Unit 5- AP Government- Political Participation

Linkage institutions

Institutions that connect citizens to government. The mass media, interest groups, political parties and elections are the main linkage institutions.

3 Indirect linkage institutions

parties, interest groups, media

Goal of Parties

win elections

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

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

Reasons for 2 Party system

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

Splinter parties

offshoots of a major party

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?

Policy at 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 (what Mississippi has)

outlaw union membership as condition of employment

Equality interests

equal rights for women and minority groups

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

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

Media functions

gate keeper, agenda setter, scorekeeper, watchdog

Citizens United v. FEC

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that laws restricting independent political expenditures by corporations and unions violate the First Amendment. Resulted in the rise of Superpacs.

Superpac

An independent political action committee that can raise unlimited amounts of money to advocate for or against political candidates.

primary election

A preliminary election held to select a party's candidate for the general election by winning a majority of delegates at he convention. Also allows registered party members to vote for their preferred candidate.

Who sets rules for primary elections

State legislatures and political parties, determining the process and regulations for selecting candidates.

McCain Feingold

A law that sought to ban soft money in elections; regulates campaign finance by restricting the amount individuals and organizations can contribute to political campaigns and establishing rules for political advertising.

Federal Election Campaign Act

A law passed in 1971 that regulates campaign financing for federal elections, requiring candidates to disclose their campaign contributions and expenditures while setting limits on individual contributions.

FEC

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency responsible for enforcing federal campaign finance laws, overseeing the public funding of elections, and ensuring transparency in campaign contributions.

battleground state

A state where both major political parties have similar levels of support among voters, making it a key focus during elections due to its potential to swing either way.

pluralism

A political theory advocating that multiple groups should coexist and compete for power, ensuring diverse interests are represented in the political process.

hyperpluralism

A theory criticizing pluralism by suggesting that too many competing groups lead to political paralysis and diminished governance, as a wide array of interests can overwhelm the policymaking process.

horserace politics

describes the way the media focuses on the competitive aspects of elections, emphasizing polling results and candidates' standings rather than policy issues or substantive debates.

winner-take-all system

A voting system in which the candidate who receives the most votes in a constituency wins the election, and all other candidates receive no representation. This system often leads to a two-party dominance. Example: The electoral college

Voter turnout

refers to the percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election, indicating the level of public engagement and interest in the electoral process.

Who is most likely to turnout in election

are typically older, more educated, and wealthier individuals, as they have higher levels of engagement and awareness of the electoral process.

party line voting

the practice of voting exclusively for candidates of one political party during an election, often influenced by party loyalty.

retrospective voting

refers to the practice where voters make their electoral choices based on the past performance of a candidate or party, assessing their previous actions and outcomes before making a decision.

prospective voting

is the practice where voters make their electoral choices based on the expected future performance or policies of a candidate or party, rather than their past actions.

rational choice voting

is a theory suggesting that voters make decisions by comparing the expected utility of different candidates and choosing the one they believe will maximize their well-being based on personal interests.

elitism theory

is a political theory that posits a society is divided between a minority of elites who hold power and influence, and the majority of the populace who have limited influence over political decisions.

political efficacy

is the belief that one’s participation in politics can influence political processes and outcomes, affecting their trust in government and civic engagement.

structural barrier

refers to obstacles that prevent individuals or groups, particularly marginalized communities, from participating in the political process, such as laws, policies, or institutional practices. Examples: voter registration and voter ID laws.