AP Government Unit 5

Linkage institutions

organizations that translate inputs from the public into outputs from the policymakers

3 Indirect linkage institutions

parties, interest groups, media

Party competition

battle between Democrats and Republicans for control of public office, this creates a democracy because it creates a choice

Goal of Parties

Endorse candidates for public office, WIN

Party in the electorate

people in general public, voters who identify with a party

Party as an organization

people who work for the party, leaders, campaign officials

Party in the government

elected officials who identify as a party, e.g. president

Tasks of linkage institutions

pick policymakers, run/coordinate campaigns, give cues to voters, articulate policies, coordinate policymaking

Party Identification

self-proclaimed preference for one party, influences voter choice

Ticket Splitting

voting for both parties on a ballot

Straight Ticket Voting

voting one party on a ballot

Divided Government

different party in Congress compared to the President

Likely Republican voters

higher income/affluence, college grads, older voters, protestants, suburban areas, smaller cities, southeast

Likely Democratic Voters

lower income, lower education, women , younger voters, Catholics (changing), Jews, Asians, African Americans, large cities, northeast and west coast

Party Organizations

party activists who keep party running between elections and make party rules, decentralized and fragmented

National Convention

Prepare, every four years, write party platform, nominate candidates for Pres and VPres

Officeholders

those who identify with party and hold elective/appointed offices in all three branches and levels of government

Critical elections

new issues appeared that divided the electorate and party coalitions underwent realignment

Party Era 1796-1824

The first party system

Party Era 1828-1856

Jackson and the Democrats vs the Whigs

Party Era 1860-1928

The Republican Era

Party Era 1932-1964

The New Deal Coalition

Party Era 1968-Present

The Era of Divided Government

Reasons for 2 Party system

historical, force of tradition, electoral system ,american ideological consensus

Splinter parties

offshoots of a major party

Importance of 3rd Parties

can tip college vote, brought new groups into electorate, safety valves for popular discontent, brought new issues to the political agenda, innovator

Consequences of the 2 party system

Moderation of political conflict, winner take all system, proportional representation problems

Interest Group

organization of people with similar policy goals that tries to influence the political process to achieve those goals

What do interest groups try to influence?

Every branch and every level of government

Iron triangles

composed of key interest groups interested in a particular policy, the government agency in charge of administering the policy, and the members of congressional committees/subcommittees handling the policy

Arrangement of Iron triangle

Factors that influence success of interest groups

size, intensity, financial resources

Free-rider problem

when potential members decide not to join, but sit back and let others do the work from which they will still benefit

Single issue group

has narrow interest, dislikes compromise, and single-mindedly pursues its goal at the expense of other goals

Interest group goal

to shape policy

Strategies of interest group to reach goal

lobbying, electioneering, litigation, appeal to public for widespread support

Lobbying

interest groups that directly influence

Lobbyist

political persuaders who are reps of organized groups

How do lobbyists help congresspeople

source of info, help with political strategy, formulate campaign strategy, source of ideas and innovation

Political Action Committees (PACs)

provide a means for groups to participate in electioneering

Amicus curiae briefs

"Friend of the court"; written arguments submitted to the courts in support of one side of a case

4 main policy areas

economic issues, environmental issues, equality issues, interest of all consumers issues

Economic groups

concerned with wages, prices and profits

Labor groups

union workers in a specific group

Business groups

support the right to work laws

Right to work laws

outlaw union membership as condition of employment

Equality interests

equal rights for women and minorities

The only guarantee for equal protection of women in constitution

19th Amendment

Public interest lobbies

represent groups that champion causes or ideas in the public interest

Madison's solution to problem in Federalist 10

create an open system in which many groups would be able to participate; groups with opposing interests would counterbalance each other

Mass media

reaches out and profoundly influence not only the elites but the masses

Investigative journalism

use of detective like reporting methods to unearth scandals

Federal Communications Commission

regulates the use of airwaves

Narrowcasting

stations target narrow audiences; bias

Reporting the news

a business in America in which profits shape how journalists decide what is newsworthy, where they get their information from, and how they present it

Trial balloons

info leaked to see what political reaction would be

Political neutrality

limiting an expression of views in the workplace

Talking head

shot of person's face talking directly to camera

Political Activists

depend heavily on the media to get their ideas placed on the government agenda

Media

key linkage institution between people and policymakers

Watchdog function

helps keep government small; expose scandals and intrigues people

Gate keeper

what is news and for how long; sets and swings political agenda

Agenda setter

activists depend on media to get ideas on political agenda

Scorekeeper

who is winning/losing and by how much; horserace

Media functions

gate keeper, agenda setter, scorekeeper, watchdog