Chapter 10: Interest Groups and Lobbying

Question 1

Groups of companies or institutions that organize around a common set of concerns, often within a given industry or trade

Answer 1

Association

Question 2

A political movement that resembles a grassroots movement but is often supported or facilitated by wealthy interests and/or elites

Answer 2

Astroturf movement

Question 3

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was a 2010 Supreme Court case that granted corporations and unions the right to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections

Answer 3

Citizens United

Question 4

A good such as public safety or clean air, often produced by government, that is generally available to the population as a whole

Answer 4

Collective good

Question 5

A lobbyist who works for a contract lobbying firm that represents clients before government

Answer 5

Contract lobbyist

Question 6

The theory that an external event can lead to interest group mobilization

Answer 6

Disturbance theory

Question 7

The belief that you make a difference and that government cares about you and your views

Answer 7

Efficacy

Question 8

The proposition that wealthy and elite interests are advantaged over those without resources

Answer 8

Elite critique

Question 9

The result when a large interest group develops diverging needs

Answer 9

Fragmentation

Question 10

The situation that occurs when some individuals receive benefits (get a free ride) without helping to bear the cost

Answer 10

Free rider problem

Question 11

A political movement that often begins from the bottom up, inspired by average citizens concerned about a given issue

Answer 11

Grassroots movement

Question 12

An employee or executive within an organization who works as a lobbyist on behalf of the organization

Answer 12

In-house lobbyist

Question 13

The act of contacting and taking the organization’s message directly to lawmakers in an attempt to influence policy

Answer 13

Inside lobbying

Question 14

Three-way relationship among congressional committees, interests groups, and the bureaucracy

Answer 14

Iron triangle

Question 15

A group of interest groups and people who work together to support a particular issue or policy

Answer 15

Issue network

Question 16

A person employed by a governmental entity such as a local government, executive department, or university to represent the organization before the legislature

Answer 16

Legislative liaison

Question 17

A person who represents an organization before government in an attempt to influence policy

Answer 17

Lobbyist

Question 18

Substantive monetary or physical benefits given to group members to help overcome collective action problems

Answer 18

Material incentives

Question 19

An interest group that usually consists of dues-paying members who organize around a particular cause or issue

Answer 19

Membership organization

Question 20

A person who suggests that all groups’ access and influence depend on the political environment

Answer 20

Neopluralist

Question 21

The act of lobbying indirectly by taking the organization’s message to the public, often through the use of the media and/or by issue press releases, in hopes that the public will then put pressure on lawmakers

Answer 21

Outside lobbying

Question 22

A benefit that generally accrues to a narrow segment of society

Answer 22

Particularized benefit

Question 23

A person who believes many groups healthily compete for access to decision-makers

Answer 23

Pluralist

Question 24

An interest group that seeks a public good, which is something that accrues to all

Answer 24

Public interest group

Question 25

Benefits to overcome collective action problems that appeal to people’s support of the issue or cause

Answer 25

Purposive incentives

Question 26

Laws that require a cooling-off period before government officials can register to lobby after leaving office

Answer 26

Revolving door laws

Question 27

Money that interests can spend on behalf of candidates without being restricted by federal law

Answer 27

Soft money

Question 28

Benefits based on the concept that people like to associate with those who are similar to them

Answer 28

Solidary incentives

Question 29

Sources—including fellow lawmakers, constituents, and interest groups—that lawmakers often use to help them decide how to vote, especially on unfamiliar issues

Answer 29

Voting cues

Question 30

CC

An ___________ is an organized individuals that make policy-related appeals to government

Answer 30

Interest groups

Question 31

CC

What are the 2 main things that interest groups do when they interact with the government?

Answer 31

shape policies, gather information to provide to elected officials

Question 32

CC

A combination of interest groups, congress, and the bureaucracy is sometimes called what?

Answer 32

Iron triangle

Question 33

The main argument in favor of interest groups has to do with ________.

Answer 33

Pluralism