Political Parties

1. Political Parties 4/17/2012

2. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form • Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: • discuss and critically analyze political events in the United States government • students will be able to identify and explain the role of  informal institutions and their effect on policy.  • students will be able to assess the 2010 and 2012 elections without resorting to partisan bickering.

3. Office Hours and Readings • Chapter 7 • Office Hours • Today 11-2 • Wednesday 10-2

4. The parties are different

5. For Groups to Matter • They must be large • They must vote • They Must be loyal

6. Race • Race is more important than class • African Americans form a political self-conscious group. And Identify with the Democratic Party

8. Unlike other nations, social class doesn’t dominate • The Parties do not try to exploit social class • We are all middle class

9. Social Class and Partisanship Republicans Democrats Do better with poor and working class Do better with the very wealthiest Do better with Union Members • Do better with poor whites in the South • Do better with Upper Middle Class voters • Historically have done better with Middle Class voters

10. Women and Voting • Women vote more than men • The Gender Gap • Women vote more for Democratic Candidates • Ranges from 5-10 Points in Presidential elections • Issue ownership

11. Gender in 2008

12. Marital Status

13. Married vs. Single Women • Married women vote more Republican • Self-Identified Feminists are very Democratic

14. Where are the Votes?

15. Gender in 2010 • The Gap is Down to 1%, the Republicans fare much better • Romney needs something similar if he is to win. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvFzgb7wKlc

16. Religion • Americans tend to be more religious than other Western nations. • We belong to churches and go more than other nations

17. Jewish Voters • The Exception to the Rule • Share many Republican characteristics, but are Democratic • More liberal than other groups, except on Israel policy • Meet all 3 criteria in 2 states

18. The Religion Gap

19. The biggest differences lie in the beliefs of activists on both sides

20. What about third parties?

21. What is it • Any party other than the major 2 • Can be a third, fourth etc.

22. How Do Third Parties Emerge • New Parties come from • The Gap between the parties • On the fringe • From within the party • Around an Emerging Issue

23. What Third Parties Want to Do Win elections Threaten Existing Parties

24. Why They Lose • The System is Geared against them • It is easy to steal their issues • They run political nobodies

25. "In no country of the world, has the principle of association been more successfully used or applied to a greater multitude of objects than in America“Alexis de Tocqueville

26. The Interest Groups in the Constitution • No specific mention • Feared by the framers • Lets pray that Madison is right

27. What do interest groups do

28. All interest Groups Must: • Share an interest • Know the Interest • Be Organized

29. Political Interest Groups • Are private • Non-Governmental • Seek policy

30. What do they Do • Link Members to Government • Represent Members views • Educate members and the public

31. Why Interest Groups Form

32. Constitutional Reasons • Protected by the First Amendment • The right to “peaceably assemble” • Federalism

33. Diversity • Our diverse society creates many differences which give rise to different interests and view on public issues • Issue Diversity • Ideological Diversity • Economic Diversity • Racial and Ethnic Diversity

34. Traditional Pluralist Theory • Writings of David Truman (no relation to Harry) • Groups will form naturally to press their views on government • Even Unformed groups play a role

35. Disturbance Theory • Groups will respond to other groups • What will they do • Change the Status Quo • Return to the status quo • Go in a new Direction

36. An Alternate theory of Group Formation The logic of collective action

37. Collective Action • The Writings of Mancur Olson • Groups form if it is convenient • Groups form for Benefits

38. Logistics of Group Formation • Potential Membership • Big groups form more easily (fewer costs) • Small groups have to share less (more benefits) • Geography (not as important today)

39. Direct Benefits • Benefits that only members get • Excludes Non-members • Economic benefits are most lucrative

40. Collective benefits • Benefits that the group works for.... • Everyone gets • No One is Denied

41. Groups that Provide Collective Benefits

42. Overcoming the Free-Rider Problem • You have to offer people some incentive to join • Appeal to our greed, or appeal to our ideology • These are selective incentives

43. Selective Incentives Tangible Benefits Ideological Benefits Moral incentives Appeals to one’s ideology Guilt-ingPeople • Real benefits given to members by the group • People outside of the group do not get the goodies • The AARP

44. Groups that cannot offer any benefits will not be able to form

45. Kinds of Interest Groups

46. Private Interest Groups • Limit their Membership and their benefits • Business Groups • Labor Unions

47. Public Interest Groups • Concerned with that group’s perception of the general welfare of the population • Anyone can join • Everyone receives the benefits

48. Single Issue Groups • Concerned with a single policy issue • Ensures that members know what they do

49. Umbrella Groups • Concerned with multiple issues within a larger policy area • Potential for more resources • Potential for in-fighting

50. Interest Groups Today • Fragmentation • Specialization • Cannibalization • Greenpeace vs. Whale Wars