Parties and Elections in America: The Electoral Process

Title Page
Copyright
Brief Contents
Contents
List of Figures and Tables
About the Authors
Preface
Acknowledgments
1 Elections and Political Parties
	An Examination of Elections in the United States
	The Role of Elections in Democratic Theory
		Modes of Elections
		Implications for Representation
	Definitions of “Political Party” and “Party Systems”
	Conclusion
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Key Terms
2 American Political Parties and Party Organization
	The Development of American Political Parties
		The First Party System
		The Second Party System
		The Third Party System
		The Fourth Party System
		The Fifth Party System
		A Sixth Party System—Yes, But Defined How?
	The Modern Party Organization
		Local and County Organizations
		State Party Organizations
		Party Organization at the National Level
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Key Terms
3 Voting and Other Forms of Political Participation
	Who Votes; Who Doesn’t
		Expansion of the Franchise
		Decline in Voter Participation
	Voters in Presidential Elections
		Models of Voting Behavior: The American Voter
		Critics of the American Voter Model
		Presidential Voting Reviewed
	Voters in Congressional, Senatorial, and State and Local Elections
	Voting Behavior Theory Revisited
	Voting in the Real World
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Key Terms
4 Organized Groups in the Political Process
	Organized Groups in American Politics
		Political and Nonpolitical Associations
		Politically Active Groups
	Electoral Activities of Organized Groups
		Working within the Party
		Group Ratings
		Political Action Committees
	Interest Groups’ Influence on their Members
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Key Terms
5 Campaign Finance
	The Long History of Campaign Finance Reform
		The Climate for Reform
		The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 and Efforts at Amendment
		Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1 (1976) and Its Impact
	The Seven-Year Battle for McCain-Feingold and Its Demise
	The Costs of Democracy and Who Pays for It
		The Costs
		Sources of Campaign Funds
	Campaign Finance in a Post–Citizens United and Post-McCutcheon World
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Key Terms
6 State and Local Nominations
	Political Context and Politicians’ Decisions to Run
	Development of the Direct Primary System
		Primaries as a Response to One-Party Domination
		Primaries as an Item on the Progressive Agenda
	Varieties of Primaries
		Who May Run
		Who May Vote
		Who Wins
	The Politics of Nominations
		Uncontested Nominations
		Contested Nominations
	Conclusion
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Key Terms
7 State and Local Elections
	The Conventional Wisdom: Old versus New Politics
	The New Politics: Campaigning in a Media Age
		Redistricting and Reapportionment
		The Role of Political Parties
		The Role of Organized Groups
		Media Politics
		The Candidate’s Personal Organization
		The Structure of a Modern Campaign
	Old-Style Politics: A More Prominent Role for Parties
		Reexamination of the Role of Political Parties
		Local Campaigns in the Absence of Party
	Do Campaigns Determine Who Wins Elections?
		Lack of Competition in American Elections
		Incumbent Advantage in US House and State Legislative Races
		Competition in US Senate and Gubernatorial Races
		Credible Competition in American Elections
	Third Parties in State and Local Elections
	Conclusion
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Key Terms
8 Presidential Nominations
	The Post-1968 Reforms
		The McGovern-Fraser Commission
		The 1972 Nomination
		The Reform Movement: An Assessment
	Twenty-First-Century Presidential Nominations
	Strategic Considerations in the Contests for Nominations
		The Political Calendar
		The Rules of the Game
		Strategic Use of Campaign Resources
		Evaluating Nominating Campaigns
	The Conventions
		Credentials Challenges
		Rules Disputes
		Party Platforms
		Vice Presidential Nominations
		An Evaluation of the Conventions
	The Presidential Nominating Process as It Stands
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Key Terms
9 Presidential Elections
	From the Convention to the General Election
	Organizing for the General Election
		Structuring the Campaign Organization
		Functions of a Presidential Campaign Organization
		Setting a Campaign Strategy
	Strategies for the General Election
		Geographic Determinations
		Coalition Strategies
		Issue Strategies
		The Strategic Use of Incumbency
	Tactics for the General Election
		Tactical Considerations of Where to Go
		Tactical Considerations of Media Use
		Tactical Considerations of Image Establishment
		The Tactics of Presidential Debates
	Third-Party Candidates in Presidential Elections
	The All-Consuming Nature of a Presidential Campaign
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Key Terms
10 The Media and the Electoral Process
	The Media in the Contemporary Context
	Free or Earned Media: Journalists’ Presentations of Candidates and Campaigns
		The Varieties of Free Media
		The Role of the Free/Earned Media
		The Actual Role That the Media Play
		An Assessment of the Role of Free Media
	Paid Media: The Candidate Provides the Message
		Types of Paid Media
		Controversies Caused by the Use of Paid Media
		Impact of Paid Media on Election Campaigns
	An Uneasy yet Necessary Relationship in Transition
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Key Terms
11 Party in Government
	Theoretical and Historical Context: Is Strong Party Government Possible in the United States?
	Measuring Party Strength in Congress
	Party Organization in Congress: The Leadership Hierarchy in the House and Senate
		House Leadership
		Senate Leadership
	The President as Leader of Party in Government
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Key Terms
12 The Role of Political Parties
	The Role of Elections
		The Context of Federalism
	Voters, Parties, and Elections
		The Electronic Revolution: Television and Digital Media
		The Parties in the Modern Election
		Parties’ Appeal to the Electorate
		The Tone of Twenty-First-Century Politics
	Concluding Remarks
	Critical Thinking Questions
Glossary
References
Credits
Index