1. Connect Citizens to the Government
Linkage Institutions (The Media / Political Parties / Interest Groups / Elections)
Connect Citizens to the Government

2. The Media
How it connects citizens to the government: -conveys the views of the people to the government -conveys information about the government to the people

3. Ways these connections are made
Interviewing citizens
Reporting on government activities
Presenting poll results
Interviewing public officials
Covering protests and / or opposition
Providing an outlet for citizen opinion

4. Interest Groups How they connect citizens to the government:
Express group members’ preferences to policymakers
Convey government policy information to group members
Raise and spend money to advocate for the interests of the group with policymakers (ex. PACs)

5. Ways these connections are made
Letter-writing campaigns
Campaign activities
Lobbying
Grassroots movement
Litigation (helping take a case / issue to court)
Media campaigns
Disseminating info about government affairs

6. Political Parties How they connect citizens to the government:
-Gather information about voters for use by candidates and policymakers
-Provide information to voters about candidates running for office
-Connect voters to elected officials / candidates through campaign activities

7. Ways these connections are made
Campaigns
Mailings
Voter mobilization
Recruiting candidates and / or activists
Endorsing party platforms
Funding candidates
Articulating and / or mobilizing interests

8. Elections How age is related to likelihood of voting:
-older people are more likely to vote
How education is related to likelihood of voting:
-People with more education are more likely to vote

9. Government Electoral Requirements that Decrease Voter Turnout
Low voter turnout in the United States…why?
Citizenship requirement (must be U.S. citizen)
Age requirement (must be 18)
Certain groups cannot vote / are disenfranchised (ex. felons in some states)
Limited opportunities to vote (midweek, limited hours, one day)

10. Government Electoral Requirements that Decrease Voter Turnout Cont.
Closed primaries
Must register to vote
Registration / residency requirements
Process of obtaining absentee ballots can be viewed as difficult
These requirements decrease likelihood of voting bc either make a person ineligible to vote or put up obstacles making voting harder