Political Behavior PDF

Democracy and Political Parties POLITICAL PARTIES & INTEREST GROUPS  WHAT IS A “PARTY“? A political party is a group of persons who seek to 1 control the government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office. Another definition for a political party...

Democracy and Political Parties POLITICAL PARTIES & INTEREST GROUPS  WHAT IS A “PARTY“? A political party is a group of persons who seek to 1 control the government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office. Another definition for a political party is a group of 2 people, joined together on the basis of common principles, who seek to affect certain public policies and programs.  POLITICAL PARTIES PERFORM 5 MAJOR FUNCTIONS: BONDING AGENT: INFORMING AND NOMINATING WORK TOGETHER TO ACTIVATING CANDIDATES GET THEIR AGENDA SUPPORTERS ACCOMPLISHED GOVERNING: WATCH DOG: THE REPRESENT THE PARTY OUT OF POWER PEOPLE AND SUPPORT CRITICIZES THE PARTY THEIR PARTY IN POWER Two Party System: Is when two major parties dominate the politics of a government. First two parties in the US were the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Framers thought parties would just cause conflict Write down 2 observations from each video in your notebook as you watch  4 MAIN TYPES OF MINOR PARTIES Ideological Parties: Based on a particular set of beliefs (EX: Socialist Party) Single Issue Parties: Focus on just one issue (EX: Right to Life Party) Economic Protest Parties: pop up during times of economic stress (EX: Populist Party 1890) Splinter Parties: parties that break away from a major party (EX: Green Party) Why can’t third Parties Take Off? 2 observati te on ri s w an d 1 o n questi  A STRONG THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE CAN PLAY A “SPOILER-ROLE” IN WHY ARE ELECTIONS THIRD THEY HAVE BEEN CRITICS AND PARTIES INNOVATORS FOR THE IMPORTANT? MAJOR PARTIES MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES ARE BROUGHT TO PUBLIC ATTENTION BY MINOR PARTIES INTEREST GROUPS Interest groups are made up of people who unite for some political purpose. Often Interest groups seek to influence legislation by lobbying to Congress. Interest Groups differ frompolitical parties in three respects: In the making of nominations (interest groups don’t) In their primary focus (Interest groups-policy; Parties-government) In the scope of their interest (IG’s are limited on issues) A political action committee (PAC) is a tax-exempt organization that pools campaign contributions from its members to elect and defeat political candidates. Most PACs represent business, labor or ideological interests. Money paper trail is public PACs can give $5,000 to a candidate committee information, and can be found HERE: per election (primary, general or special). They can also give up to $15,000 annually to any national party committee, and $5,000 annually to any other PAC. PACs may receive up to $5,000 from any one individual, PAC or party committee per calendar year.  2024 FINANCIAL SPENDING FOR Super PACs? SUPER PACS Technically known as independent expenditure-only committees, super PACs may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals, then spend unlimited sums to covertly advocate for or against political candidates. Unlike traditional PACs, super PACs are prohibited from donating money directly to candidates campaigns, and their spending must not be coordinated with that of the candidates they benefit. Super PACs are required to report their donors to the Federal Election Commission Super PACs are a relatively new type of committee that arose following the July 2010 federal court decision in a case known as Citizen’s United vs FEC. While wealthy donors, corporations, and special interest groups have long had influence in elections, that sway dramatically expanded in 2010. What was Citizens United vs. FEC about? A conservative nonprofit PAC called “Citizens United” challenged campaign finance rules after the FEC (Federal Election Commision) stopped the group (Citizens United) from promoting and airing a film that criticized presidential candidate Hillary Clinton close to the presidential primaries. A 5–4 majority, the Supreme Court sided with Citizens United, ruling that corporations and other outside groups (such as PACs) can spend unlimited money on elections. In groups of 3-4, answer the following questions. Be prepared to share! 1. What are some potential effects of the Citizens United case decision on the U.S.? 2. Go to: https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees- pacs/top-pacs/2024 a. Browse on the website, investigating any significant findings. What surprises you? Why? b. Google a PAC of your choosing. Write down what you learned about it. 3. Go to: https://www.opensecrets.org/resources/learn/timeline a. How has campaign finance changed over the past 50 years, according to this timeline?