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parties Political and interest groups Lecture topics 1. Participation by under-represented groups 2. Political parties i. Definitions ii. Evolution of parties iii. Nomination procedures 3. Changing patterns of a party Political Parties What is a political party? Organization that chooses supports and nominates candidates for their party. What are the four functions of a political party? 1. Recruiting people for office? 2. Provide an information shortcut for voters. 3. Aggregate all of our interests into one bundle. 4. Parties make it easier to govern, and easier for the government to regulate. Also help the common person. Political Parties vs. interest groups Goals o Political parties focus on winning office; interest on making policy Focus o Political parties focus on a variety of issues; interests groups focus on a single issue. National parties vs. state parties State parties are the primary organizing units. National parties are active in every state. Degree and form of organization varies by state. Parties and the electorate Identification with major parties has declined, identification with independents increased. Nationally, part politics focus on capturing voters. swing From mayor Dayley to responsible politics Political machines, and patronage characterized party politics in the past o Machine system perpetuated loyalty. Results Corruption Helped build support for the non-partisan ballot Candidate's names appear on the ballot without party association. Helps explain differences across states Responsible party model A theory of that political parties offer clear policy choices to voters, try to deliver on those policies when they take office, and are held accountable by voters for the success or failure of those policies. Easier if parties are meaningful. Primaries and party politics Primary elections shift control of the nomination process from party leaders to individual voters. The control party leaders have over nomination varies. o Smoke-filled back rooms o Party convention o Closed primaries o Open primaries Changing Rolls of political parties Rise of a candidate-centered politics has shifted the traditional role of political parties. o Candidates no longer run on party platforms but rather on individual charachteristics. Why? Political parties serve a fund-raising, and consultant role. o o o

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