Chapter 11 Flashcards
Political action committee (PAC)
A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations.
Lobbyist
A person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of an interest group.
Incentive
Something of value one cannot get without joining an organization
Solidary incentives
The social rewards (sense of pleasure, status, or companionship) that leads people to join political organizations
Material incentives
Money or things valued in monetary terms
Purposive incentives
A benefit that comes from serving a cause or principle
Ideological interest groups
Political organizations that attract members by appealing to their political convictions or principles
Public-interest lobby
A political organization whose goals will principally benefit nonmembers
Social movement
A widely shared demand for change in some aspect of the social or political order
Political Cue
A signal telling a legislator what values are at stake in a vote, and how that issue fits into his or her own political views on party agenda.
Ratings
Assessments of a representative’s voting record on issues important to an interest group
Earmark
A provision in a law that provides a direct benefit to a client without the benefit having been reviewed on the merits by all of Congress.
Interest group
An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence public policy.
Public opinion
Aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs shared by some portion of adults
Private opinion
Becomes public opinion when an individual takes some type of action to express an opinion to others publicly
