Linkage institutions: channels that connect people with the government/ political
process-keeping the people informed and trying to shape public opinion and policy
1. Political parties
2. Interest groups
3. elections
4. Media
Political parties: organized groups of people with similar political ideologies and goals who
work to elect candidates to public office who will represent those ideologies and accomplish
those goals
Consists of three separate but related entities
Governmental party: members of a political party that hold some type of
governmental office
Organizational party
Party in the electorate
What are the functions of political parties?
Ways parties link citizens to the political process:
■ Mobilize and educate voters
■ Create a platform on issues
■ Recruit and nominate candidates
■ Raising money/ manage campaigns
● War chest: a reserve sum of funds to be used for conducting a
campaign
■ Provide committee and party leadership systems in the Legislature
Platform: a list of political beliefs and political goals (what the parties stand for)
Media strategy: social media has increasingly been used by candidates and parties to build
their brand and spread their message
National conventions: both Republican and Democrats add up the primary and caucus votes to
determine who will be their candidate for the presidency
● RNC- Republican National Convention
(July 15-18, 2024- mIlwaukee, WI)
● DNC- Democratic National Convention
(August 19-22, 2024- Chicago IL)
What is the importance of the National Convention?
1. Adopt a Platform
2. Rule changes
3. Nominate a Presidential Candidate
AMERICA'S TWO PARTY SYSTEM