Government and politics concepts · AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP U.S. History
Linkage institutions
Linkage institutions: Channels that connect citizens to government, chiefly political parties, interest groups, elections and the media.
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What it means
Linkage institutions carry citizens' preferences to policymakers and inform citizens about government. Parties organize voters and candidates, interest groups advocate for specific causes, elections allow citizens to choose officials, and the media shapes what issues get attention.
How well these institutions work affects whether government responds to the public.
Example
An interest group mobilizes its members to contact legislators before a vote, linking citizens' views to lawmakers.
On the exam
Linkage institutions are a Unit 5 concept and often connect to quantitative analysis questions on turnout or media use.
Lessons and practice questions
Related terms
- Political efficacyA citizen's belief that they can understand and influence government and that government will respond.
- Political socializationThe process by which people form their political beliefs and values, influenced by family, school, peers, media and events.
- Iron triangleA stable relationship among a congressional committee, a bureaucratic agency and an interest group that work together on policy in a specific area.