AP Gov't Ch. 11 Flashcards
Interest Group
An organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals.
Pluralism
A theory of government and politics emphasizing that many groups, each pressing for its preferred policies, compete and counterbalance one another in the political marketplace.
Elitism
A theory of government and politics contending that an upper-class elite will hold most of the power and thus in effect run the government.
Hyperpluralism
A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government, seeking to please them all, is weakened.
Iron Triangles
Sub-Governments that are composed of interest groups leaders interested in a particular policy, the government agency in charge of administrating that policy, and the members of congressional committees and subcommittees handling the policy.
Potential Group
All the people who might be interest group members because they share some common interest.
Actual Group
The people in the potential group who actually join.
Collective Good
Something of value that cannot be withheld from a potential group member.
Free-Rider Problem
For a group, the problem of people not joining because they can benefit from the group’s activity with joining.
Selective Benefits
Goods that a group can restrict to those who actually join.
Single-Issue Groups
Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics.
Lobbying
A communication with someone than a citizen acting on his or her own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his or her decision.
Electioneering
Direct group involvement in the electoral process. (forming PAC’s is example)
Political Action Committees (PAC’s)
Political funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms.
Union Shop
A provision found in some collective bargaining agreements requiring all employees to join the inion within a short period, usually 30 days, and to remain members as a condition of employment.
