Linkage Institutions and Political Participation

  • linkage institutions: organizations and practices that allows individuals to express their political opinions and policy preferences to elected officials

    • interest groups, political parties, elections, the media

  • interest groups: a collection of individuals and organizations who share a common view on a specific policy point

    • goal is to influence public policy

    • types include economic, civil rights, government, specific issue, ideological, faith-based

  • AARP: American Association of Retired Persons; senior citizen rights

  • AFL-CIO: American Federation of Labor; working people

  • NEA: National Education Association; teachers and schools

  • NRA: National Rifle Association; gun rights

  • AIPAC: American Israel Public Affairs Committee; a strong relationship between America and Israel

  • Political Action Committee (PAC): an organization that raises private funds to influence legislation or an election

  • lobbying: attempting to influence the actions of politicians and legislation in favor of a specific interest through communication, election support, information, etc.

  • litigation: lawsuits hoping to challenge public policy that does not align with a specific interest

  • Iron Triangle: a mutually beneficial relationship between three key policy makers: Congress, interest groups, and the bureaucracy

  • political parties: an organization that attempts to win elections and hold public office in order to influence public policy

    • wants to win elections and hold public office

  • there have been many minor political parties, sometimes called third-parties, in American history

  • single issue parties: ex. Free Soil Party for slavery

  • ideological parties: based on a way of thinking; ex. Socialist Party

  • protest parties: parties that specifically rise to protests against something

  • party platforms and platform planks: explaining what a party believes in; sections called a plank

  • Big Tent Philosophy: the idea of having as many people in your voters as possible

  • media: the various channels in which information is collected and disseminated to the public

  • agenda setting: the power to influence the issues that are most discussed in a nation; considered the second most powerful agenda setter in the nation (next to the president)