Linkage Institutions

divided government

occurs when one party controls the executive branch while another party controls one or both chambers of the legislative branch. this situation can lead to challenges in passing legislation, as the differing priorities and agendas of the parties may result in gridlock

gridlock

a situation in which the legislative process is stalled due to the inability of lawmakers to reach an agreement on policy decisions

linkage institutions

structures within a political system that connect citizens to their government, facilitating communication and participation in the political process

third parties

political organizations that operate alongside the dominant two parties in a political system, typically representing alternative ideologies and interest

proportional representation

an electoral system in which seats in a legislative body are allocated based on the proportion of votes each political party receives

elite theory

a political theory that suggests a small group of elites holds the majority of power and influence in society, often overshadowing the general population in decision-making processes

unified government

when one political party controls both the executive branch and the legislative branch of government

winner-take-all-system

an electoral process where the candidate who receives the most votes in a particular state wins all of that state's electoral votes

pluralist theory

a political theory that suggests that multiple groups, interests, and factions compete for power and influence in a democratic society

PACs

organizations that raise and spend money to elect or defeat political candidates, primarily at the federal and state levels, fund campaigns and influence political outcomes

labor unions

organized groups of workers who come together to collectively negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions with employers

lobbying

the process by which individuals or groups, often organized as interest groups, attempt to influence government decision-making and policy outcomes

revolving door

the practice of individuals moving back and forth between positions in the private sector and government, often leveraging their connections and expertise gained in one domain to influence decision-making in the other

“fourth branch”

the federal bureaucracy, which is a collection of government agencies responsible for implementing laws and policies, often considered to have significant influence despite technically being part of the executive branch

slant

presenting news or information in a biased or unfair way, often to favor a particular political party, ideology, or candidate

priming

a process of preparing the public to take a particular view of an event or a political actor

framing

the process of presenting an issue or event in a specific way, using language and context, to influence how the public perceives and understands it

filtering

the process by which algorithms or individuals selectively prioritize or suppress information, often leading to echo chambers and biased perspectives

media consolidation

the trend of fewer companies controlling a larger share of the media landscape, potentially leading to concerns about diversity of opinion and potential bias

polarization

the growing divide in public opinion, beliefs, and political attitudes, leading to extreme differences between groups

freedom of the press

the right of individuals to express opinions and disseminate information through various media without government interference or censorship