Figures, Tables, and Boxes -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- 1 CHAPTER Elections and Political Parties -- I. AN EXAMINATION OF ELECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES -- II. THE ROLE OF ELECTIONS IN DEMOCRATIC THEORY -- III. DEFINITIONS OF "POLITICAL PARTY" AND "PARTY SYSTEMS" -- IV. POLITICIANS VIEW THE PARTY SYSTEM -- 2 CHAPTER American Political Parties and Party Organization -- I. THE DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES -- II. THE MODERN PARTY ORGANIZATION -- III. POLITICIANS VIEW PARTY ORGANIZATION -- 3 CHAPTER Voting and Other Forms of Political Participation -- I. WHO VOTES -- WHO DOESN'T -- II. VOTERS IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS -- III. VOTERS IN CONGRESSIONAL, SENATORIAL, AND STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS -- IV. VOTING BEHAVIOR THEORY REVISITED -- V. PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS IN AMERICA -- VI. POLITICIANS VIEW POLITICAL PARTICIPATION -- 4 CHAPTER Organized Groups in the Political Process -- I. ORGANIZED GROUPS IN AMERICAN POLITICS -- II. ELECTORAL ACTIVITIES OF ORGANIZED GROUPS -- III. INTEREST GROUPS' INFLUENCE ON THEIR MEMBERS -- IV. POLITICIANS VIEW INTEREST GROUPS -- 5 CHAPTER Campaign Finance -- I. THE LONG HISTORY OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM -- II. THE SEVEN-YEAR BATTLE FOR MCCAIN-FEINGOLD AND ITS DEMISE -- III. THE COSTS OF DEMOCRACY AND WHO PAYS FOR IT -- IV. POLITICIANS VIEW CAMPAIGN FINANCE IN A POST-BCRA AND POST-CITIZENS UNITED WORLD -- 6 CHAPTER State and Local Nominations -- I. POLITICAL CONTEXT AND POLITICIANS' DECISIONS TO RUN -- II. DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIRECT PRIMARY SYSTEM -- III. VARIETIES OF PRIMARIES -- IV. THE POLITICS OF NOMINATIONS -- V. POLITICIANS VIEW THE NOMINATING PROCESS -- 7 CHAPTER State and Local Elections -- I. THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM: OLD VERSUS NEW POLITICS -- II. THE NEW POLITICS: CAMPAIGNING IN A MEDIA AGE -- III. OLD-STYLE POLITICS: A MORE PROMINENT ROLE FOR PARTIES.

IV. DO CAMPAIGNS DETERMINE WHO WINS ELECTIONS? -- V. THIRD PARTIES IN STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS -- VI. POLITICIANS VIEW THE GENERAL ELECTION -- 8 CHAPTER Presidential Nominations -- I. THE POST-1968 REFORMS -- II. TWENTY-FIRST-CENTURY PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS -- III. STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS IN THE CONTESTS FOR NOMINATIONS -- IV. THE CONVENTIONS -- V. POLITICIANS VIEW THE NOMINATING PROCESS -- 9 CHAPTER Presidential Elections -- I. FROM THE CONVENTION TO THE GENERAL ELECTION -- II. ORGANIZING FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION -- III. STRATEGIES FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION -- IV. TACTICS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION -- V. THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS -- VI. POLITICIANS VIEW THE CAMPAIGNS -- 10 CHAPTER The Media and the Electoral Process -- I. THE MEDIA IN THE CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT -- II. FREE MEDIA: JOURNALISTS' PRESENTATIONS OF CANDIDATES AND CAMPAIGNS -- III. PAID MEDIA: THE CANDIDATE PROVIDES THE MESSAGE -- IV. POLITICIANS VIEW THE MEDIA -- 11 CHAPTER Party in Government -- I. THEORETICAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT: IS STRONG PARTY GOVERNMENT POSSIBLE IN THE UNITED STATES? -- II. MEASURING PARTY STRENGTH IN CONGRESS -- III. PARTY ORGANIZATION IN CONGRESS: THE LEADERSHIP HIERARCHY IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE -- IV. THE PRESIDENT AS LEADER OF PARTY IN GOVERNMENT -- V. POLITICIANS VIEW PARTY IN GOVERNMENT -- 12 CHAPTER The Role of Political Parties -- I. THE ROLE OF ELECTIONS -- II. VOTERS, PARTIES AND ELECTIONS -- III. CONCLUDING REMARKS -- Notes -- References -- Credits -- About the Authors.