LBriones
Linkage Institutions Study Guide
APGoPo
Political Parties SG (ch. 8)
I. Read chapter 8, look at the pretty pictures, and complete the following:
Focus Questions (answer neatly & completely; define vocabulary words used in answers):
1. Explain what political parties are AND list the traditional tasks they perform in order to serve as effective
linkage institutions.
2. List the three types of third parties we typically see in American politics.
3. Summarize the various roles third parties play in our political system.
4. Explain THREE reasons why third parties struggle to compete with the two major parties.
5. Contrast the winter-take-all characteristic of our political system with that used by European countries.
II. Define and understand the significance of the following terms:
Party competition
Political party
Rational-choice theory
Party identification
Ticket-splitting
Party machines
Patronage
Closed primaries
Primary election
National committee
National chairperson
Coalition
Party eras
Critical election
Primary election
Open primaries
New Deal Coalition
Party de-alignment
Party neutrality
Third parties
Winner-take-all system
Proportional representation
Responsible party model
Blanket primaries
Interest Groups (ch . 11)
I. Read the Interest Groups reading (under Links) and write 20 questions with answers based on the
reading. Questions should be rigorous and varied in format.
II. Look at the pictures in Chapter 11 and define in your own words and understand the significance of the
following terms:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Interest group
pluralist theory
elite theory
hyper pluralist theory
sub governments
6. potential group
7. actual group
8. collective good
9. free-rider problem
10. Olson’s law of large
groups
11. selective benefits
12. single-issue group
13. lobbying
14. electioneering
15. Political Action
Committees (PACs)
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
class action suits
union shop
right-to-work state
public interest lobbies
amicus curiae briefs