Unit 2: Linkage Institutions Review

Linkage Institutions

Structures connecting people to government: elections, parties, interest groups, media.

Demographic Trends

Population shifting to South/West, aging, increasing diversity, impacting representation and funding.

Public Opinion Measurement

Difficult to gauge due to majority uninformed and rapidly shifting views.

Scientific Polling Steps

1. Create unbiased questions 2. Define the universe 3. Draw a random sample 4. Use consistent techniques 5. Report results.

Political Socialization

The process by which people form political beliefs influenced by family, media, peers, religion, school, work, and major events.

Political Ideologies

Liberal, conservative, libertarian, moderate; differ in views on social and economic policies.

Roles of Political Parties

Recruit candidates, provide labels, coordinate government officials, operate in power, serve as watchdogs.

Party Organization Levels

National, state, and local structures varying in functions like conventions, fundraising, and grassroots efforts.

Primary Voters vs. General Election Voters

Primary voters are often more ideologically extreme than general election voters.

Party Realignment

Major changes in party dynamics often triggered by critical elections and crises.

Barriers for Minor/Third Parties

Single-member districts, winner-take-all, ballot access laws, funding, and two-party tradition.

Voting Population Statistics

Population 340 million, eligible voters ~236 million, registered ~174 million.

Causes of Low Voter Turnout

Registration requirements, weekday voting, lack of efficacy, trust issues.

Voter ID Laws Debate

Supporters advocate for preventing impersonation; opponents cite negligible fraud evidence.

Voting Choice Influences

Factors include party identification, demographics, candidate character, and campaign messages.

Electoral Systems

Includes primaries, general elections, runoffs, recalls, referendums, and initiatives.

Primary vs. Caucus

Primaries are private ballots with higher turnout; caucuses are public meetings with lower turnout.

Electoral College

Based on representation, can mismatch popular and electoral votes, focuses on swing states.

Campaign Finance Laws

Includes FECA, Buckley v. Valeo, BCRA, and Citizens United affecting campaign funding.

Media Roles

Includes gatekeeper, scorekeeper, and watchdog functions.

Interest Groups

Types include economic/business groups, labor unions, equality groups, and public-interest groups.

Influence Methods of Interest Groups

Direct methods include lobbying; indirect methods involve grassroots mobilization.

Reasons for Joining Interest Groups

Sense of duty, selective benefits, shared ideology, community identity.

Free Rider Problem

Non-members benefit from group successes without contributing.