POLSCI 101 Lecture Notes - Campaign Finance In The United States, Political Action Committee, Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
Document Summary
Pie - the extent or power of partisan loyalty in the electorate. Historic rise of citizens who identify as independent rather than as a republican or democrat. Decline in partisan identification is reflected by alienation. More educated people (college) are less reliant upon a political. For much of media history, media focused on political parties. Now media is candidate centered - not party centered. Increase of independent voters is an illusion . Individuals who identify as independent lean to one party over another. Between 50-75% of independent voters admit to leaning toward. Evidence of increase in strength of partisan identification - party polarization and identification. Democrats only vote for democrats, republicans only vote for. Second way of understanding parties - parties in the government pig . The ability of party leaders to direct both of the everyday workings of congress and and the behavior of rank and file members in electoral office to follow and implement party policies and directives.
