Download Political Parties / Interest Groups and Lobbyists

Chapter 4: We – the people
Politics in the United States:
Political Parties
Interest Groups and Lobbyists
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2008
Political Parties – The Electoral
System
 Elections are in single-seat districts
 Elections are won by a plurality of votes
 The system forces parties to make
coalitions before the election
 The system discourages sharp ideological
profiles
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2008
Political Parties – The Two Major
Parties
 Democrats support an active federal
government and wish to use it
 Democrats have support on the coasts,
in cities, and among the working class
and minorities
 Republicans support ”states’ rights” and
want a small federal government
 Republicans have support is suburbs,
rural states, the south and among
businesspeople
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2008
Political Parties – Advantages and
Disadvantages
 The two party system
government
 The two party system
consensus politics
 The two party system
citizens’ votes
 The two party system
and movements
assures stable
encourages
wastes many
blocks new ideas
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©
2008
C.1 Interest Groups and Lobbyists –
Aims and Means
 Interest groups are a way of influencing
the political process in America
 They can be more straightforward,
aggressive and ideological than parties
 PACs are Political Action Committees
promoting political causes
 Lobbyists are professional political
operatives who influence politicians
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©
2008
Interest Groups and Lobbyists –
Advantages and Disadvantages
 Citizens who are politically active through
interest groups are good for democracy
 It is good that citizens use their freedom
of speech and assembly
 It is worrying that political parties may
be undermined
 It is worrying that politicians may end up
representing special interests, not voters
http://access.cappelen.no
©
2008