Chapter 11 Flashcards
legal briefs submitted by a “friend of the court”
amicus curiae briefs
lawsuits permitting a small number of people to sue on behalf of all other people similarly situated
class action lawsuits
something of value that cannot be withheld from a group member
collective good
direct group involvement in the electoral process
electioneering
theory of politics that claims that real power is held by relatively few people, key groups, and institutions looking out for themselves
elite theory
the problem faced by unions and other groups when people do not join bc they can benefit from the group’s activities without joining
free rider problem
this theory of gov argues that the pluralist system is out of control; interest group liberalism refers to the govs excessive deference to groups
hyperpluralist theory
an organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals
interest group
a network of groups within the american political system which exercise a great deal of control over specific policy areas
iron triangles
bringing a lawsuit against another party; when interest groups fail to change public policy in the legislative or executive branches of the gov
litigation
according to lester milbrath, “a communication, by someone other than a citizen acting on his own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his decision”
lobbying
advanced by mancur olsen, a principle stating “the larger the group, the further it will fall short of providing an optimal amount of good”
olsens law of large groups
a theory of politics that argues that interest group activity brings representation to all by competing in the political marketplace
pluralist theory
a group that is set up legally by an interest group to collect and spend funds for political purposes
political action committee (PAC)
the idea that there are some interests superior to the private interest of groups and individuals, interests we all have in common
public interest
according to jeffrey berry, organizations that seek “a collective good, the achievement of which will not selectively and materially benefit the membership or activities of the organization”
public interest lobbies
a state law forbidding requirements that workers must join a union to hold their jobs
right to work laws
goods that a group can restrict to those who pay their yearly dues
selective benefits
interest groups that focus their attention almost entirely on one issues, such as abortion, gun control, prohibition of alcoholic beverages
single issues groups
a network of groups within the american political system which exercise a great deal of control over specific policy areas
sub govs
an agreement found in some collective bargaining agreements requiring all employees of a business to join the union within a short period usually 30 days
union shop
relationships among interest groups that share a common policy concern
issue networks
when high level officials/staff from the federal government leave their job in the public sector and become a lobbyist
revolving door
