Parties and Interest Parties and Interest Groups IIGroups II

60’s Realignment60’s Realignment

1840s on- Democrats largely represent the 1840s on- Democrats largely represent the southsouth

Post new deal- Uneasy coalitionPost new deal- Uneasy coalition

Like 2 separate partiesLike 2 separate parties

Democrats become more supportive of Democrats become more supportive of Civil RightsCivil Rights

Many southerners defect to the Many southerners defect to the Republican partyRepublican party

Coalitions TodayCoalitions Today

DemocratsDemocrats

Racial and Ethnic Racial and Ethnic MinoritiesMinorities

WomenWomen

Blue Collar/UnionsBlue Collar/Unions

Social LiberalsSocial Liberals

RepublicansRepublicans

Slight edge among Slight edge among whiteswhites

MenMen

BusinesspeopleBusinesspeople

Social ConservativesSocial Conservatives

Instability- Reagan DemocratsInstability- Reagan Democrats

1980 Election1980 Election

Reagan Splits DemocratsReagan Splits Democrats

Union and blue collar workersUnion and blue collar workers Support Dems on EconomicsSupport Dems on Economics Socially conservativeSocially conservative

Carter- Poor economic performanceCarter- Poor economic performance

Reagan- Focuses on Social Issues, Reagan- Focuses on Social Issues, swings former democratic votersswings former democratic voters

Contemporary Instability?Contemporary Instability?

RepublicansRepublicans Libertarian WingLibertarian Wing Business WingBusiness Wing Evangelical WingEvangelical Wing

DemocratsDemocrats DLCDLC More liberal wingsMore liberal wings Holding on to black votersHolding on to black voters

Parties in GovernmentParties in Government

Provides accountabilityProvides accountability

Provides division that cuts across Provides division that cuts across geographygeography

Provides policy proposalsProvides policy proposals

Provides DisciplineProvides Discipline

Provide Moderation?Provide Moderation?

Parties in GovernmentParties in Government

CongressCongress

Committee assignments/LeadershipCommittee assignments/Leadership

Party line votingParty line voting

DefectionsDefections

The PresidencyThe Presidency

2 Party System2 Party System

Tension- Representing Party vs. Tension- Representing Party vs. Representing NationRepresenting Nation

Works with his party in congressWorks with his party in congress

Most public face of his partyMost public face of his party

Midterm ElectionsMidterm Elections

Coattail effectsCoattail effects

Parties in the ElectorateParties in the Electorate

Party Identification- longstanding alignment Party Identification- longstanding alignment with a particular partywith a particular partySourcesSourcesEarly SocializationEarly Socialization FamilyFamily Ethnic GroupEthnic Group Religious GroupReligious Group Economic FactorsEconomic Factors EventsEvents

Running tabs of issues?Running tabs of issues?Short term fluctuations?Short term fluctuations?

TrendsTrends

Decline?Decline?

50s- High Identification (80%)50s- High Identification (80%)

Rise of “Independent” voters in 70sRise of “Independent” voters in 70s Independents make up 40% of electorateIndependents make up 40% of electorate

But- Many independents behaved as But- Many independents behaved as partisanspartisans

In 90s- Increased Identification, increased In 90s- Increased Identification, increased importanceimportance

Parties in the ElectorateParties in the Electorate

FunctionsFunctions

HeuristicHeuristic

Issue OwnershipIssue Ownership Democrats better on Social Welfare issuesDemocrats better on Social Welfare issues Republicans better on taxes, militaryRepublicans better on taxes, military

Information FilterInformation Filter

Electoral Function of PartiesElectoral Function of Parties

Early Task of parties- Elect Favorable Early Task of parties- Elect Favorable individualsindividualsParties control Important Resources Parties control Important Resources MoneyMoneyServicesServices PollingPolling AdvertisingAdvertising VolunteersVolunteers

PublicityPublicity

Electoral Functions of PartiesElectoral Functions of Parties

Present a “team” imagePresent a “team” image

Presidents campaign for congressional Presidents campaign for congressional candidatescandidates

Coattail effectCoattail effect

MobilizationMobilization

Importance of Parties to Importance of Parties to CandidatesCandidates

Party power through resourcesParty power through resources

The rise of candidate centered The rise of candidate centered campaigns?campaigns?

Independent fundraisingIndependent fundraising

Ability to purchase services elsewhereAbility to purchase services elsewhere

MobilizationMobilization

Party support still criticalParty support still critical

QuestionsQuestions

Can parties credibly change their public Can parties credibly change their public image? What would it take?image? What would it take?

How different are the 2 major parties?How different are the 2 major parties?

How can the Republicans Balance issues, How can the Republicans Balance issues, ideologies and regional differences that ideologies and regional differences that might divide their constituencies?might divide their constituencies?

What strategy ought the Democrats follow What strategy ought the Democrats follow to be a viable party in 2006/2008?to be a viable party in 2006/2008?

Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Organized groups attempting to influence Organized groups attempting to influence policy –or-policy –or-

Group that claims to represent some Group that claims to represent some segment of the populationsegment of the population

Differ from partiesDiffer from parties

Promote interests by attempting to Promote interests by attempting to influence government rather than by influence government rather than by nominating candidatesnominating candidates

Kinds of Interest GroupsKinds of Interest Groups

Multi-Issue or Single issueMulti-Issue or Single issue

E.g. NOW vs. NARALE.g. NOW vs. NARAL

Economic interest groupsEconomic interest groups Includes business, unions, farmers, etc.Includes business, unions, farmers, etc.

Public interest groupsPublic interest groups

State and Local GovernmentsState and Local Governments

HistoryHistory

Madison and FactionMadison and Faction

Early groups- Farmers and LiquorEarly groups- Farmers and Liquor

Turn of the century- organized labor, trade Turn of the century- organized labor, trade groupsgroups

70s-80s- rise of environmental, Christian 70s-80s- rise of environmental, Christian right groupsright groups

FunctionsFunctions

Lobbying-Attempt to seek influence over Lobbying-Attempt to seek influence over legislationlegislation

Testifying in congressTestifying in congress

Material benefitsMaterial benefits

Not briberyNot bribery

Registration of Lobbying Act (1946)Registration of Lobbying Act (1946)

Lobbying Executive and JudiciaryLobbying Executive and Judiciary

ExecutiveExecutive

Meetings with administration officialsMeetings with administration officials

Formal staff positionsFormal staff positions

CourtsCourts

Amicus Curiae briefsAmicus Curiae briefs

Testimony in confirmation hearingsTestimony in confirmation hearings

Grassroots LobbyingGrassroots Lobbying

Attempt to stir up support of membersAttempt to stir up support of members

““Tell George Bush what you think”Tell George Bush what you think”

Email has increasedEmail has increased

ProtestsProtests

AstroturfAstroturf

Electoral FunctionsElectoral Functions

Campaign ContributionsCampaign Contributions

EndorsementsEndorsements

RatingsRatings

Occasional formation of political partiesOccasional formation of political parties

SuccessSuccess

Do you get your legislation?Do you get your legislation?

FundingFunding

MembershipMembership

Challenge- Free Rider Problem and Challenge- Free Rider Problem and Collective GoodsCollective Goods

ElectionsElections

Opportunity to choose who controls Opportunity to choose who controls governmentgovernment

Citizens’ main official inputCitizens’ main official input

LegitimacyLegitimacy

AccountabilityAccountability

Retrospective votingRetrospective voting

Prospective votingProspective voting

Elections And AccountabilityElections And Accountability

Candidates are motivated by electoral Candidates are motivated by electoral successsuccess

Elected officials wish to continue to hold Elected officials wish to continue to hold officeoffice

Ensures at least some responsivenessEnsures at least some responsiveness

Move towards centerMove towards center

Balancing actBalancing act

Elected OfficesElected Offices

FederalFederal PresidentPresident CongressCongress

StateState GovernorGovernor State LegislatureState Legislature Judges (sometimes)Judges (sometimes)

Local ElectionsLocal Elections County BoardsCounty Boards MayorMayor City CouncilCity Council School BoardsSchool Boards Other officesOther offices

Types of ElectionTypes of Election

General ElectionGeneral Election

Primary ElectionPrimary Election OpenOpen ClosedClosed Non-PartisanNon-Partisan

Referenda and RecallReferenda and Recall

ReferendumReferendum

InitiativeInitiative

May Increase May Increase ResponsivenessResponsiveness

Majority Tyranny?Majority Tyranny?

ConfusionConfusion

Recall Recall In Many States for certain In Many States for certain

officesoffices Not at federal levelNot at federal level

RetentionRetention

Presidential PrimariesPresidential Primaries

Select delegates for national conventionSelect delegates for national convention Winner take allWinner take all Proportional representationProportional representation

CaucusCaucus

Trend towards more primaries and more Trend towards more primaries and more open caucusesopen caucuses

Voting in primariesVoting in primaries

Open PrimaryOpen Primary

Closed PrimaryClosed Primary

More democratic?More democratic?

Extremism?Extremism?

Primary voters more partisanPrimary voters more partisan