POLI SCI 104 Study Guide - Final Guide: Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster, Mootness, Culture War
30 Oct 2014
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Document Summary
Parties fit uneasily in the american mindset. Mobilize citizens into political process: educated and inform, deliver people to the polls, aggregate (bring together) a variety of interests, integrate new social groupings. Overview of third party (minor party) electoral strength: election victory not the only role, can introduce ideas into the campaign, can help voters shake old party loyalty, can pull some new voters into politics. 3rd party % of us house vote, 1866-2000. Percentage of us house districts with a minor party or independent candidate. Blow things out of proportion, build em, tear em down. Major party weakness: alienated minority (ignored issues, estranged minority (ignored preference, weak economic performance, weak candidates. Attractive third party-party candidates: name recognition, know how to run a campaign, savvy people. Weakening of usual constraints: ross perot plenty of finances. Some third-party loyalists: people willing to consider third parties, people that have already voted third party so might do it again.
