POL 1101H Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Silent Majority, Amicus Curiae, Barry Goldwater
24 Sep 2016
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Political parties: an organization that seeks political power by electing people to office so that its positions and philosophy become public policy. Play an important role in organizing elections, simplifying choices for voters, and helping elect people who will help their party"s positions and philosophy become public policy. Parties exist as an organizing mechanism to win elections and win control of government: they recruit, nominate candidates, register, and activate voters, raise money for candidates. If voters disagree with the party"s stand on one issue, they will still support the party because voters will agree on other issues the goal. Political parties important when organizing state and national governments. Congress organized along party lines: the party with the most votes in each chamber elects the officers of that chamber. The american system is candidate centered; politicians are nominated on the basis of their qualifications and personal appeal, not party loyalty.
