Chapter 7 Government 'Did You Think That...?'

It is just the opposite. Parties are decentralized and growing weaker in America.

They were suspicious of parties, viewing them as illegitimate factions. Neither the Federalist nor the Antifederalist party viewed political opposition as legitimate. Not until the 1830s and the rise of the Democratic and Whig parties was party competition for office routinized and legitimated as part of the American system.

Those who are likely to be chosen convention delegates—party activists—are more ideological or issue oriented than are the rank-and-file. Democratic delegates are more liberal and Republican delegates more conservative than party members. Paradoxically, the rule changes give activists more opportunity to make the party less representative of the sentiments of the rank-and-file.

On most issues, the differences between Democratic and Republican voters are not very large. Among party delegates, however, there are sharp differences on most issues, for reasons noted above. These differences often extend to party candidates as well.

Interest groups actually have very broad protection under the First Amendment.

Sponsored groups may act as surrogates. Other groups may join with sponsored groups in coalitions—a situation that occurred in the early stages of the civil rights movement. There are executive branch agencies and members of Congress who also may take up the banner for a politically unorganized group.

Money is probably one of the least effective ways for an interest group to advance its cause; passage of the campaign reform law in 1973 saw to that. More effective are activities that supply credible information to legislators and bureaucrats. Other important activities include the public support campaign, such as mail and telegram campaigns.

Such activities are hardly new in American history; they were among the favorite tactics of the American colonists seeking independence. Many other groups over the past two centuries have used protest and even violence to further their causes, including pro- and anti-labor groups and the Ku Klux Klan.