Chapter 11

Question 0

difference between an interest group and a political party

Answer 0

parties fight their battles through the electoral process

interest groups may support candidates for office but the do not run their own slate of candidates

Question 1

interest group

Answer 1

an organization of people with shared policy goal entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals.

Question 2

pluralism

Answer 2

theory of government and politics emphasizing that politcs is mainly a competition among groups

Question 3

elite theory

Answer 3

a theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper class elite will rule

Question 4

hyperpluralism

Answer 4

theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. -exaggerated

Question 5

interest group liberalism

Answer 5

all pressure group demands are legitimate and that the job of the government is to advance them all

Question 6

free-rider problem

Answer 6

problem faced by unions and other groups when people do not join because they can benefit from the group’s activities without officially joining

Question 7

Olson’s Law of Large Groups

Answer 7

A principle stating that “the larger the group, the further it will fall short of providing an optimal amount of a collective good”

Question 8

potential group

Answer 8

all the people who might be interest group members because they share some common interest

Question 9

actual group

Answer 9

that part of the potential group consisting of members who actually join

Question 10

class-action lawsuits

Answer 10

lawsuits permitting a small number of people to sue on behalf of all other people similarly situated

Question 11

amicus curiae briefs

Answer 11

legal briefs submitted by a “friend of the court” for the purpose of raising additional points of view and presenting information not contained in the brief of the formal parties

Question 12

how lobbyist works

Answer 12

communication, by someone other than a citizen acting his own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his decision

Question 13

benefits for politicians of lobbyist

Answer 13

source of information
help politicians with political strategy for getting legislation through
help formulate campaign strategy
source of ideas and innovations

Question 14

collective good

Answer 14

something of value that cannot be withheld from a group member

Question 15

single- issue groups

Answer 15

groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership of people new to politics
ex. abortion

Question 16

main advantage that single interest groups posses

Answer 16

narrow, focused, and intense