Chapter Study OutlineIntroduction Show Political parties are teams of politicians, activists, and voters whose goal is to win control of government. To do so, parties perform essential tasks of recruiting and nominating candidates, garnering the resources needed to run campaigns, and pursuing a policy agenda that can help them appeal to voters. Although Americans tend to be suspicious of “party rule,” the Democratic and Republican parties are essential to the daily operation of government and the conduct of American democracy in elections. This two-party system helps to structure voters’ electoral choice and provide coordination to America’s otherwise divided and separated governing institutions. 1. Why Do Political Parties Form? What fundamental problems do political parties help politicians and voters overcome?
2. What Functions Do Parties Perform? Once formed, what are the essential functions that political parties perform in American democracy and governance?
3. Parties and the Electorate How and how well do political parties organize the electorate? What groups tend to identify with Democrats and Republicans, respectively?
4. Parties as Institutions How are contemporary political parties organized? What functions do they serve and what services do they offer to candidates?
5. Party Systems What is a “party system”? What have been the major “party systems” throughout American political history? What is the place of third parties in the American party system?
Where does most money for political campaigns come from?Contributions are the most common source of campaign support. A contribution is anything of value given, loaned or advanced to influence a federal election.
How do candidates get money for their campaigns?Under the Internal Revenue Code, qualified presidential candidates may opt to receive money from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, which is a fund on the books of the U.S. Treasury. The FEC administers the public funding program by determining which candidates are eligible to receive the funds.
How do politicians raise money for campaigns?Tactics for raising money may include direct mail solicitation, attempts to encourage supporters to contribute via the Internet, direct solicitation from the candidate, and events specifically for the purpose of fundraising, or other activities.
Who gives public subsidies to campaigns?Party subsidies or public funding of political parties are subsidies paid by the government directly to a political party to fund some or all of its political activities. Most democracies (in one way or the other) provide cash grants (state aid) from taxpayers' money, the general revenue fund, for party activity.
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