LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS MEDIA Political Parties Interest Groups.

LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS

MEDIAPolitical PartiesInterest 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 DistrictGerrymandering

McCain-FeingoldBi- Partisan Campaign Reform Act 2002

LIMITSSOFT 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 GroupsHow they Lobby

• AARP – Raise Money

• NAACP – Courts• Sierra Club – Grass

Roots• NEA – Grass Roots

• AMA – Raise Money

• N.A.M. (National Association of Manufacturers) – Raise Money

• 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.