What is political culture?

1. A shared body of values and beliefs

2.  Shapes perception and attitudes toward politics

3. Influences political behavior

How do citizens perceive the legitimacy of their government?

If they agree on common values.

What are some common values?

Rights of citizenship -- voting, First Amendment rights.

Obligations of citizenship --  obeying the law.

Rules for participation -- who may vote, requirements for office.

What is socialization?

Process where we derive beliefs and opinions through.

What are some modes of socialization?

• Family
• Schools
• Churches
• Peers
• Media *

Why is media one of the most important forms of socialization for politics?

News is delivered as a story, within a context, with a meaning assigned, and with possible outcomes considered.

What are 4 aspects of news in Media?

1. Driven by economic interests.
2. Needs to capture and hold an audience.
3. Designed to elicit an emotional response from the audience.
4. Sensationalized and negative news.

What is the most influential source in Media?

Television.

What is a major political aspect of media?

Much of our information comes from the media, giving it the capacity to set a political agenda.

What are 4 reasons the US has a two-party system?

1. Cultural consensus
2. Electoral rules
3. Restrictions on minor parties
4. Media ignores minor parties.

What 3 factors contribute towards Cultural Consensus?

1. Core Values
2. Central Policy - the tendency to cluster around the center of most policy issues.
3. Historical Precedents - concept of two party system has been reinforced and accepted through custom. US's first parties were federalist and anti-federalist.

What are US Electoral Rules?

US has "Winner-take-all"

• single member districts.
• each district elects on person to office on the basis of who won the most votes.
• discourages minority efforts.
• from voter's POV minor party a wasted vote.

What are restriction on minor parties?

Ballot Access - minor parties must meet various requirements in each state. E.g. obtain a petition signed by x amount of voters then win x amount of votes in any given election.

Public Funding - only partial federal funds given to minor parties based on candidates' share of popular vote. candidate must receive 5% vote in general election to be eligible.

• Media ignores them 

What is a political party?

An intermediary organization that operates between the electorate and the government with the goal of getting their members elected to office.

Who is in the party in the electorate?

Any individual who claims party affiliation.

Who is in the party in the government?

Elected officials and the party they represent.

Who is in the party in the organization?

Structure of the organization itself, including precinct chairs, county chairs, state committee members.

Links the party and the electorate to the party and government.

What are some types of minor parties?

Ideological parties

Protest parties

Single-issue parties

Splinter parties

What is an Ideological party?

Exist to promote an ideology

e.g. Libertarians

What is a Protest party?

Arise around popular issues or concerns that major parties fail to address.

e.g. Populist party (farmers v. RR monopolies)

What is a Single-issue party?

Form around a particular cause, narrow in policy focus (more than protest party)

e.g. Green Party

What is a Splinter party?

Formed by disgruntled faction of major party.

e.g. Dixiecrats split from democrats b/c of their stance on civil rights

What are interest groups?

Intermediary organization composed of individuals with a common interest. Provide the basis for the individuals' actions in relation to government. Goal is to influence governmental policy.

Why do interest groups form?

• To protect their economic interests. e.g. business organizations
• To advance social movements. e.g. NAACP
• To request or respond to government regulation. e.g. Sierra Club

What type of interest group is the most numerous?

Business and trade organizations.

How do interest groups operate?

Direct/Indirect lobbying.

What is Direct Lobbying?

• Public Relations - efforts to promote interests not only in government but in the public mainstream by advertising.

• Access to government officials

• Information -  lobbyist testify as experts at hearings. Often insiders/ex-legislatures.

What is Indirect Lobbying?

• Grassroots Mobilization - efforts to mobilize people to write letters and make calls etc. Molds public opinion. e.g. AARP very successful at this.

• Coalition Building - interest groups seek to form coalition with similar minded interest groups to strengthen their position. 

 Stereotype of a liberal democrat

Optimistic view of human nature

Favor change

Supportive of civil rights

Favor regulation

Stereotype of a conservative republican

Status quo

Traditional values

Public order - stiffer penalties for crimes

Free market

Define Public Policy

Government action or inaction.

• regulates behavior
• distributes benefits
• organizes bureaucracies
• extracts taxes 

What are the 7 steps of Policy formation?

1. Problem identification - recognition of a problem. Interpretation of it.
2. Agenda building - public agenda, public knows about issue, govt. decides to take action.
3. Policy Formulation - RCA.
4. Policy Adoption
5. Budgeting
6. Policy Implementation
7. Policy Evaluation - GAP, oversight.

What are the types of policy formulation?

                               RCA

Routine formulation - adjusting a well-established program. 

Creative formulation - coming up with a completely new program.

Analogous formulation - copy a good working policy structure to a new program. 

How does policy adoption work?

Authorization - sets up the program

Appropriation - sets up funding for program.

needs both to be adopted.

What are some implementation techniques?

Incentive - you receive a benefit for acting within the policy.

Compulsory - penalizes if you do not comply.

Hortatory - appeals to one's better nature. "Dont mess w/ texas".

Capacity - relies on one's ability to do.

What are the first 3 articles of the constitution about?

Article I - legislature (enumerated powers, elastic clause)

Article II - executive (roles as chief etc.)

Article III -  judiciary (supremacy clause, created one supreme court and has power to review laws.) Active in policy.

Why is public policy difficult?

limited power

problem not easily definable

subjective

we are in a complex society

Theoretical models:

Institutional

those serving in government that make policy.

Theoretical Models:

Process

System in motion through which policy is made.

Theoretical Models:

Rational

related to cost/benefit analysis

Theoretical Models:

Incremental

have something already going, making small incremental changes to it along the way.

Theoretical Models:

Group

influences of interest groups (coalitions) acting to make policy.

Theoretical Models:

Elite

Top of society makes the policy. e.g. foreign policy.

Theoretical Models:

Public

general population has hand in policy

Theoretical Models:

game theory

we are interacting system; within that you are seeking best possible outcomes for your system.

Define Federalism

Constitutional division b/t the nation and the state.

Why is federalism important?

• protection of liberty
• decentralization
• increases participation
• improves efficiency
• ensures policy responsiveness
• encourages policy innovation
• manages conflict 

As nation grew and matured, unexpected things happened when we had to do something differently.

Transfer of money from federal to state level.

Is seen as Grants in Aid to the states. These can have strings attached and can be seen as coercive.

Newsmaking - agenda setting

Interpreting

Socializing

Persuading

Public opinion - indirect lobbying

congress - direct lobbying

Courts - Amicus Curiae, legal statement designed to influence the court's opinion.

An idea of where that candidate stands on the issues.

To get their members elected to office.