AP Review - Linkage Institutions

linkage institution

The channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

caucus

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.

primary

A ballot vote in which citizens select a party's nominee for the general election.

open primary

A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place

closed primary

A primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote

blanket primary

a primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties

battleground state

States in which the outcome of an election is too close to call and either candidate could win

retrospective voting

voting for a candidate because you like his or her past actions in office

prospective voting

voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas for handling issues

valence issue

an issue about which the public is united and rival candidates or political parties adopt similar positions in hopes that each will be thought to best represent those widely shared beliefs

position issue

an issue about which the public is divided and rival candidates or political parties adopt different policy positions

Federal Election Campaign Act

A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created the Federal Election Commission (FEC), provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections, limited presidential campaign spending, required disclosure, and attempted to limit contributions.

Citizens United v. FEC

A 2010 decision by the United States Supreme Court holding that independent expenditures are free speech protected by the 1st Amendment and so cannot be limited by federal law. Leads to creation of SuperPACs & massive rise in amount of third party electioneering (Citizens for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow)

independent expenditure

Money spent on ads not sponsored by a candidate or party

individual contribution

Individuals can pay $2,600 to a canidate, $25,000 to a national party, and $5,000 to a PAC

political action committee

committee formed by a special-interest group to raise money for their favorite political candidates

super pac

a type of independent political action committee which may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals but is not permitted to contribute to or coordinate directly with parties or candidates.

501(c) groups

Groups that are exempted from reporting their contributions and can receive unlimited contributions. Section 501c of the tax code specifies that such groups cannot spend more than half their funds on political activities.

Federal Elections Commission

A six member bipartisan agency that administers campaign finance laws and enforces compliance with their requirements.

dark money

political money where the donors of the money do not have to be disclosed

front loading

The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention.

incumbent

the current officeholder

incumbency advantage

the electoral edge afforded to those already in office

gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

coattails

The tendency of lesser-known or weaker candidates to profit in an election by the presence on the ticket of a more popular candidate

soft money

Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.

hard money

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed.

527 organizations

Organizations that, under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, raise and spend money to advance political causes

interest groups

private organizations whose members share certain views and work to shape public policy

lobbyist

A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.

institutional interest

Individuals or organizations representing other organizations

membership interest

interest groups made up of those who join voluntarily

free rider problem

For a group, the problem of people not joining because they can benefit from the group's activities without joining.

solidary incentive

the social rewards (sense of pleasure, status, or companionship) that lead people to join political organizations

material incentive

Something tangible, such as money or services, which attracts people to join mass-membership organizations.

ideological incentive

political organizations that attract members by appealing to their political convictions or principles

purposive incentive

a benefit that comes from serving a cause or principle

public interest group

an organization that seeks a collective good that will not selectively and materially benefit group members

social movement

a widely shared demand for change in some aspect of the social or political order

feminist movement

A social movement whose members advocate equality between men and women in rights and opportunities.

union movement

Workers of the US united and formed groups.

environmental movement

a social movement organized around concerns about the relationship between humans and the environment

AARP

American Association of Retired Persons; Nationwide organization for people over 50 that offers discount drug purchases, health & auto insurance, publications, & other activities

ACLU

The American Civil Liberties Union. It defends and preserves the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.

endorsement

an act of giving one's public approval or support to someone or something

grassroots lobbying

Efforts by groups and associations to influence elected officials indirectly, by arousing their constituents.

revolving door

Employment cycle in which individuals who work for governmental agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern.

civil disobedience

A form of political participation that reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences.

NRA

National Rifle Association - an organization fighting for 2nd amendment rights

NAACP

Interracial organization founded in 1909 to abolish segregation and discrimination and to achieve political and civil rights for African Americans.

watchdog

The role played by the national media in investigating political personalities and exposing scandals.

muckraker

a journalist who uncovers abuses and corruption in a society

trial balloon

Information leaked to the media to test public reaction to a possible policy

electronic media

Television, radio, and the Internet, as compared with print media.

Federal Communications Commission

Federal agency that regulates the radio, television, wire, satellite and cable communications.

agenda setting

Determining which public-policy questions will be debated or considered.

gatekeeping

The process by which a small number of people/corporations control what info is presented to the media

horse-race journalism

Election coverage by the mass media that focuses on which candidate is ahead rather than on national issues.

yellow journalism

Journalism that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers

framing

the way an issue is posed; how an issue is framed can significantly affect decisions and judgments.

bias

A particular preference or point of view that is personal, rather than scientific.

adversarial press

the tendency of the national media to be suspicious of officials and eager to reveal unflattering stories about them

equal time rule

An FCC rule that if a broadcaster sells time to one candidate, it must sell equal time to other candidates.

obscenity

an offensive or indecent word or phrase

polarization

the presence of increasingly conflicting and divided viewpoints between the Democratic and Republican Parties

national convention

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.

platform

a series of statements expressing the party's principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues

critical election

An election when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty.

realignment

A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape.

dealignment

Weakening of partisan preferences that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of independents.

independent

A voter or candidate who does not identify with a political party.

super-delegate

party leaders and elected officials who become delegates to the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses

national committee

delegates who run party affairs between national conventions

national chair

day-to-day party manager elected by the national committee

political machines

Corrupt organized groups that controlled political parties in the cities. A boss leads the machine and attempts to grab more votes for his party.

ideological party

a party that values principled stands on issues above all else

sponsored party

a local or state political party that is largely supported by another organization in the community

personal following

the political support provided to a candidate on the basis of personal popularity and networks

two-party system

An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections.

plurality system

an electoral system in which the winner is the person who gets the most votes, even if he or she does not receive a majority; used in almost all American elections

single member plurality district

Winner-take-all electoral system where the winner only needs a plurality, not a majority. Used to elect Representatives. Discourages third parties.

winner-take-all system

An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies.

run-off election

A follow-up election that is held when no candidate receives the majority of votes cast in the original election.

minor party

A small political party that rises and falls with a charismatic candidate or, if composed of ideologies on the right or left, usually persists over time; also called a third party.

single issue party

Parties that concentrate on only one public policy matter

economic protest party

Parties rooted in poor economic times, lacking a clear ideological base, dissatisfied with current conditions and demanding better times

ranked choice voting

a method of voting allowing voters to rank multiple candidates in order of preference

republican party

Antislavery political party that formed in the 1850's. Modern conservative party

democratic party

A political party formed by supporters of Andrew Jackson after the presidential election of 1824. Modern liberal party.

federalist party

1792-1816. Formed by Alexander Hamilton. Controlled the government until 1801. Wanted strong nationalistic government. Opposed by Democratic Republicans.

progressives

reformers who worked to stop unfair practices by businesses and improve the way grovernment works