POLS 207 1st Edition Lecture 14 Outline of Last Lecture I The Individual in Democratic Government Outline of Current Lecture II The Individual in Democratic Government A Factors Associated with Turnout B Voting Laws in Texas C Incumbency III Political Parties Interest Groups and the Idea of Competition a Organized Participation b Parties c Interest Groups d History of American Political Parties Current Lecture Factors associated with Turnout Socioeconomic status o Higher this is the higher the chance you ll vote o Education matters If you take people from the same education level than blacks will vote more than whites Because previously they were not allowed to vote this has increased their chances of turnout Interparty competition o High competition leads to high turnout Tradition Culture Legal requirements o Voting Rights Act Stops politicians racially gerrymandering o Registration Election issues Voting Laws in Texas White primary o Only white citizens could vote in primaries Poll tax o If you wanted to vote you had to pay tax o Discriminates against the poor Registration barriers o Grandfather clause if your grandfather did not vote you couldn t To stop former slaves voting o Literacy test Disenfranchise many hard test that was intended to stop people voting People often lie when they self report voting Incumbency They get re elected 90 95 of the time They have job security More likely to stay because they are the incumbent Incumbency The fact that being in office helps a person stay in office because of a variety of benefits that go with the position o Name recognition o Access to free media o Inside track on fund raising o District drawn to favor incumbent 1980 to 1990 an average of 95 percent of incumbents who sought reelection won their primary and general election races Candidates are also less likely to challenge a strong incumbent The turnout rate has no effect on the result in gubernatorial elections Turnout and Party Representativeness also has no relationship There is a moderate strong relationship between legislative competitiveness and electorate competitiveness At the moment the parties are competitive with a near 50 50 split in the legislature However the increasing minority population could change this Texas could turn blue if the Emerging Democratic Majority theory is correct It is not true already because minorities don t vote Chapter 7 Political Parties Pressure Groups and the Idea of Competition Organized participation Political parties Interest groups Parties Constituent function o Select candidates for office o Formal process governed by state and federal law o Support candidates for office Information function o Develop a program educate public o Set of beliefs nearly comprehensive o Policy goals programs for government Government function o Winners organize government o Legislatures caucus get committee assignments by party o Governor appoints supporters by party o Judges tend to vote together Parties are active during elections Interest Groups Constituent Function o Limited do not select candidates but do support candidates o Can support candidates during primary elections o Can and do support both contestants for same office o Support after election is common in Texas Information Function o Beliefs not necessarily comprehensive in scope o Limited policy preferences o Primary target is group members rather than entire public Government Function o Do not organize government o But do provide information and organize for specific policy specific goals Interest groups are active between elections Strong because of their money and organization Strength comes from members History of American Political Parties Ratifying the Constitution Federalist Anti Federalist disorganized rural Washington did not like parties because they divide people and take away loyalty from the country Civil War Republican North Democratic South Machine Politics Urban machine o Patronage Would give out money and houses in exchange for votes Democratic Party with no ties with DP o Localized democratic party with no real ties to the national Democrats New Deal Democrats The Great Depression led to an FDR win after Hoover did nothing to alleviate the economic woes Led to the country being Democratic o Congress controlled by Democrats etc
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