LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS
MEDIA
Political Parties
Interest Groups
Open vs. Closed Primary
• OPEN
• This means that any
voter can vote in either
parties primary
election.
• EG – a “D” can vote in
an “R” primary
• Pro – Centrist
• Con – Party Crasher
• CLOSED
• This means that only a
person with that
political affiliation can
vote in that party’s
primary.
• EG – Only an “R” can
vote in an “R” primary.
• More extreme
candidates?
PA 7th Congressional District
Gerrymandering
McCain-Feingold
Bi- Partisan Campaign Reform Act
2002
LIMITS
SOFT
MONEY
ISSUE
ADS
MUST
DISCLOSE
SOURCE
Citizens United vs. FEC
• Citizens United is a conservative group that wanted to
advertise and run a film called “Hillary: The Movie” in
the days immediately before an election.
• This was forbidden under BPCR act and upheld by a
Federal Court.
• The case went to the USSC and in a 5-4 decision the SC
overturned the Lower Courts earlier decision.
• NO LIMITS on campaign expenditures by corporation or
unions – Hello SUPERPACs!!!!!!!!!!!
• Violation of the 1st Amendment!
PAC MAN
SUPER PAC
• Can raise UNLIMITED sums
of money.
• Can not give money
DIRECTLY to a candidate.
• However they can run ISSUE
ads that advocate for one
candidate or the other.
• No direct coordination
between candidate and
organization
PAC
• IS Limited in the amount of
money they can take IN and
give OUT directly to a
candidate.
Horse Race Journalism
Agenda Setting / Gatekeeper
• The power of the media
to help shape politics by
deciding what issues
are IMPORTANT.
• However a frequent
criticism is that the
media spends too much
time discussing day to
day (frivolous) points in
political campaigns.
Special Interest Groups
How they Lobby
• AARP – Raise
• AMA – Raise
Money
Money
• NAACP – Courts
• N.A.M. (National
Association of
• Sierra Club – Grass
Manufacturers) –
Roots
Raise
Money
• NEA – Grass Roots
• NRA – ALL 3?
• ACLU - Courts
PIRG
• Public Interest Research
Group – is a non profit
consumer advocacy
organization
(watchdog).
• Seatbelts anyone?
• Safe toys and blankets?
• Ralph Nader founded in
1971.