Questions and Answers
What are the four types of linkage institutions?
What is the purpose of linkage institutions?
Links the government and the people together.
How does an 'election-oriented' political party attempt to control the government?
Through winning elections.
What are the functions of a political party in the USA?
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What is a special interest group?
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What does NRA stand for?
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What does ACLU stand for?
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What does PETA stand for?
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What does AFT stand for?
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What is Planned Parenthood?
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What does AARP stand for?
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What does MADD stand for?
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What are the differences between political parties and special interest groups?
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What is a lobbyist and what do they do?
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What are the two roles of third parties?
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How did Ralph Nader influence the election outcome?
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What do interest groups provide to their members?
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What month is Super Tuesday and what is happening on this day?
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Which two states usually hold their primary/caucus earliest during an election year?
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Who do members of a political party compete against in a 'primary' election?
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When does the 'General Election' for government leaders happen in the USA?
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To win the presidential election, how many electoral votes must a candidate get?
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If no candidate gets enough electoral votes, which group decides the winner?
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The winner of the 'popular vote' will always win the Electoral College.
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What are 'swing states'?
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What does the number of electoral votes tell us about each state?
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Watching political ads/commercials will help you become well-informed about politics.
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Which type of media helps citizens get the majority of their information about political issues?
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What is 'mass media'?
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What are some common complaints about America's modern media?
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What is 'Plain Folks'?
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What is a 'logical fallacy'?
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What is 'Fear' in political messaging?
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What is 'Bandwagon'?
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What are 'Glittering Generalities'?
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How often do presidential elections occur?
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Study Notes
Linkage Institutions
- Four types: Political parties, Elections, Special interest groups, Media
- Purpose is to connect the government with the public
Political Parties
- Aim to win elections to control government and influence policies
- Functions also include organizing broad common interests
Special Interest Groups
- Gather resources to support specific public policies beneficial to their members
- Examples include:
- NRA (National Rifle Association): Advocates for gun rights
- ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union): Advocates for individual rights
- PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals): Focuses on animal rights
- AFT (American Federation of Teachers): Represents educators
- Planned Parenthood: Provides reproductive health services
- AARP (American Association of Retired Persons): Serves individuals aged 50 and over
- MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving): Aims to end drunk driving
Political Parties vs. Special Interest Groups
- Political parties cover multiple issues, while interest groups focus on specific topics
Lobbying
- Lobbyists meet government members to discuss their groups' issues and provide information
Third Parties
- Two roles: Raise awareness by focusing on key issues and act as spoilers in elections
Electoral Process
- Super Tuesday: Mid-February; most states hold primary elections
- Early primary/caucus states: Iowa and New Hampshire
- Primary elections involve competing candidates from the same political party
- General election occurs on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November every even-numbered year
- Winning the presidential election requires 270 electoral votes
- If no candidate achieves this, the House of Representatives decides the winner
Electoral Votes
- Votes reflect the number of representatives and senators per state
- Swing states can vote for either major party in elections
Media and Politics
- Popular vote does not guarantee winning the electoral college
- TV is the primary source of political information for citizens
- Mass media encompasses radio, TV, internet, and newspapers
- Common complaints about modern media: Bias and lack of comprehensive coverage
- Political advertising techniques include:
- Plain Folks: Politician shown as relatable to the ordinary citizen
- Logical Fallacy: Combining two true statements leading to faulty conclusions
- Fear: Associating issues with fear to sway opinions
- Bandwagon: Encouraging people to follow the crowd
- Glittering Generalities: Presenting the subject positively with vague information
Presidential Elections
- Occur every four years
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Description
Test your knowledge on the key concepts of linkage institutions in government. This quiz covers the types of linkage institutions, their purpose, and how political parties operate within the electoral framework. Perfect for students studying government and politics.