Political Party/Interest Group Study Guide
Chapter 13 Vocabulary
1. Political Party
2. Party Platform
3. Political machines
4. Independents
5. Party activists
6. Duverger’s Law
7. Initiative
8. Referendum
9. Recall
Chapter 14 Vocabulary
1. Private interests
2. Public Interests
3. Lobbying
4. Electioneering
5. Watchdogs
6. Collective Action problem
7. Free Riders
8. Solidary benefits
9. Purposive benefits
10. Material benefits
11. Right to work laws
12. Interest group entrepreneur
Political Party Main Ideas
I) Political Parties
A) Political parties are generally separate and largely independent party organizations who exist at the national, state, and local levels.
B) A party organization consists of national party committees (the DNC and RNC) and various state and local affiliates.
(a) Traditionally, the role of the party organization is to recruit and select candidates to run in the general election, to decide on a party platform (the issues it supports), and to mobilize its supporters to turn out on election day.
C) The U.S. has a two-party system with third parties trying, unsuccessfully, to break into the system. Citizens are simply reluctant to vote for third parties because they have little chance of winning. The Democratic Party is seen as looking after the interests of working class people and the Republicans have been looked to as the party of the “owning” class.
D) Third Parties find it difficult to get involved because of our winner-take-all system (plurality elections). Single member districts usually result in legislatures dominated by two political parties. Further obstacles include political socialization & ballot access laws
(a) Typically third parties form around a specific cause, often force particular issues on the political agenda, and may play the spoiler role for major parties.
E) The primary election process has changed the role of party organizations. Now, they play a supporting role to candidate-centered elections. For example, the party organization hosts the National Party Convention, a giant media extravaganza designed to garner national exposure to the party’s nominees.
F) The influence of political parties has weakened recently. Direct primaries, campaign finance laws, candidate centered campaigns as well as people more likely to call themselves independents has led to their decline
G) The party in government works with elected party members to enact the party’s platform. It rewards officeholders who toe the party line with prize committee assignments or additional reelection support. It punishes independent minded legislators by not supporting their pet projects.
1) In recent years, divided government has been the norm, with at least one house of Congress controlled by the party that does NOT control the presidency. There has also been increased polarization within the parties, with moderate legislators becoming increasingly rare.
2) The party in the electorate refers to the relationship citizens have with the political parties. A citizen’s party identification (a psychological attachment to a political party) helps him or her evaluate political issues and candidates. Since the 1960s there has been a decline in party identification, with more citizens considering themselves independent.
3) Compared with other democracies, American political parties are considered rather weak. In other democracies, party organizations retain the ability to select their candidates, parties in government have greater unity, and citizens have greater loyalty to their parties.
Interest Groups: Main ideas
II) 70% of Interest Groups have been established since the 1970’s
A) In Federalist #10, Madison argued that factions are natural, but controllable through the checks and balances and separation of powers built into our political institutions.
B) IG’s are issue specialists. They try to influence legislators through providing legislators with information on technical issues.
C) Primary goal is to win their issue. They benefit democracy by representing the interests of minorities and those with more intense political beliefs. A disadvantage is that wealthier interests tend to be more successful.
D) Majority of IG campaign money goes to Congressional incumbents.
E) Know: Pluralists, Iron Triangles (sub governments composed of interest groups, bureaucracies, and committees of Congress), and Elite Theories of government
F) IG Methods: Lobbying, Campaign Contributions, Litigation, Grassroots Campaigns (to mobilize public opinion), voter guides that offer voting advice, endorsement of specific candidates, amicus curiae briefs (“friend of the court”).
G) Types
1) Economic Interest Groups: Business/labor is the fastest growing & most popular since the mid-1970’s. They look after the financial interests of their members. Examples: AFL-CIO
2) Public Interest Groups: examples: American Civil Liberties Union, National Rifle Association. Motivated by the desire to improve society but differ greatly in what that means.
3) Environment: Greenpeace, League of Conservation Voters
4) Equality: NAACP
5) Consumer Interests
H) The larger an interest group, generally, the less successful they are combating the free rider problem
Political Party & IG Free Response Extended Answer Section
1. Iron Triangles: The players involved, How they work, evaluate their impact on the US Government.
2. IG tactics: Why do IGs utilize litigation, grassroots contributions, & lobbying? What IGs would use these techniques (specific groups)?
3. Differences between IGs and Political Parties: Goals, How do IG’s support Political Parties achieve their goals & how do Political Parties help IGs fulfill their goals
4. Critical Elections of 1860, 1896, & 1932. What actually happened during these elections? Definition of critical elections, what groups changed allegiances (in your textbook)
5. How do IGs try to influence elections? Techniques used, limitations placed upon IG influence in this domain
6. How do political parties influence elections? How do they promote public policy in Congress? Why might political parties be weakening? How does party polarization strengthen political party power in Congress