Political Parties, Interest Groups, and PACs

The ConceptsThese are the questions you need to be able to answer on the test! Check

What? Why? Who? How? Effects?

What coalitions make up the two main political parties in the United States?

Why do third parties so often fail in U.S. politics?

What effect has dealignment had on political parties?

Are there serious policy differences between Democrats and Republicans?

How does the Constitution control special interests?

What? Why? Who? How? Effects?

How have interest groups helped to democratize the U.S. political system?

Why are interest groups a threat to democracy?

What role do interest groups play in setting the political agenda?

What techniques do PACs use to get their messages across?

How do interest groups achieve and exert their influence?

Overall you should knowFew political acts are the work of a single person. Most politically active people work within groups to achieve common political goals.They are political parties, interest groups, and political actions committees (PACs)

Political Parties

Not mentioned in the Constitution Framers disliked and hoped to prevent

them Since 1800 they are here to stay Goal to unite those who share political

beliefs to elected like-minded representatives to pursue legislative goals

In return, parties expect loyalty Two party system: Democrats and

Republicans Reinforced by electoral system Agreed upon by two parties Difficult for third parties

Play a formal role in the process of influencing election outcomes and legislative struggles

Party Characteristics

Parties serve as intermediaries between people and the government

Parties are made up of grassroots members, activist members, and leadership

Parties are organized to raise money, present positions on policy, and get their candidates elected to office.

Parties were created outside of the Constitution

Important to know:

Since 1960, more states have passed laws requiring parties to select candidates through state-run primary elections.

Reduced the power of political parties

Candidates must raise their own money for primaries, campaign for party’s nomination with little or no support from the party itself.

Multiple candidates vying for the nomination can splinter the party membership

Third Parties

Third parties that represent an ideology considered too radical are call doctrinal parties. Examples: Socialist Party or the Libertarian Party

Single issue parties promote one principle The American Independent Party George Wallace 1968 Segregationist

Major impact on elections The Green Party Ralph Nader 2000 Took votes from Al Gore, tipped election to

George W. Bush

Third Parties form to represent constituencies that feel disenfranchised from both of the major parties.

These bolter parties usually united around a feeling that the major parties are not responding to the demands of some segment of the electorate

Example: Ross Perot 1996 Presidential election for the Reform Party

Do not confuse with independent candidates who run without party affiliation.

Why Third Parties Fail?

Direct result of a system designed to only support two parties.

Winner-take-all system for electoral votes Electoral count does not reflect popular

vote Additionally, national campaigns using

equal, single-member, plurality voting districts require huge sums of money and vast organization.

We’ll talk more about this in the module on elections.

Functions of Modern Political Parties

Three Major Subdivisions of Political Parties

The party among the electorate Voters enroll in and identify with Generally vote for candidates who support their

party The party in government

Government officials belong to political parties They act together to pursue common goals

The party organization Made up of political professionals who▪ recruit candidates and voters▪ Organize campaign events▪ Raise money to promote the party

Political Parties perform the following functions:

Recruit and nominate candidates Educate and mobilize voters Provide campaign funds and support Organize government activity Provide balance through opposition

of two parties (loyal opposition) Reduce conflict and tension in

society

Organization

Not hierarchal National, state, and local organizations are

largely autonomous and serve different functions

One doesn’t take order from another Party committees-Geographic subdivisions

Locally▪ precinct, town, ward▪ Electoral district level coordinate ▪ Get-out-the-vote drives▪ Door to door canvassing▪ Leaflet distribution

Organization

County level▪ Coordinate local elections▪ Organize the efforts of committees on precinct level▪ Monitor local elections

State committees▪ Raise money▪ Provide volunteers to staff campaign events▪ Support candidates for both state and national office

Powerful congressional district and senatorial committees▪ National elections their responsibility▪ Chaired by incumbents and staffed by professionals▪ Part of the national party organization who becomes involved if they fear

losing a seat National Party ▪ Plans the national convention every 4 yrs. to nominate a presidential

candidate▪ Sponsors polls to keep party members informed of public opinion and

manages issue-oriented advertising and propaganda

Are Political Parties in Decline?See you notes for Article 30!!!

Party Coalitions

Political parties consist of a combination of groups, which consist of a combination of individuals.

The larger the coalition the more likely the candidate will win.

Party candidates and party positions on policy are designed to attract more groups of voters, putting together a winning coalition.

Party Coalitions

REPUBLICAN COALITION (2004/2008)

Disaffected conservative Democrats called “blue dogs”

Veteran’s groups The religious right Pro-lifers Opponents of gay rights Missile-defense supporters Opponents of affirmative action Cuban Americans Supporters of the development

o f natural resources on public lands

Religious conservatives Always exceptions

DEMOCRATIC COALITION(2004/2008)

Pro-choicers African Americans Labor unions Intellectuals People with lower

incomes City dwellers Non-Cuban latinos Feminists Jewish people Environmentalists Always exceptions

Ideological Difference Between the PartiesGreatest difference between the liberals in the Democratic Party and conservatives in the Republican party are the party bases.

Ideological Differences

Both try to appeal to the independent centrist voter during election campaigns, each party counts on its base to get out and vote.

Party leaders must use great care in choosing policy positions so they do not lose their party base.

They must avoid alienating the moderates of the party by taking extreme left or right positions.

Democrats tend to be…

Less disposed to spend on defense Less disposed to use vouchers, or other public funds

to attend private schools More disposed to spend money to advance social-

welfare programs More disposed to use government money for public

education More disposed to spend money on government run

health programs More disposed to grant tax relief to targeted groups

such as the lower and middle classes Against private ownership of assault weapons and

for broader regulations on the ownership of firearms.

Republicans tend to be…

More disposed to spend on defense More disposed to use vouchers for private

schools and to give government aid to parochial schools

More disposed to grant tax relief to everyone, including the wealthy and corporations

Less disposed to spend money on social-welfare programs

Less disposed to spend money on government run health programs

Less disposed to regulated firearms

Party RealignmentArticle 31 “America the Liberal” deals with this issue in depth!

Party Realignment

Occurs when coalitions making up the two parties fall apart

Realignments are usually rare and the result of some major traumatic event (war, depression)

Signaled by what is called a critical election, when a new party comes to dominate politics.

Article 31 discussion on soft and hard alignments : refer to your notes!!!

Some argue the trend today is toward dealignment, which is a result of party members becoming disaffected as a result of policy positions taken by a party Disaffected join no party Vote for the candidate (split ticket) Today the parties are now nearly equal in membership, with the

democrats declining as independent numbers grow.

Interest Groups and LobbyistsDefined as organizations dedicated to a particular political goal or to a set of unified goals. Group members share a common bond.

Share Common Bond

Religious: example, Christian Coalition

Racial: example, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Professional: example, American Medical Association

Share a common interest the environment: Sierra Club Political reform: Common Cause

Interest Groups

They are similar to political parties in that they try to influence the outcome of elections and legislation

Unlike political parties Do not nominate candidates Do not try to address a wide range of issues

When interest groups try to influence legislators, we say they are lobbying for a bill or issue Most highly paid professionals Many are former legislators, whose experience and

friendships in the capitol make them very effective.

Categories of Interest Groups Economic groups

Promote and protect members economic interest

U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO, American Medical Association, ABA

Most have existed a long time, well funded, and very powerful

Categories of Interest Groups Public interest groups

Nonprofit organizations Organized around a well-defined set of public policy issues Consumer groups that promote safe products, informative

labeling, rights of consumers Examples: Public Citizen (Ralph Nadar), Sierra Club,

Christian Coalition, NRA, National Right to Life Committee, NOW

Government interest groups Most states, many cities, and localities maintain lobbying

groups in the nation’s capital Separate groups represent governors and mayors Most foreign governments and business lobby also

How Interest Groups Influence Government

Direct lobbying Testifying before Congress Socializing Political donations Endorsements Court action

File class action lawsuits Submit amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs: in

lawsuits to which they are not a party so that judges may consider their advice in respect to matters of law that directly affect the case in question.

Rallying their membership Propaganda

Limits on Lobbying

Most laws that try to limit the scope of lobbyist activities are ineffective

Strong efforts to limit them run the risk of violating the first amendment

1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act Intended to monitor by requiring public disclosure of

salaries, expenses, nature of activities Applies only to a small % of active lobbyist

Some laws to counteract the appearance of influence peddling which is the practice of using personal friendships and inside information to get political advantage

Limits on Lobbying

Former legislators must wait one year before lobbying Congress directly BUT they may lobby the executive branch directly, may work as consultants

In reality they can do everything except call a congressperson to directly plead for support of a bill

A similar limit applies to former executive officials: prevents lobbying for 5 yrs. Limits set in Buckley v. Valeo (1976), the case that equated donations with free speech.

Federal laws prohibit campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and trade associations. This is side stepped by the formation of PACs.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

1974 Federal Election Campaign Act Allows corporations, unions, and trade

associations to form political action committees▪ Means of raising campaign funds

Certain restrictions▪ Have at lease 50 contributors▪ Must donate to at least 5 different candidates▪ May not donate more than $5,000 per year to any

single candidate▪ No more than $15, 000 to a national party per year▪ Must raise the money from their employees and

members▪ May not take the money direct from their accounts.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Interest groups and legislators themselves also form PACs to collect and distribute contributions

Federal law limits Donor to candidate- no more than $2300 Donor to national party-no more than $28,500 Donor to individual PACs- no more than $5000 Total may not exceed $108,200 over two years Prices are scheduled to increase slightly for

each future election cycle.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

More than 4,000 registered with the national government

50% represent corporations More than 1,000 are issue oriented Contribute most heavily to House

campaigns, still heavily to Senate Predominantly to incumbents who

are likely to win reelection – hoping to purchase access to legislators in the next Congress.