THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM

PARTICIPANTS Individuals Groups Organizations

INPUT

LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS Voting Political Parties Interest Groups Media

POLICY AGENDA

GOVERNMENT Congress- statutes President- orders/decisions Courts- opinions Bureaucracy- rules and regulations

POLICY IMPACT

OUTPUT

WHAT DOES THIS MODELSAY ABOUT PARTICIPATIONIN THE POLITICAL PROCESS?

WAYS OF PARTICIPATING

• GETTING ELECTED

• CAMPAIGN• VOTING• CONTACT

• GROUP• PROTEST• INACTIVE

THE LASWELL MODEL: “WHAT IS POLITICS?”

HOW Methods

WHO Participants

INDIVIDUALS Candidates Officeholders Supporters Voters GROUPS (DEMOGRAPHICS) Affluent/Poor Whites/Blacks/Hispanics/Asian Elderly/Young Working Class/Labor/Business Blue

Collar/White Collar Men/Women Farmers/Bankers/Real Estate

Construction/Sales Catholics/Protestants/Jews Northerners/Southerners Liberals/Conservatives ORGANIZATIONS (FACTIONS) AFL-CIO AARP ACLU NRA DNC

Gets WHAT Values

BROADLY: ADVANTAGES FOR ONESELF OR FOR ONE’S GROUP AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND/OR GROUPS (WINNERS & LOSERS) Deference Prestige Recognition Influence Access Jobs Contracts Public Policy Justice Status Quo

WHEN Immediately Later

And

Platforms Campaigns Speeches Rallies Public relations Media exposure Registration Voting Campaign Finance Lobbying Grass Roots Politics Coalition Building Compromise Logrolling Intimidation Rewards Sanctions Bribery Violence Expanding the conflict

THE SCHATTSCHNEIDER MODEL- “POLITICS IS CONFLICT EXPANSION”

Agenda factors Scope of conflict Other competing

conflicts Influence and intensity of

competing groups Range of government

power and resources

Conflict among private groups

1

Losers seek to expand the struggle to attract

reinforcements

The issue gains visibility through the media

2

New forces are mobilized, including candidates, parties,

and interest groups

New balance of power created leading to renewed conflict

4 Policy impact on groups and the

public

The issue reaches the agenda of government

3 The government maintains the

status quo- or enacts new programs

MAIN LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS

• POLITICAL PARTIES• INTEREST GROUPS• ELECTIONS• MEDIA

WHY CALLED“LINKAGE”

INSTITUTIONS?

How do Political Parties link us to government?

How do Interest Groups link us to government?

How do Elections link us to government?

How does Media link us to government?

How does Congress make policy?

What are some ways the President can make policy?

When the Court issues an opinion, is it making policy?

What is their role in policymaking?

THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM

PARTICIPANTS Individuals Groups Organizations

INPUT

LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS Voting Political Parties Interest Groups Media

POLICY AGENDA

GOVERNMENT Congress- statutes President- orders/decisions Courts- opinions Bureaucracy- rules and regulations

POLICY IMPACT

OUTPUT