Parties and Elections in America

by Maisel, L. Sandy

• ISBN13: 9780847685493
• ISBN10: 0847685497
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-07-01
• Publisher: Univ Pr of Amer

Summary

Parties and Elections in America is a basic text covering all aspects of the electoral process from historical roots to election year 2000. The new edition is completely revised and up to date, including data from the 1996 presidential election, the 1996 and 1998 congressional and statewide elections, and the early phase of the 2000 presidential election. Examples are drawn from races throughout the nation, tables and figures illustrate important points, and the reference list is one of the most comprehensive and current of such compilations in contemporary studies of American government. Photos and cartoons round out the highly visual presentation.

The book combines the perspective of political science and the latest research with an outlook from the real world of politics. Each chapter opens with a contemporary campaign vignette, concludes with "A Politician's View", and incorporates many examples of practitioner politics in between.

Author Biography

L. Sandy Maisel is the William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor and chair of the department of political science at Colby College.

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Figures
Preface
Elections and Political Parties	1	(28)
An Examination of Elections in the United States	4	(6)
The Role of Elections in Democratic Theory	10	(3)
Modes of Elections	10	(1)
Direct Elections	10	(1)
Indirect Elections	11	(1)
Implications for Representation	11	(1)
Representatives' Perspectives	11	(1)
The Public's Perspective and the Role of Parties in Representation	11	(2)
Definitions of ``Political Party'' and ``Party Systems''	13	(9)
Politicians View the Party System	22	(5)
Websites	27	(1)
Key Concepts	27	(1)
Discussion Questions	27	(2)
The Development of American Political Parties	29	(36)
From Faction to Party	31	(2)
The First American Parties	33	(6)
Funding and Assumption	33	(1)
Continuing New Divisions	34	(1)
Organizing to Gain Supporters	35	(1)
The Elections of 1796 and 1800	36	(1)
Contributions of the First Party System	37	(1)
The Collapse of the First Party System	38	(1)
The Second Party System	39	(3)
The Election of 1824 and Its Aftermath	39	(1)
Electral Phases in the Second Party Period	40	(1)
Innovations of the Second Party Period	41	(1)
The Collapse of the Second Party System	42	(4)
Third Party System: Industralization over Politics	46	(2)
The Critical Election of 1896 and Republican Domination	48	(4)
The Critical Election of 1896	48	(1)
The Classification of Presidential Elections	49	(2)
The Progressive Era: A Systemic Change	51	(1)
The New Deal Coalition	52	(8)
Defining the New Deal Coalition	53	(1)
Changing Campaign Technology	54	(2)
The Shape of the Party System at the Century's End	56	(4)
Politicians View Political History	60	(2)
Websites	62	(1)
Key Concepts	63	(1)
Discussion Questions	63	(2)
Party Organization	65	(26)
The Organizational Framework	66	(2)
Local and County Organizations	68	(4)
State Party Organizations	72	(8)
The Age of Strong State Party Organizations	72	(2)
The Structure of State Committees	74	(1)
The Role of the State Party Chair	75	(2)
The Ascendancy of the State Party Headquarters	77	(3)
Party Organization at the National Level	80	(7)
The Structure of National Party Organizations	80	(1)
The National Committees	80	(3)
The ``Hill Committees''	83	(1)
The Enhanced Role of the National Party Organizations	83	(4)
Politicians View Party Organization	87	(2)
Websites	89	(1)
Key Concepts	89	(1)
Discussion Questions	89	(2)
Political Participation	91	(34)
Who Votes; Who Doesn't	93	(22)
Expansion of the Franchise	93	(1)
Property Requirements	94	(1)
Black Suffrage	94	(2)
Women's Suffrage	96	(3)
Lowering the Voting Age	99	(1)
Additional Regulations: Residency and Registration	100	(2)
Decline in Voter Participation	102	(3)
Voting by Blacks	105	(1)
Voting by Young Voters	106	(1)
Voting by Women	107	(1)
What Distinguishes Voters from Nonvoters?	108	(5)
Voters and Nonvoters Revisited	113	(2)
Participation in Politics in America	115	(4)
Politicians View Political Participants	119	(3)
Websites	122	(1)
Key Concepts	122	(1)
Discussion Questions	122	(3)
Theories of Voting Behavior	125	(32)
Voters in Presidential Elections	126	(14)
Models of Voting Behavior: The American Voter	126	(3)
Critics of The American Voter Model	129	(1)
Criticism by V. O. Key Jr. and His Followers	130	(4)
Criticism from Successors in the Michigan School	134	(5)
Presidential Voting Reviewed	139	(1)
Voters in Congressional and Senatorial Elections	140	(6)
Voting Behavior Theory Revisited	146	(4)
Politicians View Political Behavior Theory	150	(3)
Websites	153	(1)
Key Concepts	154	(1)
Discussion Questions	154	(3)
Organized Groups in the Political Process	157	(30)
Organized Groups in American Politics	160	(6)
Political and Nonpolitical Associations	160	(2)
Politically Active Groups	162	(1)
Economic or Noneconomic Interests	162	(2)
Multipurpose or Single-Purpose Groups	164	(1)
Federal or National Groups	165	(1)
Electoral Activities of Organized Groups	166	(12)
Working within the Party	167	(2)
Group Ratings	169	(3)
Political Action Committees	172	(6)
Interest Groups' Influence on Their Members	178	(3)
Politicians View Interest Groups	181	(3)
Websites	184	(1)
Key Concepts	184	(1)
Discussion Questions	184	(3)
State and Local Nominations	187	(32)
Political Context and Politicians' Decisions to Run	189	(2)
Common Views of the Nominating Process	191	(1)
Development of the Direct Primary System	192	(2)
Primaries as a Response to One-Party Domination	193	(1)
Primaries as an Item on the Progressive Agenda	193	(1)
Varieties of Primaries	194	(5)
Who May Run	195	(1)
Party Membership and Petition Requirements	195	(1)
The Role of Parties	196	(2)
Louisiana: An Exception	198	(1)
Cross-Filing: Another Exception to Party Allegiance	198	(1)
Who May Vote	199	(5)
Closed, Open, and Blanket Primaries	199	(2)
Theoretical Arguments Regarding Primary Voter Eligibility	201	(1)
Pragmatic Considerations Regarding Primary Voter Eligibility	202	(1)
Strategic Consequences of Different Primary Rules	202	(1)
Crossover Voting	203	(1)
Who Wins	204	(1)
Plurality Rule	204	(10)
Variations from Plurality Rule: Runoff Primaries	205	(5)
The Politics of Nominations	210	(1)
Uncontested Nominations	210	(1)
Contested Nominations	211	(1)
Incumbent Advantage	211	(1)
Contests without Incumbents	212	(2)
Politicians View the Nominating Process	214	(2)
Websites	216	(1)
Key Concepts	216	(1)
Discussion Questions	217	(2)
State and Local Elections	219	(46)
The Conventional Wisdom: Old versus New Politics	221	(1)
The New Politics: Campaigning in a Media Age	222	(19)
The Role of Political Parties	224	(3)
The Role of Organized Groups	227	(1)
Media Politics	228	(3)
The Candidate's Organization	231	(2)
The Structure of a Modern Campaign	233	(1)
Public Opinion Polling	234	(1)
Media Consultants	235	(1)
Fund-Raisers	236	(1)
Scheduling and Advance Work	237	(1)
Press Relations	238	(1)
Liaison to Party Organization and Organized Groups	239	(1)
Field Organizations	240	(1)
Old-Style Politics: A More Prominent Role for Parties	241	(3)
Reexamination of the Role of Political Parties	243	(1)
Local Campaigns in the Absence of Party	244	(1)
Do Campaigns Determine Who Win Elections?	244	(8)
Lack of Competition in American Elections	245	(1)
Incumbent Advantage in U.S. House and State Legislative Races	245	(2)
Competition in U.S. Senate and Gubernatorial Races	247	(1)
Credible Competition in American Elections	248	(4)
Third Parties in State and Local Elections	252	(4)
Politicians View the General Election	256	(6)
Websites	262	(1)
Key Concepts	262	(1)
Discussion Questions	262	(3)
Presidential Nominations	265	(54)
The Post-1968 Reforms	266	(14)
The McGovern-Fraser Commission	267	(2)
The 1972 Nomination	269	(2)
Continuing Reform of the Process	271	(1)
The Mikulski Commission	271	(1)
The 1976 Nomination: Strategies under the New Rules	271	(1)
The Winograd Commission	272	(2)
The 1980 Nomination and the Hunt Commission	274	(2)
The Fairness Commission and the 1988 Nominating Process	276	(2)
The Reform Movement: An Assessment	278	(2)
Nominations under the Current System: 1992 and 1996	280	(5)
The 1992 Nominations	280	(2)
The 1996 Nominations	282	(2)
Toward 2000	284	(1)
Strategic Considerations in the Contests for Nominations	285	(21)
The Political Calendar	286	(1)
Front-loading the System	286	(1)
Super Tuesday	287	(1)
Filing Deadlines	288	(1)
Strategic Implications of the Political Calendar	288	(1)
The Rules of the Game	289	(1)
Proportional Representation versus Winner-Take-All Systems	289	(2)
Superdelegates versus Influential Party Leaders	291	(1)
Strategic Use of Campaign Resources	292	(1)
Office	292	(1)
Money	292	(7)
The Media	299	(6)
Evaluating Nominating Campaigns	305	(1)
The Conventions	306	(9)
Credentials Challenges	307	(1)
Rules Disputes	308	(2)
Party Platforms	310	(2)
Vice Presidential Nominations	312	(2)
An Evaluation of the Conventions	314	(1)
Politicians View the Nominating Process	315	(2)
Websites	317	(1)
Key Concepts	317	(1)
Discussion Questions	317	(2)
Presidential Elections	319	(52)
From the Convention to the General Election	320	(2)
Organizing for the General Election	322	(20)
Structuring the Campaign Organization	322	(1)
The Campaign Headquarters	322	(1)
The National Committee	323	(3)
The Mobile Headquarters	326	(1)
Division and Integration of Authority and Responsibility	326	(2)
Functions of a Presidential Campaign Organization	328	(1)
Grassroots Politics	328	(2)
Staffing the Candidate's Plane	330	(1)
Staffing the Campaign Headquarters	331	(5)
Directing the Campaign Organization	336	(1)
The Inner Core	336	(3)
Expanding the Core	339	(1)
Co-opting the Losers	340	(1)
Setting a Campaign Strategy	341	(1)
Strategies for the General Election	342	(13)
Geographic Determinations	342	(3)
Coalition Strategies	345	(2)
Issue Strategies	347	(1)
Campaign Themes	347	(2)
Character as a Campaign Issue	349	(2)
The Issues Raised during a Campaign	351	(1)
The Strategic Use of Incumbency	352	(3)
Tactics for the General Election	355	(5)
Tactical Considerations of Where to Go	355	(1)
Tactical Considerations of Media Use	356	(1)
Tactical Considerations of Which Issues to Discuss	357	(1)
The Tactics of Presidential Debates	358	(2)
Third-Party Candidates in Presidential Elections	360	(6)
Politicians View the Campaigns	366	(2)
Websites	368	(1)
Key Concepts	368	(1)
Discussion Questions	369	(2)
Campaign Finance	371	(46)
The Climate for Reform	375	(1)
Campaign Finance Reforms of the 1970s	376	(5)
Historical Background	376	(1)
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971	377	(1)
The 1974 Amendments to the EFCA	378	(1)
Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1 (1976)	378	(1)
The 1976 FECA Amendments	379	(1)
Current Status of Key Issues	380	(1)
The Costs of Democracy	381	(5)
Federal Elections	381	(3)
State and Local Elections	384	(2)
Sources of Campaign Funds	386	(24)
Sources of Campaign Contributions	386	(6)
Individual Contributions	392	(4)
Political Action Committees	396	(2)
The Influence of PACs on Electoral Outcomes	398	(2)
The Influence of PACs on Legislative Outcomes	400	(1)
The Ideological Imbalance of Present and Future PACs	401	(1)
The Lack of Accountability for PAC Decision Making	402	(2)
PAC Influence: A Summary	404	(1)
Political Parties	405	(1)
Soft Money: The Newest Loophole to Be Closed	406	(1)
The Debate over Public Financing	407	(3)
Politicians View Campaign Financing	410	(3)
Websites	413	(1)
Key Concepts	414	(1)
Discussion Questions	414	(3)
The Media and the Electoral Process	417	(28)
The Media in the Contemporary Context	418	(2)
Free Media: Journalists' Presentations of Candidates and Campaigns	420	(13)
The Varieties of Free Media	420	(3)
The Role of the Free Media	423	(1)
Informed Consent of the Governed	423	(1)
Window on the Candidates	424	(1)
Referee between Candidates	425	(1)
The Actual Role That the Media Play	425	(1)
The Great Mentioner	426	(1)
Image Creator	426	(1)
Expectation Setter	427	(1)
Issue Identifier	428	(1)
Field Narrower	428	(1)
Campaign Critic	429	(1)
Documentor of Elections	430	(1)
An Assessment of the Role of Free Media	431	(1)
Why Do the Media Play the Roles They Do?	431	(1)
How Should We Evaluate That Role?	432	(1)
Paid Media: The Candidate Provides the Message	433	(7)
Types of Paid Media	433	(2)
Controversies Caused by the Use of Paid Media	435	(1)
Negative Advertising	435	(2)
Issue Advocacy Advertisements	437	(2)
Impact of Paid Media on Election Campaigns	439	(1)
Intended Consequences of Paid Media Campaigns	439	(1)
Unintended Consequences of Paid Media Campaigns	440	(1)
Politicians View the Media	440	(2)
Websites	442	(1)
Key Concepts	442	(1)
Discussion Questions	442	(3)
The Party in Government	445	(38)
The Concept of Party in Government	447	(3)
Party as the Organizing Element of the U.S. Congress	450	(20)
Organization of the House of Representatives	451	(1)
Republican Organization under Gingrich	451	(8)
The Democrats in the Minority	459	(5)
Party Leadership in the Senate	464	(1)
The Senate Republicans	465	(1)
The Senate Democrats	466	(3)
The Muted Role of Party Leaders	469	(1)
The Impact of Party on Congressional Behavior	470	(4)
The President as a Leader of Party in Government	474	(5)
The President as Leader of His Party in Congress	474	(1)
The Presidential Role in Setting the Parties' Agendas	474	(2)
Presidential Means of Working with Congress	476	(1)
The President as Party Leader in Congress: A Summary	477	(1)
The Role of Party in the President's Administration	478	(1)
Politicians View the Party in Government	479	(1)
Websites	480	(1)
Key Concepts	481	(1)
Discussion Questions	481	(2)
Conclusions: The Role of Political Parties at the Dawn of the Twenty-first Century	483	(18)
The Role of Elections	484	(9)
The Context of Federalism	484	(1)
Presidential Elections	485	(1)
Congressional Elections	486	(2)
State and Local Elections	488	(1)
Nonpartisan Politics	488	(1)
Voters and Elections	489	(1)
Television as a Source of Political Information	490	(1)
Television as a Source for Information about State and Local Issues	491	(1)
An Evaluation of the Electoral Process as a Means of Choosing Those Who Govern	492	(1)
The Role of Political Parties	493	(5)
The Parties in the Modern Election	493	(2)
Parties' Appeal to the Electorate	495	(2)
The Tone of Twenty-first Century Politics	497	(1)
Concluding Remarks	498	(3)
Notes	501	(20)
References	521	(44)
Index	565	(20)
About the Author	585