Linkage Institutions
Political parties, interest groups
Political Parties
Purpose:
o Endorse (support) candidates and win elections
Structure:
o Party in the electorate – people who claim membership in the party
o Party as an organization – national party and state party
organizations – leaders, offices, rules
o Party in government – people in elected office who claim membership
in a party – have been officially endorsed by the party
Duties:
o Pick candidates – most people cannot win an election unless they are
endorsed by a major party – independents are rarely successful
o Run campaigns – through their many levels of organization (national,
state, local)
o Run the primary system for presidential elections
o Tell voters how to vote – though party platforms
o Articulate policies – within government (offer alternatives)
o Coordinate policymaking within government
The Primary and Convention System
It is completely organized and run by each political party (democratic and
republican)
Never mentioned in the Constitution
This system decides who you see on the ballot in your state in November for
a Presidential election
Two primaries and conventions are running simultaneously in each state –
one for each party
Important Vocabulary:
o Primary – Open, Closed, Blanket – an election that chooses the
candidate for apolitical party in each state
o Caucus – same role as primary, but people don’t vote on ballots –
voting is discussed and executed publicly
o Party Platform – formal statement of beliefs and objectives of a
political party – the candidate selected is supposed to “stand” on this
platform when elected – try to fulfill the platform
o Delegates – representatives in the convention process
Interest Groups
Purpose:
o Influence the political process to achieve desired goals
How different than political parties:
o IGs support candidates, but don’t run their own candidates
o IGs are policy specialists, whereas political parties are policy
generalists – IGs are much more focused on particular issues
o IGs do not have to try and appeal to everyone for their
success/survival
Theory Explanation
Pluralist IGs provide a very important link between the people and
government
No one group will become too dominant
Groups typically “play by the rules”
All groups have different strengths and weaknesses to even
each other out
Elite/Class The only powerful IGs are the ones that represent big
business and corporations
These powerful IGs always win when it come to the “big
decisions”
Hyperpluralist There are too many IGs
Gov spends too much time/effort catering to each
individual IG
Policy (laws) are contradictory and ineffective
Problems are compounded by the existence of Iron
Triangles and IG influence there
How to run a successful IG:
Be small – less chance of having a “free rider” problem – easier to organize –
“collective good” is greater per person (problem with public interest groups)
Be good at organizing and recruiting from your “potential group” – people
who might be group members b/c they share a common interest
Overcome your size by having “selective benefits” – goods that you can
restrict to just your members
Show intensity – this will draw more people to your cause and get the
government’s attention (easier for large groups)
Accumulate financial resources for lobbying and campaign contributions –
form PACs and take advantage of tax loopholes
How IGs Get What They Want:
Lobbying:
o “Communication, by someone other than a citizen acting on his/her
own behalf, directed at a governmental decision maker with the hope
of influencing his or her decision.”
o Lobbyists are professional political persuaders; often former
legislators; work in Washington D.C; represent organized IGs;
typically “lobby” Congress
o Some lobbyists are on salary by IGs, others are free-lance and hired
temporarily to help with some issue
o How Lobbyists actually HELP Congressman:
Provide Information
Help with political strategy (once IN office)
Help with campaign strategy (trying to WIN office)
Source of ideas – “outside of the box”
o Not all lobbying is so benevolent – lobbyists can “threaten”
congressman with campaign contributions
o Mixed opinions on the effectiveness of lobbying
o Lobbying works best on congressmen who are already on the side of
the lobbyists – lobbying is mainly to reinforce supporters, not
necessarily find new ones
Electioneering:
o Aiding candidates financially and getting group members out to vote
for them
o IGs form PACs (registered with the FEC) to donate financially to a
campaign – most, if not all, Congressmen accept some amount of PAC
money
o IGs will more likely support an incumbent than a challenger
Litigation:
o Go to court to get a specific ruling and get case law created
o IGs use this when they fail in Congress or when Congress passes a
policy that is too vague
o Write amicus curiae briefs
o Organize class-action lawsuits
o Civil Rights movement – very successful at this
Go Public:
o Publicize the issue and get public opinion on your side – the media
will cover the event and government will eventually have to act
o Craft an image that is all-encompassing, not narrow and specific
