Title: Today
1Todays Agenda
- Electoral Institutions (Elec. College)
- Are Political Parties like sports teams?
- What happens to voters when the teams dont wear
uniforms? - If so, are interest groups like Nike, Reebok, and
Adidas?
2Electoral College
- Why would we do this, instead of a national
election? - Comes from state sovereignty
- Individual states are important!
- Why is it so hard to change?
- (you know this one)
- Who has an incentive to change it?
3How does it work?
- Basically each state gets to choose their
preferred candidate - Each state gets a of votes for President
- 2 for each Senator (100 total)
- of House members (435 total)
- DC gets 3 votes
- 100 435 3 538 total electors (These are the
elites who choose our President!)
4How does it work?
- When you vote for president, you are simply
choosing electors who have promised to vote for
your partys candidate. - Whichever candidate gets 270 electoral votes
wins! - (See how that works? Majority of 538? See?)
-
5How does it work?
- 48 states use the winner-take-all
- (CO too!)
- 7 House members
- 2 Senators
- 9 votes!
6How does it work?
- 48 states use the winner-take-all
- Nebraska and Maine are special
- Swing states (battleground states) get a LOT of
attention - Strong partisan states are ignored
7What are Political Parties?
- A political party is a group of voters,
activists, candidates, and office holders who
identify with a party label. - They recruit and run candidates for public office
under the party label. - They try to organize and coordinate the
activities of government officials under the
party name.
8What are Political Parties?
- A political party is a group of voters,
activists, candidates, and office holders who
identify with a party label. - They recruit and run candidates for public office
under the party label. - They try to organize and coordinate the
activities of government officials under the
party name. - They want to win elections!
9Party Websites
- Democrats
- http//www.democrats.org/
- Republicans
- http//www.gop.com/
- Libertarians
- http//www.lp.org/
- Green Party
- http//www.gp.org/
10The Role of Political Parties in a Democracy
- Many political scientists believe that parties
are essential to democracy.
11The Role of Political Parties in a Democracy
- Many political scientists believe that parties
are essential to democracy. - The political party is seen by some as the main
instrument of popular sovereignty and majority
rule.
12The Role of Political Parties in a Democracy
- Many political scientists believe that parties
are essential to democracy. - The political party is seen by some as the main
instrument of popular sovereignty and majority
rule. - Parties provide a way for the people to keep
elected officials responsive and responsible
through competitive elections.
13Parties and Majority Rule
- Parties mobilize and educate people about
politics.
14Parties and Majority Rule
- Parties mobilize and educate people about
politics. - Elections create an incentive to include as many
voters as possible, with a majority being the
goal of each party.
15Parties and Majority Rule
- Parties mobilize and educate people about
politics. - Elections create an incentive to include as many
voters as possible, with a majority being the
goal of each party. - Parties try to broaden their appeal by running
candidates from many ethnic, racial, and
religious groups.
16The Two-Party System
- Most nations have either one-party systems or
multiparty systems. - Most Western democracies have multiparty systems.
- But two parties have dominated the political
scene in the United States since 1836.
17Why Only 2 American Parties?
- Winner-take-all system
- Legislative seats awarded only to first place
finishers. - Losers get nothing
- People do not want to waste vote on third place
finisher - Single-member districts
- Parties have incentive to gobble up third parties
close to them
18What happens in other Democracies?
- Proportional representation
- Each party gets a share of the votes they receive
in the election - So the Senate and House would be made up of the
percentage of votes each party received. - Germany
19Tradeoffs?
- Proportional representation means MORE groups
given a seat at the table - Small parties get some voice
- Two-party system means less participants, but
perhaps more efficient. - Less bargaining with fewer people
20Parties getting worse?
21Historical animosity
- On May 22, 1856, Congressman Preston Brooks,
wielding a walking stick, strode into the U.S.
Senate chamber. Seated at his desk, answering
routine correspondence, was Senator Charles
Sumner, whose oration earlier that week had
energized anti-slavery activists in the North. - The South Carolinian strode to Sumner's desk and
struck the senator across the head with his cane.
As Sumner, dazed and bleeding, struggled to get
to his feet, Brooks continued to rain blows upon
him for about a minute, until his wooden cane
shattered. - Sumner was stitched up by a doctor, but took
years to fully recover. Brooks was arrested and
released on bail, and was considered a hero
throughout the South. People sent him canes to
replace the one he had broken beating Sumner.
22Parties getting worse?
23Parties getting worse?
24Grover Cleveland Democrat or Republican?
- United States President Grover Cleveland vetoed
an expenditure that would have provided 10,000
of federal aid to drought-stricken Texas farmers.
When explaining to Congress why such an
appropriation of taxpayer money was
inappropriate, he statedI can find no warrant
for such an appropriation in the Constitution
and I do not believe that the power and duty of
the General Government ought to be extended to
the relief of individual suffering which is in no
manner properly related to the public service or
benefit. A prevalent tendency to disregard the
limited mission of this power and duty should, I
think, be steadily resisted, to the end that the
lesson should be constantly enforced that, though
the people support the Government, the Government
should not support the people. ... The
friendliness and charity of our fellow countrymen
can always be relied on to relieve their fellow
citizens in misfortune. This has been repeatedly
and quite lately demonstrated. Federal aid in
such cases encourages the expectation of paternal
care on the part of the Government and weakens
the sturdiness of our national character, while
it prevents the indulgence among our people of
that kindly sentiment and conduct which
strengthens the bonds of a common brotherhood
25Realignment Democrat or Republican?
- United States President Grover Cleveland vetoed
an expenditure that would have provided 10,000
of federal aid to drought-stricken Texas farmers.
When explaining to Congress why such an
appropriation of taxpayer money was
inappropriate, he statedI can find no warrant
for such an appropriation in the Constitution
and I do not believe that the power and duty of
the General Government ought to be extended to
the relief of individual suffering which is in no
manner properly related to the public service or
benefit. A prevalent tendency to disregard the
limited mission of this power and duty should, I
think, be steadily resisted, to the end that the
lesson should be constantly enforced that, though
the people support the Government, the Government
should not support the people. ... The
friendliness and charity of our fellow countrymen
can always be relied on to relieve their fellow
citizens in misfortune. This has been repeatedly
and quite lately demonstrated. Federal aid in
such cases encourages the expectation of paternal
care on the part of the Government and weakens
the sturdiness of our national character, while
it prevents the indulgence among our people of
that kindly sentiment and conduct which
strengthens the bonds of a common brotherhood
26Party Advertising negative?
- http//www.youtube.com/watch?vY_zTN4BXvYI
- Citizens United
- http//www.youtube.com/watch?vAtjFY29-4FY
- http//www.youtube.com/watch?vJoG1fbu3IYA
- http//www.youtube.com/watch?vCWKTOCP45zY
27Party organization mass, elites
- Mays law of curvilinear disparity
28Party Responsibility
- What institutional factors help parties be
responsible? - Western Europe versus the U.S.
- Regional differences note regionally, the
distribution of preferences differ what effect
does that have on party responsibility. - Effect of party responsibility on voting
- The expensive turkey sandwich (according to Dr.
Baird)
29Party Decline?
30Interest groups
- Like Nike, Adidas, and Reebok, interest groups
like to be on the winning team (regardless of who
that is).
31What is the difference?
- Interest groups DO NOT run their own candidates
for office (they dont own a sports team). - They typically do NOT seek mass membership like
Political Parties do
32What are Interest Groups?Three Definitions
- Neutral Private organizations or associations
that seek to influence government policies as a
way to protect or advance some interest or
concern. - Negative Special interests that seek advantage
over other groups and against the public
interest. - Positive Another way by which Americans can
influence their government.
33Questions Assessing the Role of Interest Groups
- Do interest groups, on balance, help or hurt the
practice of democracy in the United States? - Do interest groups, on balance, help or hurt the
fashioning of coherent and effective public
policies?
34What are factions?
- a number of citizens (either a majority or
minority number) who are united and actuated by
some common impulse of passion, or of interest,
adverse to the rights of other citizens - James Madison, Federalist 10
35Madison on Factions
- There are two methods of curing the mischief
of faction - By removing its causes
- By controlling its effects
- James Madison, Federalist 10
36Madison on Factions
- There are again two methods of removing the
causes of faction - Get rid of individual liberty
- Make everyone think the same
- (Both are B-A-D)
- James Madison, Federalist 10
37More on interest groups
- Teams Without Uniforms
- Interest groups are EVIL
- Interest groups are key to a healthy democratic
government - What do interest Groups DO?
38Non-Partisan Elections
- What happens when teams dont wear uniforms?
- When is this?
39Non-Partisan Elections
- What happens when teams dont wear uniforms?
- When is this?
- Primaries
- Local elections
- What does this allow us to do?
40Non-Partisan Elections
- What happens when teams dont wear uniforms?
- When is this?
- Primaries
- Local elections
- What does this allow us to do?
- Test for Partisan Effects! Yeehaaa!
41Non-Partisan Elections
- What happens when teams dont wear uniforms?
- People switch to other cues
- Gender
- Race/ethnicity
- Profession
- Past experience
- Etc.
42Non-Partisan Elections
- What happens when teams dont wear uniforms?
- People switch to other cues
- Gender
- Race/ethnicity
- Profession
- Past experience
- Lower turnout!
- Less interest!
- Elite voters determine your lives!
43Assessing the Role of Interest Groups
- http//www.youtube.com/watch?viBELC_vxqhIfeature
related
44Assessing the Role of Interest Groups
- http//www.youtube.com/watch?vFzrBurlJUNk
45Theories of Interest Group Politics
- Elite Theory
- Pluralist Theory
- Hyper-pluralist Theory
46Theories of Interest Group Politics Elitism
- Societies are divided along class lines and that
an upper-class elite will rule, - regardless of the formal niceties of government
organization. - The presence of many groups means nothing, the
power is not equally divided among them - some groups have more.
47Theories of Interest Group Politics Elitism
- Power is strengthened by a system of interlocking
agreements between corporations and other
institutions. - Lobbying is a problem because it benefits the few
at the expense of the many.
48Interest Group Ratings
- ACLU (Am. Civil Liberties Union)
- http//action.aclu.org/site/VoteCenter?congress10
9locationSpagecongScorecard - ACU (American Conservative Union)
- http//conservative.org/ratings/ratingsarchive/201
1/unified.htmlCO
49Theories of Interest Group Politics Elitism
- Power is in the hands of elites
- Money
- Access
- Officeholders in their pockets
- They control what policies we get
- Average people have no chance at influencing
policy
50Theories of Interest Group Politics Pluralism
- Definition
- Groups provide the key link between the people
and the government. - Politics is mainly a competition among groups,
not individuals, - Many centers of power exist with many diverse
groups competing for power.
51Theories of Interest Group Politics Pluralism
- Key Assumption
- No group becomes too dominant, i.e., no group
wins or loses all the time.
52Making friends!
- what do these groups have in common?
ANSWER AN INTEREST IN DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
53Pluralism in Colorado?
- 3M Traffic Control Materials DivisionABATE of
ColoradoABC Preschool, LTD.ADT
AutomotiveAFL-CIO, COAFLAC, American Family
Life Assurance CompanyAFSCME Council 76ARC of
ColoradoARCO Coal CompanyASARCO Inc.AT and T
Wireless Services of COATTATC/VANCOM,
Inc.Academy School District 20Academy of
Audiology, COAccess, COAckerman Information
CorporationAcupuncture Association, COAdvantage
Network Systems, Inc.Aerial Applicators Assoc,
COAgile Stone/I.N.A.P.Air Transport
AssociationAirtouch CellularAlcohol and Drug
Service Providers, CO Association ofAlliance
(The)Alliance for Managed CareAlliance of
American InsurersAllied Jewish Federation of
COAllstate Insurance CompanyAmalgamated Transit
Union, Local 1001Ambulatory Surgical Centers
Association, COAmerican Academy of Pediatrics,
CO ChapterAmerican Automobile Manufacturers
AssociationAmerican Cancer Society, CO
DivisionAmerican Community InsuranceAmerican
Council of Life InsuranceAmerican Express
CompanyAmerican Family InsuranceAmerican Family
Insurance CompanyAmerican Home Products
CorporationAmerican Institute of Architects -
COAmerican Insurance AssociationAmerican Legion
(The)American Mobilehome AssociationAmerican
Republic InsuranceAmerican Society of Mechanical
EngineersAmerican Subcontractors Association
COAmoco CorporationAnderson and
AssociatesAnheuser-Busch Companies,
Inc.Apartment Association, CO
54Pluralism in Colorado?
- Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.Apartment
Association, COArapahoe HouseArkansas River
Power AuthorityArmstrong and AssociatesArthritis
FoundationArthur Andersen LLPAsphalt Paving
CompanyAssessors' Association, COAsset
Investment Management LLCAssociated Credit
Bureaus of COAssociated General Contractors of
COAssociated Governments of Northwest
COAssociated Students of CO State
UniversityAssociation for Health/Phys Ed
Recreation, COAssociation of Chiefs of Police,
COAssociation of Commerce and Industry,
COAssociation of Community Centered Boards,
COAssociation of Community Corrections Boards,
COAssociation of Distributors, COAssociation of
Home Builders, COAssociation of Independent
Title Insurance Companies, COAssociation of Life
Underwriters, COAssociation of Municipal
Utilities, COAssociation of Naturopathic
Physicians, COAssociation of Nonprofit
Organizations, COAssociation of Nurse
Anesthetists, COAssociation of Private Resources
Agencies, COAssociation of Public Employees,
COAssociation of School Boards, COAssociation
of School Executives, COAssociation of Ski
Towns, COAssociation of Transit Agencies,
COAudubonAurora Public SchoolsAuto-Matic
CreditAutomobile Recyclers, COBank One Colorado
Corp.Bankers Association, COBar Association,
COBarr Laboratories, Inc.Baxter Healthcare
CorporationBeer Distributors Association,
COBehavioral Healthcare Council, COBeneficial
Management Corporation of AmericaBicycle
ColoradoBigelow and CompanyBingo Raffle
Association of Volunteers (BRAVE)Biotech
Industry OrganizationBlackhawk Casino Owners'
AssociationBledsoe, Defilippo, Rees, LLC
55Pluralism in Colorado?
- Bradford Publishing CompanyBrain Injury Task
ForceBreit, Bosch, Levin and Coppola PCBronco
Billy's CasinoBrotherhood of Locomotive
EngineersBrotherhood of Maintenance of Way
EmployeesBrownstein, Hyatt, Farber and
Strickland, PCBusiness Alliance, COCF and I
Steel, LPCIGNA HealthcareCO UnityCPA
NetworkCable Television Association, COCafca,
Inc.Car and Truck Renting and Leasing Assoc of
COCasino Owners Assoc of COCatholic
CharitiesCatholic Conference, COCatholic Rural
Life, Archdiocese of DenverCattle Feeders
Association, COCattlemen's Association,
COCenter for Energy and Economic
DevelopmentCenter for Reproductive Law and
PolicyCentura HealthChamber of Commerce, South
MetroChevron USA, Inc.Child Care Association,
COChildren's CampaignChildren's
HospitalChildren's Legislative
CooperativeChiropractic Association,
COChiropractic Society, COChristian Home
Educators of COChristian Pro-Life
CoalitionChronic Care Coalition, COCitibank EBT
ServicesCiticorp Diners ClubCitizens for
Responsible Government, Inc.Citizens for Right
to Work, COCitizens for Victims' RightsCity and
County of DenverCity of ArvadaCity of
AuroraCity of Black HawkCity of BoulderCity of
BurlingtonCity of Central ColoradoCity of
Colorado SpringsCity of Greenwood VillageCity
of LakewoodCity of LovelandCity of Sterling
56Pluralism in Colorado?
- Classified School Employees AssocClean Water
ActionCloverleaf Kennel ClubCoalition Against
Domestic Violence, COCoalition for a Secure
Insurance MarketCoalition for the Homeless,
COCoalition of Exclusive Agents Association of
COCoalition of Land Trusts, COCoastal
CorporationCole and AssociatesColoradans for
Consumer Choice in ElectricityColorado Cellars
(Winery)Colorado Communique, Inc.Colorado
ConcernColorado Dismas, Inc.Colorado
Legislative Services, Inc.Colorado School of
MinesColorado Serum CompanyColorado Ski Country
USAColorado Springs Chamber of CommerceColorado
Springs Independence CenterColorado State
University FoundationColorado State University
System and FoundationColorado and Wyoming
Railway CompanyColowyo Coal CompanyCommittee
for Colorado BoxingCommnet Cellular Inc.Common
CauseCommunique/CO Veterinary Medical
Association, COCommunity Associations
InstituteCommunity Corrections Coalition,
COCommunity Health Network, COCommunity Health
Plan of the Rockies, Inc.Compensation Insurance
Authority, COConcept II Research
ConsultantsConcerned Citizens of Las Animas
CountyConservation Services, Inc.Consulting
Engineers Council of CO, AmericanConsumer Credit
Counseling ServiceConsumers Union of the US,
Inc.Contemporary Services CorporationContinuum
Care, Inc.Contract Administration
FundContractors Association, Inc.,
COCooperative Council, COCoopers and Lybrand
LLPCoors Brewing CompanyCopic Insurance
CompanyCorn Growers Association, COCoroners
Association, COCotter CorporationCouncil of
Churches, CO
57Theories of Interest Group Politics Pluralism
BUT "The flaw in the pluralist heaven is that
the heavenly chorus sings with a strong
upper-class accent." --
E.E.Schattsschneider
58What Makes an Interest Group Successful?
- The Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups
- Free-Rider problem (logic of collective action)
- Consumer groups have a particularly difficult
time organizing
59What Makes an Interest Group Successful?
- Bigger group bigger free-rider problem.
- Small groups are better organized and more
focused on the groups goals. - Groups provide selective benefits to overcome
size
60INSIDE AND OUTSIDE LOBBYING
- inside lobbying
- information
- policy making
- bureaucratic rule making
- litigation
- outside lobbying
- public relations
- grassroots organization
- electioneering
- activism
- PACs
61How Groups Try to Shape Policy
- Lobbyists
- are a source of information.
- can help politicians plan legislative strategy
- can help politicians plan campaigns
- can provide policy ideas and innovations
62How Groups Try to Shape Policy
- Electioneering
- Direct involvement in the election process.
- PACs Used by groups, corporations and unions to
donate money to candidates. - Groups can do more than just donate money.
63What Makes an Interest Group Successful?
- Financial Resources
- Not all groups have equal amounts of money.
- Groups are often picky about who gets money.
- Money (typically) access
64The Rise of Political Action Committees
65How Groups Try to Shape Policy
- Litigation
- courts may be able to provide a remedy.
- amicus curiae briefs
- Class action lawsuits can give small groups big
power
66How Groups Try to Shape Policy
- Going Public
- Groups try and cultivate a good public image.
- Groups will purchase advertising to motivate the
public about an issue.
67How Groups Try to Shape Policy
- Going Public
- Groups try and cultivate a good public image.
- Groups will purchase advertising to motivate the
public about an issue. - http//www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipes/defau
lt.asp - http//www.gotmilk.com/
- http//www.eagleforum.org/misc/descript.html
68The Benefits of Interest Groups for Citizens
- Promote interest in public affairs
- Provide useful information
- Serve as watchdogs
- Represent the interest of citizens
69The Negatives Policy Consequences
- Incoherence Policies can be inherently
incompatible - Gridlock Failure to compromise produces failure
to respond to problems
70The Negatives Violations of Political Equality
- Representational inequalities
- Resource inequalities
- PACs/ Soft money/ Independent expenditures
- Access inequality
- The privileged position of business
71What you need to know!
- Our system rewards organized interests!
- Even if you are small in number, or
resource-poor, ORGANIZED Interests GET Attention!
72What you need to know!
- Our system rewards organized interests!
- Even if you are small in number, or
resource-poor, ORGANIZED Interests GET Attention! - BUTIt is extremely hard to organize
resource-poor groups
73Interest groups as instruments of democracy
74Iron Triangle
75Clint Eastwood