TOPIC 2 POLITICAL BEHAVIOR

PARTY SYSTEMS

• One-party systems are usually found in nations with authoritarian governments.

• Minor parties exist in two-party systems, but two major political parties compete for power.

• In multi-party systems, several parties often combine forces in a coalition government.

POLITICAL IDEOLOGY

• People with a liberal ideology are more willing to trade economic freedom for greater equality.

• People with a conservative ideology tend to believe the role of government should be limited.

• Most people are moderates, falling somewhere in between liberal and conservative.

• Currently, the Democratic Party is more liberal and the Republican Party more conservative.

PARTY ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP

• At each level, the party endorses and works for the election of its candidates.

• Fundraising is a key function of state and national parties.

• Generally, citizens join a political party when they register to vote or vote in certain elections.

• Party membership provides a way for citizens to increase their influence on government.

FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES

• Parties bring key issues to public attention and involve people in the political process.

• Political parties help the government operate smoothly, and they dispense political patronage.

• The winning party implements its key policy initiatives, and the losing party is a “watchdog.”

• Parties contribute to political stability.

SELECTING CANDIDATES TO REPRESENT THE PARTY

• A vital function of political parties is to nominate candidates for elected office.

• To get onto the ballot, a candidate must file by fee or by petition.

• Candidates are chosen by caucuses, primaries, or conventions.

• Rules for presidential primaries vary among the states and even within many states.

• Primaries are a long, costly process and states with late primaries may receive less attention.

MINOR OR THIRD PARTIES

• Third parties have been on the American political scene since the early days of the Republic.

• A third party generally forms as a single-issue party, an ideological party, or a splinter party.

• Minor parties have influenced the outcome of national elections.

• As a result of the two-party tradition, third parties face a number of obstacles.

VOTER PARTICIPATION• Voter participation in the U.S. is low compared to many other democracies around the

world.

• Many citizens do not vote because of registration practices or little party involvement.

• Voter turnout is impacted by the sheer number of elections and new requirements for voting.

• Citizens who vote regularly have positive attitudes toward government and citizenship. A number of reforms are being considered to make voting more convenient.

THE STRUCTURE OF ELECTIONS• Election cycles, term limits, and ballot issues all influence voter choices at the polls.

• Federal election cycles are determined by the term lengths set out in the Constitution.

• The federal election cycle ensures that the entire government will not turn over at the same time.

• Some, but not all, federal and state positions have term limits.

• In many states, citizens vote on legislative referendums, popular referendums, and initiatives.

VOTERS’ ELECTION CHOICES• Voters’ personal backgrounds affect their decisions.

• Voters are also influenced by loyalty, or lack of loyalty, to a political party.

• Voters look for a variety of qualifications in candidates for office.

• Voters are typically most concerned with issues that directly affect them.

CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES• A campaign manager is responsible for the overall strategy and planning in a campaign.

• A large election campaign expenditure is advertising, much of which is propaganda.

• Television is the most important communication tool for a presidential candidate.

• Social media can be a powerful and cost-effective campaign tool.

COMMON PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES

CAMPAIGN FINANCE• Efforts to regulate money in campaigns are controversial.

• Limits on campaign spending and donations can be seen as limits on free speech.

• Presidential candidates who receive public funds must limit the amount spent by their campaign.

• Direct funding, or hard money, comes from contributions made directly to a candidate.

• Indirect funding, or soft money, comes from organizations independent from a campaign.

POLITICAL CULTURE• Political socialization includes absorbing the political culture of one’s nation.

• A shared belief in liberty and freedom are part of American political culture.

• Political culture sets the general boundaries within which citizens develop and express opinions.

• The political culture a person comes from impacts how he or she sees the world.

POLITICAL EFFICACY • A person’s level of political efficacy reflects their political socialization.

• Feelings of political efficacy are vital in a democracy.

• People join interest groups because they believe being part of such a group will improve their political efficacy.

INTEREST GROUPS SEEK SUPPORT• Interest groups use the mass media to inform the public and to create support for their

views.

• Many interest groups encourage members to communicate directly with government officials.

• Interest groups compete for power and influence.

• Smaller interest groups or single-issue interest groups are most effective in shaping policy.

POWER OF INTEREST GROUPS• People in an interest group share common goals and organize to influence government.

• Interest groups are an important component of American civil society.

• There are key differences between political parties and interest groups.

• Interest groups help bridge the gap between people and the government.

• A properly organized and equipped interest group has more influence than its individual members.

THE RISE OF POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES• PACs are designed to collect money and provide financial support for a political

candidate.

• PACs became popular after Congress passed laws limiting donations to federal candidates.

• Direct donations to candidates by PACs are limited, but indirect donations are unlimited.

• 527 organizations focus on advocating an issue.

• Super PACs can receive unlimited donations and spend unlimited sums if done independently.

STRATEGIES OF PACS• PACs use donations, or the threat of withholding donations, as leverage with a candidate.

• Large campaign donations may increase a group’s access to an official when elected.

• PACs spend money to influence election outcomes.