Seth Warren Heath

 

Exam 2 Notes

 

Pol Sc 220

 

Political Parties

 A group of people w/ similar interest and a desire to contact voting blocks.

 

Organization

  1. Distribution of internal authority – Hierarchal or Democratic

Iron Law of Oligarchy

a. Division of labor

  1. Membership Commitment – Allot of commitment or a little
  2. Candidate Selection – Total ability to select or a little
  3. Finance – Independently financed or is it dependent on an outside source

 

Party System –

  1. Monopolies – One party dominated the whole system, no other parties are allowed.
  2. Two Party Systems – One of two parties will always have power and control. There may be minor parties but they really have very little chance of gaining power.
  3. Multiparty – In this system, usually a PR, there are multiple parties and in order for anything to get done in Govt. the parties must work together.

 

Determinates of Party Systems – This is most often determined by the type of election system that is used. In a SMDP the two party system is predominate, in the PR system the multiparty is and in a single party/monopoly system only one party is even allowed.

 

Party Agendas – Is the policy of the party more left/liberal or right/conservative.

 

Economic theory of democracy states that parties will lean towards the middle during election years.

 

Interest Groups

A group or organization with the intention of pushing for certain types of public policy.

 

Types –

    1. Sectoral Groups – Unions
    2. Institutional Groups – University
    3. Promotional Groups – Ideological or Single Issue

 

Resources – Memberships ΰ the more the better. Members that are celebrities enable the group to seem more legitimate. When people don’t join the group but benefit from the actions of the group they are termed a free rider.

 

Tactics – Boycotts, Strikes, Demonstrations, Rallies, Advertising, Promotions, Sit Ins

 

Interest Group System –

  1. Pluralism – Many groups are competing to influence the outcome of public policy.
  2. Corporatism – (Neo Liberal) ΰ Advisory groups that advise the Govt. on creating policy. These groups are encouraged by Govt.
  3. Westminster politics – 2 party – SMDP – Pluralist

 

Media

 

Types – Print, TV, Radio, Internet

  1. Quality – Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Journal
  2. Tabloid – NY Post, Enquirer
  3. Monopoly – Is it the only resource for information in the town
  4. Ownership – Government or Private

 

What’s the role of the media –?

  1. Guiding Principles: Who determines what gets out. What is it? Truth, Equity
  2. Information vs. Shaping the Agenda: What kind of info. Shapes the agenda
  3. Watchdog vs. Public Order: How and what to report

 

How well does it perform its role –?

  1. Truth: How truthful and non-biased
  2. Sensation: How much to cater to sensationalism.
  3. Security: Balance between disclosure and security.

 

Relationship to Govt. –

  1. Partisanship: How outwardly non-partisan
  2. Govt. Control: Spin and censorship

 

Legislatures

 

Parliamentary

 

Bicameral – Unicameral

 

Bicameral – Division of labor

 

Transformative legislature

 

Arena Legislature

 

How effective depends on party discipline

 

Development of the committee system

 

Assessment o the representation

 

Trustee – Votes according to conscience

 

Delegate – From the people

 

Presidential system – regular election – separation of powers

 

Parliamentary system – Irregular elections – fusion of powers

 

Executives

 

Head of state and head of government

 

Function

 

Power

 

Selection

 

Legislatures

 

Characteristics

 

Functions – lawmaking and representation

 

Linking Exec. And Legislature

 

Parliamentary systems described and assessed

 

                        H of S              H of G

US                   Bush                 Bush

UK                  Queen              Blair

Russia              Putin                 Kasyonov

India                 Narayan           Vajpanee

 

Who applies and makes the laws?

 

What enables a leader to function?

 

What is the path to power?

 

English System

 

Nation and State and United Kingdom

 

Constitution

            Unwritten

            Parliamentary

            Unitary

 

Executive

            PM – Cabinet

            Ministerial Responsibility

 

Legislature

            Bicameral

            Cabinet Controlled of Legislature

            Parliamentary scrutiny of executive

 

Elections

 

Parties and groups

 

Asymmetrical bicameralism – One house is stronger then the other

 

Cabinet members are almost always members of the House of Commons

 

Interior minister responsibilities – policy – personal

 

Collective responsibility – Present a unified face.

 

Top person in a cabinet is the permanent secretary

 

Acentric bicameral – HoL primarily delays

 

Select committee reports

 

Elections

 

Parties

 

Conservatives – Liberals _ Liberal Dems.

 

Groups

 

T.U.C. – Trades Union Congress

 

C.B.I. – Confederation of British Industry