Term Paper on "Political Parties vs. Interest Groups"

Term Paper 7 pages (1766 words) Sources: 4 Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Political Parties and Interest Groups

This paper explores the history of the two main political groups in America and then compares them to interest groups. The writer examines the history of the Democratic Party and the Republican party and how interest groups help to support them. There were four sources used to complete this paper.

When young adults register to vote they are asked if they want to align themselves with a particular political party. The party they choose is supposed to be the one that most closely represents their own beliefs and views with regard to government actions.

There are several different political parties in America, but the two most powerful and popular parties are the Democratic and Republican parties. Each party has its own history, trends and beliefs and the political lines are firmly drawn in the legislative houses. In addition to established political parties the nation has interest groups that are formed in the hope that they can help promote and lobby for things that are important to the political parties. For a resident to become an informed member of society with regard to voting and political issues it is important that he or she has an understanding of the political parties, the interest groups and how they work.

Democratic Party

The Democratic Party actually got its start when Thomas Jefferson decided to form it so that he could try and fight against the goals of the elitist Federalist Party. He originally called it the Democratic-Republican Party (Democratic Party (http://www.democrats.org/a/party/history.html).

Jefferson believed at the time that those who supported the Federalists were judgmental elitists who wanted only to protect their own interests and didn't care about the rest of the nation.

The late Ron Brown, former Chairman of the Democratic Party, wrote, "The common thread of Democratic history, from Thomas Jefferson to Bill Clinton, has been an abiding faith in the judgment of hardworking American families, and a commitment to helping the excluded, the disenfranchised and the poor strengthen our nation by earning themselves a piece of the American Dream. We remember that this great land was sculpted by immigrants and slaves, their children and grandchildren (Democratic Party (http://www.democrats.org/a/party/history.html)."

Jefferson originally named it the party of the common man but it was changed to the Democratic Party in 1798. Jefferson was rewarded for his efforts when he was the first Democratic president elected in America in 1800.

He was able to serve two terms as president and then another Democrat; James Madison stepped into his shoes and led the nation.

The national convention process was the birth child of the Democratic Party and held the first Democratic National Convention in 1844(Democratic Party (http://www.democrats.org/a/party/history.html).

In 1848, the National Convention established the Democratic National Committee, now the longest running political organization in the world. The Convention charged the DNC with the responsibility of promoting "the Democratic cause" between the conventions and preparing for the next convention (Democratic Party (http://www.democrats.org/a/party/history.html)."

The Democratic Party has a reputation for wanting more government involvement by the way of government sponsored programs for the poor and government sponsored health benefits.

The Democratic Party web site has the following self description.

The Democratic Party is America's last, best hope to bridge the divisions of class, race, region, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation. We will succeed if we continue to govern by the same principles that have made America the greatest nation on earth -- the principles of strength, inclusion and opportunity. The Democratic Party is ready to take advantage of the opportunities we have and meet the challenges we face (Democratic Party (http://www.democrats.org/a/party/history.html)."

Republican Party

The Republican Party did not come into existence until 1850. It was formed by activists working against the institution of slavery. The first meeting of the Republican Party took place in Wisconsin and the members believed that the government should give land grants to those settling in the west (Republican Party (http://www.mcgop.net/History.htm).

Once the party became official a formal meeting was help in 1854 in Michigan at which time the name Republican was adopted. The name was chosen because the members believed that it mean equality (Republican Party (http://www.mcgop.net/History.htm).

In 1856, the Republicans became a national party when John C. Fremont was nominated for President under the slogan: "Free soil, free labor, free speech, free men, Fremont." Four years later, Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican to win the White House (Republican Party (http://www.mcgop.net/History.htm)."

Republicans were a significant influence in the establishment of the 13th amendment.

It is interesting to note that in recent years the Democratic party has held the reputation for being the champions of the underdogs, however, when the Republican Party was initially formed it not only provided support with regard to anti-slavery campaigns, it was instrumental in the fight to allow women to vote (Republican Party (http://www.mcgop.net/History.htm).

In 1896 the Republican Party was the first major body that publicly supported the women's suffrage movement.

The first woman elected to Congress was a Republican, Jeanette Rankin from Montana in 1917(Republican Party (http://www.mcgop.net/History.htm)."

American presidents from the last years of the 19th century and the first years of the 20th century were all Republicans.

Well known Republican presidents include:

President Eisenhower,

Nixon,

Ford,

Reagan

Bush.

It was under Republican leadership that the United States was able to attain the rank of Super Power and win the Cold War that had been against the Soviet Union for several decades (Republican Party (http://www.mcgop.net/History.htm).

While the Democratic Party is known for wanting the government to sponsor programs to assist Americans in need, the Republican Party has the reputation of wanting the government to stay out of American lives and stresses its belief that individuals should be making the decisions, not the government.

In 1874 the Republican Party adopted the elephant as its official symbol while the Democratic Party adopted the donkey (Republican Party (http://www.mcgop.net/History.htm).

The Republican Party sums up its beliefs with the following statement.

The freedom of Americans to make their own decisions, and to live their own lives, relatively free from governmental or other interference, has caused us to become a beacon of hope around the world. We are so blessed that we sometimes forget what others have suffered, and continue to suffer, in oppressive regimes around the world. In the words of Margaret Thatcher, "Those who know socialism best like it least." We, fortunately, have been spared the more severe strains of such tyrannies (Republican Party (http://www.mcgop.net/History.htm)."

Interest Groups

While the two major parties of the American political system are for the most part clearly divided and designed, interest groups are not so easily identified as to which party they support as they generally go to the party that agrees with them and has enough clout to make it happen (Interest Groups (http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0216125-00&templatename=/article/article.html).

Interest parties in the political sense can be defined as organized associations of individuals that have a common interest or share characteristics that can be represented before government officials (Interest Groups (http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0216125-00&templatename=/article/article.html).

Most people have heard of lobbyist and lobby groups. They are groups of individuals that work toward a common goal by approaching government officials for the purpose of convincing them to support and push their interests through the legislative process.

Interest groups therefore are linkage institutions, insofar as they aggregate and articulate the shared views of their supporters before policymakers. Interest groups can be found in any political system (Interest Groups (http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0216125-00&templatename=/article/article.html).In federated governments they may be active at the national, state, or local level (Interest Groups (http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0216125-00&templatename=/article/article.html).Some groups operate beyond the domestic environment and seek to influence decision makers at the international level (Interest Groups (http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0216125-00&templatename=/article/article.html).This involvement in many issues and at many levels makes interest groups a potentially pervasive political force (Interest Groups (http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0216125-00&templatename=/article/article.html)."

It is important to realize that social groups and interest groups are not the same. Social groups can create widespread public knowledge, while it is the interest group that brings those desires and ideas to the legislators themselves hoping to affect change through political vote (Interest Groups (http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0216125-00&templatename=/article/article.html).

Interest Groups vs. Political Parties.

When comparing interest groups to political parties the lines can become muddied because they are both connected to the representation of what the citizens want and desire.

The main difference between the two is the fact that political parties are held accountable not only to the voters but also to many laws and mandates with regard to what they can and cannot do. Interest parties are only held accountable to themselves and the people who support them.

Political parties exhibit three distinguishing features that set them apart from other linkage institutions: they seek to win elections or electoral positions, they reorganize around those periodic elections and then may become less active, and they depend on the local mobilization of voters who support political candidates but not necessarily the party organization. In contrast, interest groups are more issue oriented, are continuously maintained, and are dependent on supporters who identify with their organization Interest Groups (accessed 5-1-07)

http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0216125-00&templatename=/article/article.html."

In America, interest parties do not have any… READ MORE

How to Reference "Political Parties vs. Interest Groups" Term Paper in a Bibliography

Related Term Papers:

Political and Economic Prospects for the Third World Research Paper

Political and Economic Prospects for Pakistan and Syria

Main Elements of political prospects of Pakistan and Syria

General comparison: Syria and Pakistan

Level of political stability

Level of economic prosperity… read more

Research Paper 8 pages (2558 words) Sources: 8 Topic: Israel / Palestine / Arab World

---

Political Psychology Research Proposal

political psychology has always been, when framed in extreme terms, the extent to which political elites can and do manipulate the general public, as opposed to the extent to which… read more

Research Proposal 5 pages (1654 words) Sources: 0 Topic: Government / Politics

---

Political Science - International Relations Term Paper

Political Science - International Relations

The paper discusses the rationality of creating a social institution for Latin American countries, resembling the mechanisms of the European Union. This is because Brazil,… read more

Term Paper 10 pages (3157 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Latin America / Mexico / Caribbean

---

Public Schools Versus Private Term Paper

Public Schools vs. Private Schools

Literature Review (in Progress)

The Thomas B. Fordham Institute study results published in "Where Do Public School Teachers Send Their Kids to School?" (Doyle et… read more

Term Paper 17 pages (4609 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Education / Teaching / Learning

---

American Government Question One (Interest Groups) Term Paper

American Government

QUESTION ONE (Interest Groups): There are a number of political experts and observers who believe interest groups - or, according to Democracy Under Pressure (Cummings, 224-241), also called… read more

Term Paper 17 pages (5843 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Government / Politics

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>