5.3  Political Parties

Key ideas and principles of the Democratic and Republican parties.

Campaign Finance USA

Political parties, interest groups, and social movements provide opportunities for participation and influence how people relate to government and policy-makers. 

Describe linkage institutions. 

Linkage institutions are channels that allow individuals to communicate their preferences to policy-makers:

• Parties 

• Interest groups 

• Elections 

• Media 

Explain the function and impact of political parties on the electorate and government. 

The functions and impact of political parties on the electorate and government are represented by:

• Mobilization and education of voters 

• Party platforms 

• Candidate recruitment 

• Campaign management, including fundraising and media strategy 

• The committee and party leadership systems in legislatures 

A linkage institution is an organization that connects different parts of a society and helps to facilitate communication and cooperation between them. This can include government agencies, non-profit organizations, business groups, and other types of institutions that play a role in linking different stakeholders and promoting cooperation towards common goals. They are vehicles that connect people with the government by allowing them to communicate their preferences to policy making institutions. The AP US Government exam explores four linkage institutions--political parties, interest groups, elections, and the media 📰. Each of the institutions serve an important role in helping shape public opinion and policy.