AP Government Unit IV: Linkage Institutions

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Questions and Answers

Define the term 'linkage institution'.

A linkage institution is a structure within a society that connects the people to the government or centralized authority, including elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

Define the term 'political party'.

A political party is an organized group of people with roughly similar political aims and opinions that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office.

Describe the functions of political parties in American politics.

Political parties give people a connection to their government, nominate candidates for political office, run campaigns, and create structured groups of specific beliefs.

Define and explain the aspects of a political party through; party in the electorate, party as an organization, and party in government.

Party in the electorate refers to citizens who identify with a particular party, party as an organization includes the formal structure and workers of the party, and party in government involves elected officials who control government based on party goals. Signup and view all the answers

What are the differences between the American party system and the European parliamentary democracies?

In America, one simply declares party affiliation, whereas in many European countries, individuals must pay dues and attend meetings to belong to a political party. Signup and view all the answers

Define and give an example for 'critical elections'.

Critical elections occur when one party's era ends and another takes over; for example, in 1932 when FDR, a Democrat, won the presidency. Signup and view all the answers

Define and give an example for 'maintaining elections'.

Maintaining elections are when the current reigning political party maintains the presidency; for instance, Democrats won in 1936, 1940, 1944, and 1948. Signup and view all the answers

Define and give an example for 'deviation elections'.

Deviation elections occur when one party seems likely to win, but the opposing party makes a comeback; an example is Woodrow Wilson winning in both 1912 and 1916. Signup and view all the answers

Define and give an example for 'reinstatement elections'.

Reinstatement elections happen after a deviation election when the comeback party loses; for example, Republicans won in 1920, 1924, and 1928. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the signs and reasons for the decline of political parties in America.

The decline of political parties is attributed to factors like the Vietnam War (loss of trust in government), Watergate (media exposure of illegal activities), and the rise of interest groups. Signup and view all the answers

Define the term 'third party' and explain their contributions to American politics.

A third party is any political party that isn't Democratic or Republican; they can split votes, causing shifts in election outcomes, and highlight issues that may not be addressed by major parties. Signup and view all the answers

Describe types of third parties and give an example of each.

Types include ideological (e.g., Libertarian Party), protest/reform (e.g., Green Party), and factional ('bolter'; e.g., Dixiecrats in 1948). Signup and view all the answers

Explain in detail the difficulties that third parties face in American politics.

Third parties face challenges in the American political system due to the winner-take-all nature, making it nearly impossible for them to get their voices heard. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Linkage Institutions

Linkage institutions connect individuals to government authority, including elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

Political Parties

Political parties aim to influence public policy by electing candidates with shared political goals and opinions.

Functions of Political Parties

Provide a connection between citizens and government.
Nominate candidates for political office.
Run election campaigns.
Create structured belief systems within the party.

Aspects of Political Parties

Party in the Electorate: Citizens identify with political parties, often registering and voting aligned with party preferences.
Party as an Organization: Comprises formal structures, including workers and activists driving the party’s agenda.
Party in Government: Elected officials represent party goals and serve as spokespersons.

Differences in Party Systems

U.S. political party membership is self-identified, whereas European systems generally require dues and attendance at meetings.

Critical Elections

Mark significant shifts in party control; for example, FDR's Democratic win in 1932 initiated a new political era.

Maintaining Elections

Occur when the current ruling party successfully retains power; for instance, the Democrats' victories between 1936 and 1948.

Deviation Elections

Parties appear dominant but face unexpected outcomes; Woodrow Wilson's wins in 1912 and 1916 illustrate such shifts.

Reinstatement Elections

Following deviation elections, the winning party reclaims its previous dominance; Republicans won after Wilson in 1920, 1924, and 1928.

Decline of Political Parties

Influenced by skepticism stemming from events like Vietnam and Watergate, leading to reduced reliance on parties due to interest groups' rise.

Third Parties

Defined as any party outside the two major parties (Democratic and Republican); they can impact election outcomes by splitting votes and highlighting unaddressed issues.

Types of Third Parties

Ideological: Represent niche beliefs; examples include the Libertarian and Communist parties.
Protest/Reform: Focus on specific reforms; examples are the Green Party and Reform Party.
Factional: Result from splits in major parties; notable examples include the Dixiecrats and the Progressive Party.

Challenges for Third Parties

Third parties struggle to gain traction in the U.S. due to a winner-takes-all electoral system, making it challenging to effectively compete against major parties.

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Description

This quiz covers the fundamental concepts of linkage institutions, including their definitions and roles in connecting citizens to the government. Topics include key terms like political parties and other essential components. Test your knowledge and understanding of these vital structures in a democracy.