Chapter 6

Question 1

Interest Group

Answer 1

an organized group of individuals sharing common objectives who actively attempt to influence policymakers; (right to form interest groups and to lobby the government is protected by the Bill of Rights); seeks to affect the policies or practices of the government

Question 2

Social Group

Answer 2

an organized group sharing common views and beliefs who only aim to entertain and/or educate members with no broader purpose (in theory: a church)

Question 3

Disturbance Theory

Answer 3

the theory (coined by political scientist David B. Truman) that a social group may become an interest group in response to a perceived threat to the group’s interests; ex: NRA became politicized when attempts to regulate or ban firearms increased in frequency

Question 4

Entrepreneurial Theory

Answer 4

the theory (coined by political scientist Robert H. Salisbury) that a social group may become an interest group if the leader believes that it is pertinent to the group’s survival; ex: AARP

Question 5

Purposive Incentive

Answer 5

a reason to join an interest group - satisfaction resulting from working for a cause in which one believes; sense of self-purpose

Question 6

Solidary Incentive

Answer 6

a reason to join an interest group - pleasure in associating with like-minded individuals; from French solidarite “mutual responsibility; complete”

Question 7

Material Incentive

Answer 7

a reason to join an interest group - practical benefits such as discounts, subscriptions, or group insurance

Question 8

Free Rider Problem

Answer 8

(free loader) the difficulty that exists when individuals can enjoy the outcome of an interest group’s efforts without having to contribute, such as by becoming members of the group

Question 9

Amicus Curiae

Answer 9

from Latin “friend of the court”; brief filed by a group that has a legitimized interest in a court decision regarding a lawsuit

Question 10

Pluralist Theory

Answer 10

a theory that views politics as a contest among various interest groups - at all levels of government - to gain benefits for their members

Question 11

Political Party

Answer 11

a group of individuals who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine policy

Question 12

Public-Interest Group

Answer 12

an interest group formed for the purpose of working for the “public good”; ex: American Civil Liberties Union and Common Cause

Question 13

Trade Organization

Answer 13

an association formed by members of a particular industry, such as the oil industry or the trucking industry, to develop common standards and goals for the industry; trade organizations, as groups, lobby government for legislation or regulations that specifically benefit their groups

Question 14

Labor Force

Answer 14

all the people over the age of sixteen who are working or actively looking for jobs

Question 15

Right-to-work Laws

Answer 15

laws that ban unions from collecting dues or other fees from workers whom they represent but who have not actually joined the union (free rider issue)

Question 16

Tort Reform

Answer 16

reform advocated by organizations such as the American Medical Association (AMA) due to how easy it is for lawyers to sure physicians, insurance companies, and other businesses, and how generous settlements drive up the cost of health care and other goods

Question 17

Factions

Answer 17

groups that compete for control of a political party

Question 18

Direct Technique

Answer 18

any method used by an interest group to interact with government officials directly to further the group’s goals; ex: lobbying and providing election support

Question 19

Lobbying

Answer 19

all of the attempts by organizations or by individuals to influence the passage, defeat, or contents of legislation or to influence the administrative decisions of government

Question 20

Lobbyist

Answer 20

an individual who handles a particular interest group’s lobbying efforts

Question 21

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Answer 21

a committee that is established by a corporation, labor union, or special interest group to raise funds and make contributions on the establishing organization’s behalf

Question 22

Indirect Technique

Answer 22

any method used by interest groups to influence government officials through third parties, such as voters

Question 23

Rating System

Answer 23

a system by which a particular interest group evaluates (rates) the performance of legislators based on how often the legislators have voted with the group’s position on particular issues

Question 24

Independent Expenditure

Answer 24

an expenditure for activities that are independent from (not coordinated with) those of a political candidate or a political party; ex: “issue ads” on TV or radio, funded by an interest group, taking a position on a particular issue

Question 25

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Answer 25

banned unlimited donations to campaigns and political parties, called “soft money”

Question 26

Revolving Door Syndrome

Answer 26

the observation that those who leave positions with the federal government often become lobbyists or consultants for the private-interest groups they helped to regulate