In this unit, we study campaigns, the electoral process, and how political parties and interest groups shape the political landscape by influencing candidates and voters. First, we focus on the role of political parties (especially in elections), their historical development, and their effect on the political process. We also discover how the American political system maintains a strong two-party system (made of Democrats and Republicans) that makes it difficult for a third party to gain meaningful influence in government. Finally, we explore how interest groups impact campaigns, candidates, and voters. Interest groups often use aggressive issue advocacy and campaign contributions to gain influence and maintain the status quo.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 5 hours.
Political parties are essential to democracy – they simplify voting choices, organize the competition, unify the electorate, help organize government by bridging the separation of powers and fostering cooperation among branches of government, translate public preferences into policy, and provide loyal opposition. In this section, we examine the functions of political parties, their evolution, and the reasons Americans have maintained a two-party system.
Read this text on the formation and evolution of political parties.
Read this text on the U.S. two-party system. Do you think Americans should encourage the development of minor parties?
Watch this two-part presentation on party identification and national shifts in party control (realignment and dealignment) in the American political system. Party identification is a person's loyalty or preference for one political party. When people identify with a party, they usually agree with its stance on a few major issues and give little weight to its position on issues they consider minor or secondary. This presentation discusses how elections can serve as turning points that define the political agenda and the alignment of voters within parties during periods of historical change in the economy and society.
Read this text on the role of parties in government. What significant challenges do political parties face regarding party unity?
Read this text on the impact of partisan polarization on government. What repercussions result from redistricting in terms of political parties and elections?
Elections are critical elements of a representative democracy such as the United States. They allow people to choose representatives and influence public policy. They also endow elected officials with legitimacy. There are two main types of elections in the United States: primary and general elections. During primary elections, candidates from the same political party battle for that party's nomination. The winners of these races run in the general election, which decides who will take office.
Read this article. In the previous section, we learned about the role political parties play in structuring future elections through redistricting. Here, we explore partisan gerrymandering and the legal challenges that often arise from redistricting. Should an independent commission establish the district boundaries? How can we remove party politics from redistricting?
Read this text on the voter registration process in the United States. Are you registered to vote? Do you believe registration requirements should be difficult or easy for the average U.S. citizen?
Read this text on voter turnout. Do you vote in every election? Why or why not?
Read this text that presents a survey on how elections are organized in the United States. What is the difference between a primary and a caucus? What role does the electoral college play in presidential elections?
Read this text on political campaigns. Remembering what we have read about campaign finance law, is fundraising properly regulated in U.S. elections, or does it present challenges for democracy?
Read this debate on whether the U.S. Electoral College should continue to play a role in choosing the American president. Which side makes a more convincing argument – Ross Baker (pro) or Jamie Raskin (con)? Why?
Interest groups have long played a significant role in electing and defeating candidates. They provide information to officeholders and often set the agenda for American politics. Americans continue to be concerned about the power these groups have in government, especially their tendency to pursue self-interest at the expense of less organized groups and the general public. Restraining the negative tendencies of interest groups while protecting liberty is a challenging task.
The Republic's founders called these groups "factions". Their foremost challenge was to create an orderly and stable constitutional system that also respects the liberty of free citizens and prevents the tyranny of the majority or one dominant interest. Today, interest groups exist to make demands on the government.
Interest groups vary widely. Some are formal associations or organizations. Others have no formal organization. Some are organized to lobby for limited goals or broadly influence public opinion with published reports and mass mailings. We categorize interest groups into several broad types, which we will study in the readings.
For decades, interest groups have lobbied Congress and the Executive branch. These efforts have increased in significance as they have become deeply involved in the electoral process – with an increasing number of political action committees (PACs), mass mailings, advertising campaigns, and litigation.
Media coverage of interest groups often focuses on the activities of powerful interest groups in finance, energy, and manufacturing. However, an oft-quoted statement is that the "special interest is us." In other words, we all benefit from interest-group activity in consumer protection, cleaner air, safer drinking water, and workplace safety. Are interest groups good and bad for democracy? Why or why not?
Read this text on interest groups. Do you belong to any interest groups?
Read this text on interest groups that emerge from collective action. What is disturbance theory? Can you think of a workable solution for the free rider problem in interest groups?
Read this text on interest group membership as a form of political participation. Is the pluralist or elite perspective more persuasive regarding interest groups and their influence?
Read this text on how interest groups influence policy. Have you ever contributed to a political action committee (PAC)?
Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.