Unit 3: Political Parties, Campaigns, Elections, and Interest Groups
There are innumerable factors that impact the American governmental system, often making an already byzantine political process even more complex. In this unit, you will learn about campaigns, the electoral process and how political parties and interest groups shape the political landscape by influencing candidates and voters. You will first focus on the role of political parties (especially in elections), their historical development, and their effect on the political process. You will 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 prominence. Next, you will focus on interest groups, how they impact campaigns, candidates, and voters and can often entrench the system through aggressive issue advocacy and campaign contributions, which are directed to incumbents far more often than challengers, helping to maintain the political status quo.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 20 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- explain the roles, functions and structure of political parties;
- discuss the historical evolution of political parties from colonial times to the present;
- discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the US two-party system;
- explain the importance of party identification on voter preferences;
- explain the role of third parties in American elections;
- explain the presidential nominating system;
- compare and contrast the differences between presidential primaries and caucuses;
- explain how the Electoral College functions as a method of electing the president, including the arguments for and against the current system;
- assess the role of money in elections;
- analyze how the redistricting process functions to support incumbency;
- discuss the advantages of incumbency for candidates running for political office; and
- analyze the purpose, roles, and functions of interest groups and their impact on the electoral process.
3.1: Political Parties
3.1.1: What Are Political Parties and What is Their Role in Government?
Use these slides prepared by Dr. Scott as a reference when taking notes while watching the Political Parties lectures.
Read this chapter. 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.
3.1.2: Historical Development of Political Parties
Read this concise historic explanation of political parties in the American system of government. Political parties are not mentioned in the Constitution. In fact, the Founding Fathers were wary of "factions" that could undermine democracy. However, political parties developed soon after the Constitution was written, largely out of necessity. The same leaders who opposed parties also recognized the need to organize officeholders who shared views so that government could operate effectively.
Watch this presentation on the history and evolution of political parties in America.
3.1.3: Political Parties in the American Two-Party System Today
Watch this two-part presentation on the structure and functions of political parties.
Watch this video by Donald J. Green, author of Third-Party Matters: Politics, Presidents, and Third Parties in American History, where he discusses the evolution and impact of third parties on the US political system. Think about some of the reasons Green gives as to why third parties have had difficulty in gaining traction in national elections.
3.1.4: Political Parties and Party Identification
Watch this two-part presentation on party identification and national shifts in party control (realignment and dealignment) in the American political system. A person's loyalty to or preference for one political party is called party identification. When people identify with a party, they usually agree with the party's stance on a few major issues and give little weight to its stance on issues they consider minor or secondary. This presentation also discusses how some elections can serve as turning points that define the agenda of politics and the alignment of voters within parties during periods of historic change in the economy and society.
Checkpoint
- Receive a grade
Answer these ungraded questions to see how well you have understood the course material in this section.
3.2: Campaigns and Elections
Use these slides prepared by Dr. Scott as a reference for taking notes while watching the Campaigns and Elections, Elections, and Campaign Finance Reform lectures.
Read this chapter. Elections are crucial in a representative democracy like the United States. They enable people to choose their leaders and thereby influence public policy. They endow elected officials with legitimacy. There are two main types of elections: primary and general elections. Candidates from the same political party contest for the party's nomination in primary elections. Candidates from different parties run in the general election, which decides who will take office.
3.2.1: The History of Campaigns in the United States
Read this article about presidential campaigns and the ways that the use of the media has changed throughout American history. Think about how presidential campaigns have evolved throughout your own life.
3.2.2: Nominations – Presidential, Congressional, and State Nominations
Watch this video about the Iowa caucuses and how Iowa voters play an important role in nominating candidates for president. Historically, the Iowa caucuses have served as an early indication of which candidates for president might win the nomination of their political party at that party's national convention, and which ones could drop out for lack of support. Think about the criticism that the Iowa caucuses' role is too important in the early nominating process. Many believe that because its population does not reflect nationwide demographics, it should not be portrayed as an indicator of the types of voters that turn out in the general campaign.
Watch this video, which explains how the states choose their delegates for the national party conventions. While watching the video, think about how complicated the system is – was it designed this way for a purpose? Are these contests a useful measure of presidential fitness?
3.2.3: Elections – Presidential and Congressional
Watch these presentations to learn about the unique structure of congressional and presidential elections in the American political system.
Watch this video, which discusses the role of the Electoral College in presidential elections. While watching the video, think about the implications that the Electoral College has on the American democratic system. When Al Gore won the popular vote in the 2000 presidential election but did not become president, a national debate grew around the Electoral College system. Supporters of eliminating the Electoral College advocate a direct popular election of the president, which would give every voter the same weight in accordance with the "one-person, one-vote" doctrine. Opponents contend that this type of plan would undermine federalism and make presidential campaigns more remote from voters, as candidates might stress television and give up their forays into shopping centers and city malls.
Read this debate about whether or not the Electoral College should continue to play a role in selecting the American president. Which side – Ross Baker (pro) or Jamie Raskin (con) – do you think makes the more convincing argument? Why?
3.2.4: Campaigns – Context, Financing, and Strategy
Watch this presentation on the history and evolution of political parties in America.
Read each of these summaries about the role of money in politics. You may find some information surprising. The Center for Responsive Politics is the nation's premier research group tracking money in US politics and its effect on elections and public policy. It is a nonpartisan, independent nonprofit organization.
"Super PACs" have emerged as the dominant new force in campaign finance. Created in the aftermath of two landmark court decisions, these independent political action committees collect unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations and unions that they then spend to advocate for or against political candidates in the 2012 presidential race. John Dunbar of the Center for Public Integrity discusses who is behind these Super PACs and which candidates benefit most.
3.2.5: The Incumbency Advantage
Read this page, which offers charts on the financial advantages enjoyed by incumbents.
- Read this page, which offers charts on the historic re-election trends for members of Congress.
Read pages 1–71 to learn about redistricting – what it is, how it works, and why it matters. Unlike in many countries, the redistricting process in the United States is viewed as being overtly and acceptably political. Why do you think this is the case?
3.2.6: Campaigns and Elections in the Information Age
Read this section and watch the embedded videos. This section discusses the impact of new media on the electoral process, and how social media has created new opportunities for campaign engagement for political candidates and voters alike.
Checkpoint
- Receive a grade
Answer these ungraded questions to see how well you have understood the course material in this section.
3.3: Interest Groups
Use these slides prepared by Dr. Scott as a reference for taking notes while watching the Interest Groups lectures.
Read this chapter. Interest groups have long been important in electing and defeating candidates, in providing information to officeholders, and in setting the agenda of American politics. Americans have historically been concerned about the power of what some call special interests, and the tendency of groups to pursue self-interest at the expense of less organized groups or the general public. As this chapter shows, restraining the negative tendencies of interest groups while protecting liberty is not an easy task.
What we call interest groups today, the founders of the Republic called factions. For the framers of the Constitution, the foremost problem was how to establish a stable and orderly constitutional system that would also respect the liberty of free citizens and prevent the tyranny of the majority or a single dominant interest. Today, interest groups exist to make demands on government.
Interest groups vary widely. Some are formal associations or organizations, while others have no formal organization. Some are organized primarily to lobby for limited goals or to broadly influence public opinion by publishing reports and mass mailings. Interest groups can be categorized into several broad types.
For decades, interest groups have engaged in lobbying, but these efforts have become much more significant as groups become more deeply involved in the electoral process – especially through the expanded use of political action committees (PACs), mass mailings, advertising campaigns, and litigation.
Media coverage of interest groups usually 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", meaning that we are all beneficiaries of interest-group activity in the form of consumer protection, cleaner air, safer drinking water, and workplace safety. Is it perhaps more accurate to state that interest groups are both good and bad for democracy? Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
Checkpoint
- Receive a grade
Answer these ungraded questions to see how well you have understood the course material in this section.
Unit 3 Assessment
- Receive a grade
Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.
