AP Gov’t UNIT II

“Mile-a-Minute Mini Lecture”

PUBLIC OPINION, PARTIES, AND INTEREST GROUPS

Ch. 6: Public Opinion & Political Action

I. The American People pg. 178A. Introduction: Demography & the CensusB. The Immigrant Society: 3 great waves of

immigrationC. The American Melting Pot:

The Coming Minority-MajorityThe Simpson-Mazzoli Act

D. The Regional Shift: Shift of population & political power to the Sun Belt

E. The Graying of America: Fasting growing age group = over the age of 65

Ch. 6: Public Opinion & Political Action

II. How We Learn About Politics: Political Socialization pg. 184

A. The Process of Political SocializationFamilySchool (democracy & capitalism)Media

B. Political Learning Over a LifetimePolitical participation & strength of party

attachment increase with age

Ch. 6: Public Opinion & Political Action

III. Measuring Public Opinion & Political Information pg. 189

A. How Polls are ConductedRandom Sample = everyone has the same

probability of being selectedSampling Error = level of confidence that the

sample represents the total population (plus or minus 3% with a sample of 1500-2000)

Random digit dialingB. The Role of Polls in American Democracy

Bandwagon effectMedia & “horse race” reportingExit polls

Ch. 6: Public Opinion & Political Action

C. What Polls Reveal About Americans’ Political Information

D. The Decline of Trust in GovernmentIV. What Americans Value: Political Ideologies pg.

196A. Who are the Liberals and Conservatives?

Political IdeologyGender Gap

B. Do People Think in Ideological Terms? IdeologuesGroup Benefits VotersNature of the Times VotersNo-Issue-Content Voters

Ch. 6: Public Opinion & Political Action

V. How Americans Participate in Politics pg. 200

A. Introduction – the activities citizens use to influence the selection of political leaders or policies

B. Conventional Participation – voting, persuading, contacting, donating $, running for office

C. Protest as Participation (Civil disobedience)

D. Class, Inequality, and Participation

Political Participation is a “Class Based” Activity

Ch. 8: Political Parties

I. The Meaning of Party pg. 242A. Introduction: parties seek to control

gov’t by winning officeB. Tasks of the Parties

Linkage institutionsPick candidates & support campaignsGive cues to voters through party imageParty PlatformCoordinate policymaking across the branches

C. Parties, Voters, and Policy: The Downs Model

Why are our parties so similar?

Ch. 8: Political Parties

II. The Party in the Electorate pg. 245• Decline in both parties = upswing in

independents• Ticket-splitting & divided gov’tIII. The Party Organizations: From the Grass

Roots to Washington pg. 247A. Introduction:

American parties are fragmented & decentralized

Candidates can run on their own Opposite of the parliamentary system

Ch. 8: Political Parties

B. Local Parties: party machines & patronage

C. The Fifty State Party Systems: Open PrimaryClosed PrimaryBlanket Primary“Top Two” Primary

D. The National Party OrganizationsParty Conventions – pick presidential ticket &

write party platformNational CommitteeNational Chairperson

Ch. 8: Political PartiesV. The Party in Government: Promises and Policy pg.

251VI. Party Eras in American History pg. 254A. Introduction:

Party Era / Critical Election / Party RealignmentB. 1796-1824: Federalists v. Democratic RepublicansC. 1828-1856: Jackson and the Democrats versus the

WhigsVan Buren & the idea of the “loyal opposition”

D. 1860-1932: The Two Republican ErasElection of 1896 = “Wizard of Oz” / Critical Election

E. 1932-1968: The New Deal CoalitionF. 1968-Present: The Era of Divided Government

Ch. 8: Political PartiesVII. Third Parties: Their Impact on American

Politics pg. 260Bring new groups and people into politicsBring new issues to the policy agendaPioneer new methodsProvide “Safety Valves”Pushed out by Winner-Take-All system &

Single-Member Congressional DistrictsSpoiler Role

Ch. 8: Political PartiesVIII. Understanding Political Parties pg. 261A. Democracy and Responsible Party Model

Party have different platformsEach candidate committed to platformMajority party enacts platform & takes

responsibilityMinority party offers an alternative

B. Individualism and GridlockCandidates run on their own and the parties can’t

reward or punish them = party chaos!C. American Political Parties and the Scope of

Government

Ch.11: Interest Groups

I. The Role and Reputation of Interest Groups pg. 324

A. Defining Interest Groups: A group using the political process to achieve their goals. Don’t run in elections & are policy specialists.

B. Why Interest Groups Get Bad Press (Factions)II. Theories of Interest Group Politics pg. 326A. Pluralism and Group TheoryB. Elites and the Denial of PluralismC. Hyperpluralism and Interest Group Liberalism

The Most Powerful Groups1. National Rifle

Association - NRA2. American Association of Retired Persons-AARP

3. National Federation of Independent Business

4. American Israel Public Affairs Committee

5. Association of Trial Lawyers

6. AFL-CIO (a union of labor unions)

7. Chamber of Commerce 8. National Beer Wholesalers Association

9. National Association of Realtors

10. National Association of Manufactures

12. American Medical Association -AMA

14. National Education Association - NEA

Ch.11: Interest Groups

III. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? Pg. 329A. The Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups

Potential Group vs. Actual Group & the Free Rider problem

Selective BenefitsB. Intensity (single-issue groups)C. Financial ResourcesIV. The Interest Group Explosion pg. 333V. How Groups Try to Shape Policy pg. 335A. LobbyingB. ElectioneeringC. Litigation (amicus curiae & class action lawsuits)D. Going Public

Ch.11: Interest Groups

VI. Types of Interest Groups pg. 341A. Economic Interests (wages, prices & profits)

Right-to-work vs. union shopB. Environmental InterestsC. Equality Interests (NAACP & NOW)D. Public Interest Lobbies (seek a “common

good”)VII. Understanding Interest Groups pg. 347A. Interest Groups and DemocracyB. Interest Groups and the Scope of

Government