Unit 3: Political Parties, Interest Groups and Mass Media Political Parties
Political parties can be defined as "a team of men and women seeking to control the apparatus by gaining office in a constitutional election".
The parties have different tasks to follow.
Picking candidates- the person running for public office must be nominated and having the parties' endorsement.
Running campaigns-run campaigning through their local, state and national organizations; TV has helped in the last few years
Gives cue to the voters- they make sure the voters know what candidates are running for representation of the party
Parties articulate policies- each party has particular policies and groups that they support
Parties coordinate policymaking- involved in the other branches of government in helping out with policy ideas.
America is basically known as the two-party system (Democrats and Republicans), but third parties can influence voting changes.
A party's certain image whether they are conservative or liberal with shape people's party identification.
During elections, people can vote for one party for one office and for another party; which is also called ticket splitting.
Each party holds a national convention every four years to choose their nomination for president, vice president and to figure out their party platform
Interest Groups
Interest groups have similar goal with policies and they enter the political process to make their goals accomplished.
Political parties and interest groups tend to be thought of the same thing with people but they are widely different.
Political parties choose candidates for office while interest groups support them
Interest groups are policy specialists while political parties are policy generalist.
There are different theories when it comes to interest groups.
Pluralist theory, elite theory, hyperpluralist theory
Smaller interest groups are more likely to success and have their goals achieved than larger interest groups.
Larger groups usually fall to free-rider problem.
Interest groups use different tactics to make sure they get their issues know.
Lobbying, electioneering (which includes political action committees), litigation, appeal to public.
There are also many different types of interest groups.
Economic, Environmental, Equality, Consumer and public interests
Mass Media
The media has an important part in government whether using to shape their politcal agenda and campaigning during elections.
The mass media can be distriputed through newspaper, TV, radio and currently certain websites and TV channels, which leads to narrowcasting.
The news is known to be bias towards certain political parties or theories.
Political Parties
- Political parties can be defined as "a team of men and women seeking to control the apparatus by gaining office in a constitutional election".
- The parties have different tasks to follow.
- Picking candidates- the person running for public office must be nominated and having the parties' endorsement.
- Running campaigns-run campaigning through their local, state and national organizations; TV has helped in the last few years
- Gives cue to the voters- they make sure the voters know what candidates are running for representation of the party
- Parties articulate policies- each party has particular policies and groups that they support
- Parties coordinate policymaking- involved in the other branches of government in helping out with policy ideas.
- America is basically known as the two-party system (Democrats and Republicans), but third parties can influence voting changes.
- A party's certain image whether they are conservative or liberal with shape people's party identification.
- During elections, people can vote for one party for one office and for another party; which is also called ticket splitting.
- Each party holds a national convention every four years to choose their nomination for president, vice president and to figure out their party platform
Interest Groups- Interest groups have similar goal with policies and they enter the political process to make their goals accomplished.
- Political parties and interest groups tend to be thought of the same thing with people but they are widely different.
- Political parties choose candidates for office while interest groups support them
- Interest groups are policy specialists while political parties are policy generalist.
- There are different theories when it comes to interest groups.
- Pluralist theory, elite theory, hyperpluralist theory
- Smaller interest groups are more likely to success and have their goals achieved than larger interest groups.
- Larger groups usually fall to free-rider problem.
- Interest groups use different tactics to make sure they get their issues know.
- Lobbying, electioneering (which includes political action committees), litigation, appeal to public.
- There are also many different types of interest groups.
- Economic, Environmental, Equality, Consumer and public interests
Mass Media