Unit 4: Linkage Groups
Today’s
Agenda
Objective: To introduce linkage groups
and what they entail and to identify how
dominant political parties emerge.
Essential Skill: Attempt solution or
construct a product
Linkage
Groups
 With your groups, see if you can place the terms into
categories. You choose the categories according to
commonalities that you see
 Take your best guess at ones you do not know
 Now, use the 4 given headings/categories to reorganize your terms
 Blogs
 FaceBook
Media
 Twitter
 CNN
 Wall Street Journal
 Red State- Conservative Blog
 Lobbyist
 Watchdog
 Shape public policy
Interest
Groups
 NAACP
 NRA
 World Wildlife Fund
 Greenpeace
 ACLU
 Public Opinion
 Straw Vote
 Quinnipiac University
Polling
 “death tax”
 Margin of error
 Gallup
 Pew
 Single-member district
 Polarization
 Bipartisan
Political
Parties
 Precinct
 Democrats
 Libertarians
 Republicans
 Greens
Linkage
groups
Looking at these categories, topics, and
institutions, what are linkage groups?
What might their purpose be?
Definition: Institutions to connect people
to their government
These 4 groups will guide our unit on
linkage groups
Political Party
An organized group with shared goals
and ideals that joins together to run
candidates for office and exercise
political and electoral power.
Forming a
Political Party
You need to form three person political
parties.
You need to come up with three positions
on issues that form their core beliefs.
You need a name for their party.
You need a symbol for their party.
SHARE
Each group will quickly share their party,
platform, name, and symbol
Join with one other group that you
believe is ideologically close to your
positions.
JOIN A GROUP
 You need to form SIX person political
parties.
 You need to come up with three positions
on issues that form your core beliefs.
 You might have to combine, modify, or
completely change your platform
 You need a name for their party.
 You need a symbol for their party.
SHARE
Share your new political
parties.
Join with one other group that you
believe is ideologically close to your
positions.
JOIN A GROUP
 You need to form 12 person political parties.
 You need to come up with three positions
on issues that form their core beliefs.
 You might have to combine, modify, or
completely change your platform
 You need a name for their party.
 You need a symbol for their party.
What have you learned about
political parties?
Reflect
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/27/the-weirdest-political-pa_n_626081.html
Answer the
following
questions
using the
reading
 What, broad, 5 services do political parties offer?
 What are the two most important parties in the United States?
 What are two of the most important and powerful functions of
political parties?
 What do political parties do in their roles as political educators?
 What role do political parties play with employment?
 How do parties characterize a nation?