been multiple party systems in U.S.
history
Political Parties – Learning Outcomes

L03: Explain the major differences in the
demographics of the supporters of Republicans and
Democrats, and discuss how party positions differ on
issues.
 New
Deal is key event
Political Parties – Learning Outcomes

L05: Explain the factors in the American political
system that reinforce a two-party system, and discuss
why minor or third parties are rarely successful.
 Historical legacy
 Third parties rare (co-opted)
 “Duverger’s Law” – in winner take all system with
single-member districts, there will be two parties
competing to hold office.
Political Parties – Key Terms

REALIGNMENT
What are the elements of re-alignment?
 “A process in which a substantial group of voters switches
party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the
political landscape.” (page 271)
 Has either party had a significant “run” in the White
House? What if we compare to flipping coins?



De-alignment
Single issue party

Georgia has shifted from Democratic to
Republican state
 Overall
change in public opinion
 Possible Impact of Majority-Minority Districts from
the Voting Rights Act

Local offices (city, county) have been slower to
shift, but are also going to the GOP now
U.S. President


President is head of the Executive Branch
Useful to distinguish individual president from the
office and institution of the presidency
Powers and responsibilities may be passed on
 Institution can both empower and constrain president
Executive Branch has complex organizational structure


Comparisons to Ga. Governor
•
•
•
•
Recall that Ga. Has a plural executive
Governor’s revenue estimates determine the
budget’s maximum size
Why is the revenue estimate important?
Ga. Governor’s line item veto increases his
authority over budget