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NEED TO KNOW: Unit 3. Political parties, interest groups, and the media. Chapter 9. Political Parties. Political Parties. GOAL: to control govt by winning elections 3 Components of Party: Party in Government, Party in Electorate, Party Organization Roles: Nominating (most important)
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NEED TO KNOW: Unit 3 Political parties, interest groups, and the media
Chapter 9 Political Parties
Political Parties • GOAL: to control govt by winning elections • 3 Components of Party: • Party in Government, Party in Electorate, Party Organization • Roles: • Nominating (most important) • Campaigning • Watchdog • Governing
2 Party System • 2 Major Parties (but many minor parties) • Why 2 Parties? • History/Tradition • Electoral System • Single Member Districts • Majority vs. Plurality • American Ideological Consensus • Americans basically moderate, so extreme ideas get little support • Minor Parties • Usually represent more extreme ideas • Popular ideas often stolen by major parties • Can really never win, but raise issues and serve as SPOILERS
Party Structure • VERY DECENTRALIZED • State, Local, and National Party • Convention, Chairman, Committee, Congressional Campaign Committee • Convention Delegates • Much more activist and less moderate than party-at-large • Convention Reform • Attempts to give party-at-large more of a say • Democrats – Super-Delegates: Party insiders who can vote however they want • Power to the people, but still get an electable candidate
Party Decline • Europe = strong parties; US = weak parties • Parties in decline • More Independents • More Split-Ticket Voting • History of Parties • Federalists vs. Dem-Reps – 1st Parties • Party Realignments and Critical Elections • Parties Today • Weak • Divided Government
Chapter 11 Interest groups
Interest Groups • Different from Parties b/c they are NOT trying to win elections • As parties decline, interest groups are on the rise • Linkage Institution • Why Join? • Solidary (friendship, etc) • Material (discounts, etc) • Purposive (belief in agenda)
Roles of Interest Groups • Information • Lobbying • Grassroots Mobilization & Public Support • Protest and Disruption • PACs – Campaign Contributions • Leading Litigation • Ex, Brown v. Board of Education • Problems of Interest Groups • Revolving Door • Influence in Washington (NRA, Tobacco Farmers)
Types of Interest Groups • Institutional vs. Membership • Constituency vs. Issue • Business, Labor, Causal, Public Interest, Welfare • Some important groups to know: • AARP • NAACP • NRA • AFL-CIO • NOW • ACLU • PETA • AMA • NARAL
Chapter 12 The media
Media Print vs. Broadcast vs. Digital Media TV = #1 Source of news Internet = fastest growing Information and Persuasion Adversarial Press Liberal Bias?
Media’s Role in Politics • Helps define public agenda • Linkage Institution • Campaign Coverage • Often very superficial • Trial Balloons • Sound Bites, Photo Ops • “Horserace” Journalism
Court Cases to Know New York Times v. Sullivan New York Times v. US Near v. Minnesota