Chapter 11

Question 1

legal briefs submitted by a “friend of the court”

Answer 1

amicus curiae briefs

Question 2

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

Answer 2

class action lawsuits

Question 3

something of value that cannot be withheld from a group member

Answer 3

collective good

Question 4

direct group involvement in the electoral process

Answer 4

electioneering

Question 5

theory of politics that claims that real power is held by relatively few people, key groups, and institutions looking out for themselves

Answer 5

elite theory

Question 6

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

Answer 6

free rider problem

Question 7

this theory of gov argues that the pluralist system is out of control; interest group liberalism refers to the govs excessive deference to groups

Answer 7

hyperpluralist theory

Question 8

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

Answer 8

interest group

Question 9

a network of groups within the american political system which exercise a great deal of control over specific policy areas

Answer 9

iron triangles

Question 10

bringing a lawsuit against another party; when interest groups fail to change public policy in the legislative or executive branches of the gov

Answer 10

litigation

Question 11

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”

Answer 11

lobbying

Question 12

advanced by mancur olsen, a principle stating “the larger the group, the further it will fall short of providing an optimal amount of good”

Answer 12

olsens law of large groups

Question 13

a theory of politics that argues that interest group activity brings representation to all by competing in the political marketplace

Answer 13

pluralist theory

Question 14

a group that is set up legally by an interest group to collect and spend funds for political purposes

Answer 14

political action committee (PAC)

Question 15

the idea that there are some interests superior to the private interest of groups and individuals, interests we all have in common

Answer 15

public interest

Question 16

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”

Answer 16

public interest lobbies

Question 17

a state law forbidding requirements that workers must join a union to hold their jobs

Answer 17

right to work laws

Question 18

goods that a group can restrict to those who pay their yearly dues

Answer 18

selective benefits

Question 19

interest groups that focus their attention almost entirely on one issues, such as abortion, gun control, prohibition of alcoholic beverages

Answer 19

single issues groups

Question 20

a network of groups within the american political system which exercise a great deal of control over specific policy areas

Answer 20

sub govs

Question 21

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

Answer 21

union shop

Question 22

relationships among interest groups that share a common policy concern

Answer 22

issue networks

Question 23

when high level officials/staff from the federal government leave their job in the public sector and become a lobbyist

Answer 23

revolving door