Chapter Summary

The decline of the power and influence of national parties and the rise of candidate-centered politics have made state and local governments increasingly responsible for administering elections and distributing political power. Because the two major parties enjoy more financial and popular support, third parties have had relatively little success at the federal and state level.

The candidate-centered nature of political campaigns has shifted the role of state parties to one that is more consultative and facilitative than in the past. Despite a decline in party machines across states, the degree of interparty competition within states remains high, as evidenced by the state legislative elections since 2002. From campaign finance regulation to the administration of state political primaries, state governments remain highly influential in the nomination process.

The trend toward professionalized campaigns has been intensified by the increasing prominence of interest groups in the legislative process. Interest group activity in the states has increased tremendously in the last fifty years. Although the American public tends to distrust them, interest groups fill important informational, mobilization, and financial roles in the political process.

Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter, you should understand:

• how political parties and interest groups differ
• the role of political parties at the state level
• regional and demographic variation in support of political parties
• the responsible party model
• the pros and cons of political machines
• the role of primary elections and the different types of primaries
• how the role of state and local political parties has changed
• the regulations concerning campaign finance
• why third parties have had relatively little electoral success in the United States
• the role of interest groups, which interest groups are the most influential, and the different types of interest groups