Linkage Institutions

Definition

A linkage institution is a structure within a society that connects the people to the government or centralized authority. These institutions include: elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media. Popular examples of linkage institutions within the United States include the Democratic Party, Republican Party, NRA, AARP, NAACP, NBC news and CBS news.

Example

Questions

1. What do you think linkage institution means?

2. Translate linkage institution into plain English.

3. Describe an example of linkage institution in current events:

4. What are the main linkage institutions in the U.S.?

5. What are some examples of each of those linkage institutions?

6. We know that linkage institutions connect people to their government, do they also connect government to the people?

7. What would happen if we had no linkage institutions?

8. Do dictatorships have linkage institutions?

9. What role does the Constitution have in setting up linkage institutions?

10. What linkage institutions are you a part of?

Remember!

Now, let’s commit this term to our long-term memory. On a scrap piece of paper, take 10 or 20 seconds to draw linkage institutions with symbols or stick figures if you wish. Nothing fancy. Don’t expect a masterpiece. No one else will see this but you. Look at your drawing. That’s all - now it’s downloaded into your memory. Destroy the piece of paper in a most delightful way.

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Further Review

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