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 MODEL SAY ABOUT PARTICIPATION IN 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