Unit 6 – Politics in America

I. Parties

A. The Meaning of Party

1. Political Party:– A “team seeking control of governing by

gaining office in an election.”

2. Parties can be thought of in three parts:a. Electorate

b. Organization

c. In government

3. Tasks of the Partiesa. Linkage Institution: channels which people’s

concerns become political issues.

b. Pick Candidates

c. Run Campaigns

d. Give Cues to Voters

e. Articulate Policies

f. Coordinate Policymaking

B. The Party Organizations

1. Local Parties2. The 50 State Party Systems

a. Closed primaries: voters must be registered with their party vote in the spring

b. Open primaries: voters in the nomination process of one partyc. Blanket primaries: voters get a list of all candidates and can

vote for one name for each office, regardless of party label

3. The National Party Organizationsa. National Convention: party delegates meet every four years to

choose a presidential ticket and party’s platform.b. National Committee: keeps the party operating between

conventions.c. National Chairperson: Responsible for day-to-day activities

C. Party History

1. Pre-Revolution

a. Loyalists – wanted to stay with England

b. Patriots – wanted to revolt

c. Neutral – did not favor with side

2. Constitution1. Federalists – favored creation, strong, central

government.

2. Anti-federalists – opposed creation, favored states.

3. Madison warned of “factions”

3. Early Republic

A. Federalistsi. Loose constructionists.ii. Alexander Hamiltoniii. John Marshalliv. George Washington favored them

B. Democratic Republicansi. Strict constructionistsii. Thomas Jeffersoniii. Common man should have rights

Early Republic continued…

C. Federalists lose elections to Jefferson.

D. They oppose the War of 1812 and looked like traitors.

E. The party dies.

F. Nation enters period known as “Era of Good Feelings,” cause there was only one party (D-R).

4. Split

a. Too many people that disagree run for president in 1824.

b. Speaker Henry Clay “gives” election to John Q. Adams.

c. Jackson supporters are mad and break off to form Democrats.

d. Adams supporters become Whigs.

5. Jackson Era

a. Jackson wins in 1828.

b. Supports common man.

c. Builds “party machine.”i. Organizes in cities

ii. Hires workers to promote party

iii. Distributes pamphlets.

6. Slavery

a. Whigs support nationalism, but are divided over slavery.

b. Party splits between North and South.c. Northerners abolitionists join Free Soil

party to make the Republicans.d. They are able to win election 1860 with

Abe Lincoln.e. Democrats are weakened by divisions till

1930’s.

7. Gilded Age

A. After Reconstruction ends, parties become friends of monopolies and trusts.

B. Corruption, bribery, and graft are common.

C. 1896 election revolved around the gold standard

8. Progressive Era

a. Socialists and Populists favor worker’s rights and opportunity for poor.

b. Democrats and Republicans make liberal ideas their own.

c. Other progressive issues: i. Prohibition.ii. Women’s Suffrageiii. Labor Unionsiv. Conservation

9. New Deal

a. People are disappointed with conservative Republicans.

b. New Deal coalition is an umbrella of supporters for Dems.

i. Southerners (conservative)ii. Eastern and Southern Europeans.iii. Unionsiv. Jewsv. African-Americans.vi. Intelligentsia vii. All hope for economic intervention.

c. They hold onto most of the White House 1932-1968 and most of Congress 1930-1994.

10. Change in Politics

a. Reagan (R) makes party more conservative.i. Supports a big military to end Cold War.ii. Dislikes big taxes and government.iii. Makes American proud again after troubled 1970’s.

b. Clinton (D) brings party to a central point to compete with GOP.

i. Cut taxes for middle class.ii. Tones down support for abortion and gays.iii. Used military to protect people of Kosovo from

persecution.iv. Starts welfare to work.v. Balances the budget.

D. Parties Today

1. Republicans

a. Family Values (Christian-Judean) i. Pro-life

ii. Favor traditional marriage

b. Low taxes, equal for all people.

c. Small government

d. Big military

e. Isolationist (?)

f. Pro-gun

g. Midwest and South, rural areas.

2. Democrats

a. Pro-choiceb. Favor civil unionsc. Use government to create economic

opportunity.d. Civil rights.e. Internationalists – use peace, United Nations.f. Taxes should be progressive, heavier for the

rich. g. West Coast, Great Lakes, Northeast, urban

areas.

E. Third Parties

1. Ideological

a. Philosophy or way of thinking that impacts many issues.

b. Communists and Socialists = Karl Marx.

c. Constitutional Party = Strict Constructionist

d. Libertarian = John Locke, Thomas Jefferson and protecting rights.

e. Reform Party = fix problematic gov’t.

2. Economic Issues

a. One specific money issue.

b. Taxpayers = low taxes

3. Single Issue

a. Only concerned about one issue.

b. Prohibition = no drinking

c. Green Party = started to fix environment, now covers more issues.

4. Splinter Party

a. Break off from large party.

b. Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party broke away from Rep. in 1912.

c. Progressives and Dixiecrats broke away from Dems. In 1948.

L. Organization

1. Party meetings at county and state level.

2. National committee decides platform and election strategy.

3. Chairperson runs committee, can be selected by president if he is in same party.

4. Conventions are every four years to nominate president.

II. Elections

A. Primaries

1. Spring

2. Different in each state.

3. Choose candidates for party

4. In PA they are closed, you can only vote within your party.

B. General

1. First Tuesday following the first Monday of November.

2. All voters select the winners for offices.

C. Presidential Elections1. Exploratory committee is set up to find out if they have a chance. 2. Candidates visit New Hampshire for first primary in January.3. They visit Iowa for first caucuses (where party officials choose

candidate).4. They gather as many delegate votes for their convention in the

summer.5. Electoral College actually elects the President - founders wanted

him chosen by the elite of the country6. States choose the electors7. Winner-Take-All system gives bigger emphasis to more populated

states8. State electoral vote count = # of Reps + # of Senators.9. DC gets minimal amount (3) for a total of 538.10. A candidate must get a majority (270) or the House gets to

decide.

D. Referendums

• State voters approve or disapprove proposed legislation.

• Often used for constitutional amendments.

E. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice

1. U.S. typically has low voter turnouts.

2. Some argue it is a rational choice to not vote.

3. Political Efficacy: The belief that one’s political participation really matters.

4. Civic Duty: The belief the in order to support democratic government, a citizen should always vote.

F. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice

1. Who Votes?a. Education: More education = more likely to vote.

Most important factor.b. Age: Older = more likely to vote.c. Race: Caucasian = more likely to vote. BUT, other

ethnicities are higher with comparable education.d. Gender: Female = more likely to vote.e. Marital Status: Married = more likely to vote.f. Union Membership: Union member = more likely to

vote.g. Traits are cumulative - possessing several adds up.

III. Civics

A. Civics

1. Study of citizenship and the relationship between you and the community.

2. Citizenship – a. “a productive, responsible, caring, and contributing

member of society.”b. USA

i. Natural born – born in USA or internationally to American citizens.

ii. Naturalized – Foreign born person meets requirements.a.) Permanent resident for 5 years.b.) Good moral characterc.) Read and write basic Englishd.) Passes test on gov’t and history

B. Civic Responsibility

1. Musts:a. Jury dutyb. Selective Servicec. Taxesd. Obey the law

2. Voluntary:a. Courteous, respect othersb. Community servicec. Educationd. Work, contribute to economye. Votef. Knowledgeable of events

g. Critical of government

i. Declaration of Independence – a.) Government should protect rights.b.) People should protest if they do not.c.) People may destroy the gov’t and create a new one.

ii. Unalienable rights – life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

iii. Constitution – Bill of rights (first ten amendments).

iv. Teddy Roosevelt “duty to criticize the president.”

C. Historical Roots

1. George Washington gave up power so his position would not be a dictatorship.

2. Founding fathers risked life to revolt in 1776 and form Constitution in 1787.

3. Men and women served in military to protect nation and keep peace in world.

4. Martin Luther King Jr. used peaceful protest or civil disobedience to right what was wrong.

IV. Media

A. Basics

1. Mass Media:

2. Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, Internet.

3. TV top, Internet catching up

The Mass Media Today

• Media Events:– Events purposely staged for the media that

nonetheless look spontaneous. Media events can be staged by almost anybody.

• Other items to consider:– 60% presidential campaign spending is TV

ads– Image making / news management is

important, especially for presidents

The Development of Media Politics

• Introduction– The news media wasn’t always so important.– Press Conferences: meetings of public officials with

reporters - Roosevelt used many of these.– Investigative Journalism: the use of in-depth reporting

to unearth scandals, scams & schemes putting reporters & politicians opposite each other.

– Sound Bites: Short video clips of approximately 15 seconds.

Reporting the News

• Bias in the News– Many people believe the news favors one

point of view over another.– Generally are not very biased along liberal /

conservative lines.– Generally are biased towards what will draw

the largest audience.

Polling

• Radom samples taken

• Quotas used

• Predicting the universe

• Margin of Error

• Gallup, Pew, Zogby