Help More Than Hurt Voter turnout has declined since 1960 but participation in has been growing. Participating in allows people to take action on issues that are most important to them. Unlike some linkage institutions, have a very close connection to government. are an essential part of the democratic system because they allow the public to enter the political system, bring up specific issues in government, and help congress in various ways. specialize in policies where as are policy generalists. Statistics show that most Americans ....