Connecting to the Political Connecting to the Political Process: Socialization, Process: Socialization,

Parties, and Interest GroupsParties, and Interest Groups

Unit 3

Public OpinionPublic Opinion

Definition– The distribution of the population’s beliefs

about politics and policy issues.How do we measure public opinion?

The American PeopleThe American People

What factors have shaped the demographics of the U.S.?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32l3sTFRFX8

Have our attitudes toward immigration changed?– Illegal immigration– Minority Majority

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/nov/1/griswold-give-us-your-engineers-yearning-to-innova/

Figure 6.2

The American PeopleThe American People

The Regional Shift– Reapportionment: The

process of reallocating House seats every 10 years.

What shift has changed the apportionment of seats in the last 30 years?

The American PeopleThe American People

How has age distribution in this country changed?– Fastest growing group

is over 65 What public policy

concerns does this raise?

Political CulturePolitical Culture

Definition– An overall set of values widely shared within a

society. What is the political culture of the U.S.? How does political socialization serve to maintain

political culture?

Measuring Public OpinionMeasuring Public Opinion

How Polls Are Conducted– Why is random sampling important?– What is sampling error?– How can question wording impact the outcome of

polls?

How important is polling to American politics? Is it too important?

Measuring Public OpinionMeasuring Public Opinion

What Polls Reveal About Americans’ Political Information– How much knowledge do Americans have

about politics?– How do Americans feel about their

government?

Political IdeologiesPolitical Ideologies

Definition:– A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy,

and public purpose.

How do we define “liberal” and “conservative”? Has there been a turn toward conservatism?

From Table 6.3

Political IdeologiesPolitical Ideologies

Liberals:– Less military spending– Opposed to prayer in

schools– Favor affirmative

action– Tax the rich more– Solve the problems

that cause crime

Conservatives:– More military

spending– Support prayer in

schools– Oppose affirmative

action– Keep taxes low– Should stop “coddling

criminals”

Political IdeologiesPolitical Ideologies

Do People Think in Ideological Terms?– Ideologues: think in ideological terms- 12% of

the population– Group Benefits: rely on party labels- 42% of

the population– Nature of the Times: current times are good or

bad- 24% of the population– No issue content: based on personalities- 22%

of the population

Political ParticipationPolitical Participation

Definition:– All the activities used by citizens to influence

the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue.

Conventional Participation– Voting in elections– Working in campaigns / running for office– Contacting elected officials

Political ParticipationPolitical Participation

Is protest political participation?Civil disobedience: A form of political

participation that reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences.

Figure 6.5

How Americans Participate in How Americans Participate in PoliticsPolitics

Class, Inequality, and Participation

The Meaning of PartyThe Meaning of Party

What is a political party?Parties can be thought of in three parts:

– Party in the electorate– Party as an organization– Party in government

The Meaning of PartyThe Meaning of Party

Tasks of the Parties– Linkage Institution– Pick Candidates– Run Campaigns– Give Cues to Voters– Articulate Policies– Coordinate Policymaking

Figure 8.1

The Meaning of PartyThe Meaning of Party

What is the rational-choice theory?– Assumes that individuals act in their own best interest,

weighing the pros & cons.

The Party in the ElectorateThe Party in the Electorate

What does this mean?How has this changed in recent years?

– Split ticket voting

Year Dem Ind Rep

1964 52.2 23 24.8

1976 40.2 36.8 23.0

1988 35.7 36.3 28.0

2000 34.8 41.0 24.2

Types of Party SystemsTypes of Party Systems

States operate different systems: – Closed: voters must be registered with their

party in advance and can only vote for that party

– Open: voters decide on election day which party to participate in, and then only that party

– Blanket: voters get a list of all candidates and can vote for one name for each office, regardless of party label

The Party Organizations - LocalThe Party Organizations - Local

What is meant by the term “grassroots”? Party workers stuff envelopes, make calls and door-to-door

visits, and plan events District and county committee – governing body for that

region County chairperson leads the committee Sheriffs carry out the objectives of the political party

The Party Organizations - StateThe Party Organizations - State

State committee develops statewide party policy State chairperson heads the committee Governor serves is influential on party politics –

especially in appointments

The Party Organizations – The Party Organizations – NationalNational

Senators propose laws often in line with party platform

National Committee coordinates state activities National chairperson leads the committee

The Party in GovernmentThe Party in Government

What does this mean? Coalition:

– A group of individuals with a common interest upon which every political party depends.

How often do politicians do what they say they will do during elections?

Party Eras inParty Eras inAmerican HistoryAmerican History

Party Eras– Historical periods in which a majority of votes cling to

the party in power.

Critical Election– An electoral “earthquake” where new issues and new

coalitions emerge.

Party Realignment– The displacement of the majority party by the minority

party, usually during a critical election.

Third PartiesThird Parties

What is the impact of third parties on American politics?

How does the winner-take-all system prevent the ascendance of third parties?

What is the alternative to winner-take-all? Coalition Government:

– Two or more parties join to run government

Understanding Political Understanding Political PartiesParties

Responsible Party Government– 1. Parties have distinct comprehensive

programs.– 2. Candidates are committed to the program.– 3. Majority party must carry out its program.– 4. Majority party must accept responsibility.

Understanding Political Understanding Political PartiesParties

What are the issues with this model?How does the American political system

serve to keep government relatively small?Why are parties in decline? Will they fade

out completely?

The Role and Reputation of The Role and Reputation of Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Definition– An organization of people with shared policy

goal entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals.

Interest Groups are policy specialists, Political Parties are policy generalists.

The Role and Reputation of The Role and Reputation of Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Why does “interest group” have a bad connotation?– The writers of the Constitution disliked

organized groups- parties and interest groups.– Dishonest lobbyists get more press than the

honest ones- even though there are far more honest lobbyists.

Interest Groups & PluralismInterest Groups & Pluralism

How do interest groups fit into pluralist theory?– Politics is mainly a competition among groups,

each one pressing for its own preferred policies.– No group wins or loses all the time.– Groups provide the key link between the people

and the government.– Lobbying is open to all.

Interest Groups & ElitismInterest Groups & Elitism

How do interest groups fit into elitist theory?– Societies are divided along class lines and that

an upper-class elite will rule.– Power is not equally divided among groups;

some have much more.– Lobbying is a problem because it benefits the

few at the expense of the many.

Interest Groups & Interest Groups & HyperpluralismHyperpluralism

How do interest groups fit into hyperpluralist theory?– Groups are so strong that government is

weakened. – Iron Triangles keep government from working

properly.– Interest groups have become too powerful since

the government tries to serve every interest, making policy confusing and contradictory.

What Makes an Interest What Makes an Interest Group Successful?Group Successful?

The Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups– What is the Free-Rider problem?– The bigger the group, the larger the free-rider

problem.– Small groups are better organized and more

focused on the group’s goals.– Groups that can provide selective benefits

overcome the free-rider problem.

What Makes an Interest What Makes an Interest Group Successful?Group Successful?

Intensity– Single-Issue groups: Groups that focus on a

narrow interest and dislike compromise.

Financial Resources– Monetary donations usually translate into

access to the politicians.

How Groups Try to Shape How Groups Try to Shape PolicyPolicy

Lobbying– “communication by someone other than a

citizen acting on his own behalf, directed to a governmental decisionmaker with the hope of influencing his decision.”

– Lobbyists are a source of information, can help politicians plan political strategies, and inspire legislation.

How Groups Try to Shape How Groups Try to Shape PolicyPolicy

Electioneering– Political Action Committee (PAC): Used by

corporations, interest groups, and unions to donate money to candidates and otherwise work to influence elections.

How Groups Try to Shape How Groups Try to Shape PolicyPolicy

Litigation– Amicus curiae briefs to support their position– Class Action lawsuits

Going Public– Groups use marketing strategies and advertising

to influence public opinion of the group and its issues.

Types of Interest GroupsTypes of Interest Groups

Economic Interests– Labor– Agriculture– Business

Environmental InterestsEquality InterestsConsumer and Public Interest Lobbies

Understanding Interest Understanding Interest GroupsGroups

Do interest group activities promote democracy?

Do interest group activities enlarge the scope of government?