POSC150 Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Campaign Finance In The United States
31 May 2018
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Ch 12: Political Parties
November 23, 2017
Political party: a group of citizens united by ideology and seeking control of government in
order to promote their ideas and policies
Political gridlock: the stalemate that occurs when political rivals, especially parties, refuse to
budge from their positions to achieve a compromise in the public interest
Why Political Parties?
The Role of Parties in a Democracy
● Only parties can seek to influence government policies by sponsoring candidates in
competitive elections
● Parties are crucial to the maintenance of democracy for three reasons:
○ Political linkage between voters and elected officials
○ Unification of a fragmented government
○ A voice for the opposition
●Party organization: the official structure that conducts the political business of parties
○ National party organization (top)
○ State party organization
○ Local party organization
○ Party members (bottom)
●Party-in-government: party members who have been elected to serve in government
○ Important role in organizing government and in translating the wishes of the
electorate into public policies
●Party-in-the-electorate: ordinary citizens who identify with the party
○Party identification: voter affiliation with a political party
○Party base: members of a political party who consistently vote for that party’s
candidates
The Responsible Party Model
●Responsible party model: party govt when four conditions are met-
○ Clear choice of ideologies
○ Candidates pledged to implement ideas
○ Party held accountable by voters
○ Party control over members
● Democracy is strengthened when voters are given clear alternatives and hold the parties
responsible for keeping their promises
● Doesn’t fit all systems
Do American Parties Offer Voters a Choice?
What Do the Parties Stand For?
● Party ideology
○ Hyper partisanship
Document Summary
Political party: a group of citizens united by ideology and seeking control of government in order to promote their ideas and policies. Political gridlock: the stalemate that occurs when political rivals, especially parties, refuse to budge from their positions to achieve a compromise in the public interest. Only parties can seek to influence government policies by sponsoring candidates in competitive elections. Parties are crucial to the maintenance of democracy for three reasons: Political linkage between voters and elected officials. Party organization: the official structure that conducts the political business of parties. Party-in-government: party members who have been elected to serve in government. Important role in organizing government and in translating the wishes of the electorate into public policies. Party-in-the-electorate: ordinary citizens who identify with the party. Party identification: voter affiliation with a political party. Party base: members of a political party who consistently vote for that party"s candidates. Responsible party model: party govt when four conditions are met-
