Chapter 12 Interest Groups Flashcards
special interest
a pejorative term often used to designate an interest group whose aims or issue preferences one does not like
interest group
an organization whose goal is to influence government
lobbyist
a person who contacts government officials on behalf of a particular cause or issue
public interest lobbyist
a representative of an organization that seeks to benefit the population at large, not a specific client or small collection of people
membership group
an interest group primarily organized around voluntary members; often a nonprofit or public advocacy organization
material benefits
items distributed by public interest groups as incentives to sign up or remain a member
expressive benefits
values or deeply held benefits that inspire individuals to join a public interest group
solidarity benefits
the feeling of shared commitment and purpose experienced by individuals who join a public interest group
pluralism
an open participatory style of government in which many different interests are represented
demosclerosis
the collective effect of the sheer number of washington lobbyist in slowing the process of americzan democratic policymaking
power elite theory
the view that a small handful of wealthy influential american exercises extensive control over government decisions
advocacy explosion
a vast a relatively swift increase in interest groups active in washington DC beginning in the mid 1960’s
lobbying coalition
a collection of lobbyists working on related topics or a specific legislative proposal
issue campaign
a concerted effort by interest groups to arouse popular support or opposition for a policy issue
astroturf lobbying
an attempt by interest groups to stimulate widespread public engagement on an issue
single firm lobbyist
a lobbying professional employed by a specific company, like apple or exonmobil
trade association
a lobbying group that represents a collection of related buisnesses (e.g. the american petroleum institute and oil and natural gas companies)
independent lobbyists
sometimes called ‘‘hired guns’’ these individuals (usually seasoned lobbyists or former high-profile government staffers) are paid by several clients to promote their interests
revolving door
the tendency of washingtons most seasoned lobbyists to move from government work (e.g. as a presidential advisor) to lobbying and back again
intergovernmental lobbying
Attempts by public officials in one part of the government to influence their counterparts elsewhere in another branch or at a different state or local level
reverse lobbying
attempts by government officials to influence interest groups on behalf of their preferred policies
federal regulation of lobbying act
the initial US statute spelling out requirements on lobbyists active in congress, passed in 1946
gift ban
a regulation that eliminates (or sharply reduces the permitted dollar amount of) gifts from interest groups to lawmakers