Political Parties

Review for Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Quiz Quick Review: linkage institutions and

political parties Introduction to Political Parties 15 minutes for mastery and reading

To-Do

The Policymaking System

T1-4

Linkage institutions: the political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. Political parties Interest groups The media Elections

Review – Linkage Institutions and Political

Parties

All of the following are examples of a linkage institution influencing the policy process EXCEPT

A.) the president delivering the State of the Union speech

B.) the Sierra Club lobbying the Environmental Protection Agency

C.) the outcome of a congressional election D.) an expose by the national media on the

housing crisis E.) the Republican Party pursuing a balanced

budget amendment

Sample AP Question

8.1 – Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy.

8.2 – Determine the significance of party identification in America today.

8.3 – Describe how political parties are organized in the United States.

8.4 – Evaluate how well political parties generally do in carrying out their promises.

Learning Objectives

Parties can all agree – goal is to WIN! Anthony Downs agrees too: “team of

men [and women] seeking to control the governing apparatus”

The Meaning of Party

Pick candidates Run campaigns Give cues to voters (educate voters) Articulate policies (party platform) Coordinate policymaking (btwn branches –

Obama wants healthcare – he looks to Dems in Leg. Branch to make it happen)

TASKS of Parties as Linkage Institutions

Many voters in U.S. stick to the middle of the road

Parties must not stray too far from that to stay afloat

How to Win

Party in the Electorate ALL ppl associating with a party

Party in Organization Ppl who work to maintain the strength of party

btwn elections (raise $, organize conventions) Party in Government

Appointed and elected officials who represent the party (office holders)

Roles of Political Parties

Party image: Voter’s idea of what Dems and Reps stand for

Party identification: a self-proclaimed preference for one party Many Europeans countries pay for membership

Party in the Electorate

National convention Every 4 years to choose pres. candidate and

party platforms National committee

Operates party btwn. conventions National chairperson

Responsible for day-to-day activities – usually chosen by pres. nominee

Party in Organization

Primaries – to determine who will be the party’s ONE candidate

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/primary-tracker/

Closed - only vote for party in which you are registered

Open – can choose party to vote for that day

Primaries – party organization

Republican Chair

Reince Priebus was elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee on January 14, 2011, and reelected on January 25, 2013, putting him on track to become only the seventh person to serve four years as Republican Party Chairman.

Democratic Chair

DNC CHAIR DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ’S STATEMENT ON COLORADO RECALL ELECTION RESULTS Press release title

Party with the control over the most gov’t offices will have the most influence in determining who gets what, where, when and how.

Carry out the policies created at National Conventions (platforms)

Party in Government