Chapter 6

Question 1

Pluralism

Answer 1

A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.

Question 2

Interest group

Answer 2

A collection of people who share a common interest or attitude and seek to influence government for specific ends. Interest groups usually work within the framework of government and try to achieve their goals through tactics such as lobbying.

Question 3

Movement

Answer 3

A large body of people interested in a common issue, idea, or concern that is of continuing significance and who are willing to take action. Movements seek to change attitudes or institutions, not just policies.

Question 4

Open shop

Answer 4

A company with a labor agreement under which union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment.

Question 5

Closed shop

Answer 5

A company with a labor agreement under which union membership can be a condition of employment.

Question 6

Free rider

Answer 6

An individual who does not join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group’s influence.

Question 7

Nongovernmental organization (NGO)

Answer 7

A nonprofit association or group operating outside of government that advocates and pursues policy objectives.

Question 8

Collective action

Answer 8

How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives, including how to get individuals and groups to participate and cooperate. The term has many applications in the various social sciences such as political science, sociology, and economics.

Question 9

Public choice

Answer 9

Synonymous with “collective action,” it specifically studies how government officials, politicians, and voters respond to positive and negative incentives.

Question 10

Federal register

Answer 10

An official document, published every weekday, which lists the new and proposed regulations of executive departments and regulatory agencies.

Question 11

Amicus curiae brief

Answer 11

Literally, a “friend of the court” brief, filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.

Question 12

Lobbyist

Answer 12

A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.

Question 13

Lobbying

Answer 13

Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact.

Question 14

Revolving door

Answer 14

Employment cycle in which individuals who work for governmental agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern.

Question 15

Issue network

Answer 15

Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common policy concern.

Question 16

Political action committee (PAC)

Answer 16

The political arm of an interest group that is legally entitled to raise funds on a voluntary basis from members, stockholders, or employees to contribute funds to candidates or political parties.

Question 17

Leadership PAC

Answer 17

A PAC formed by an office holder that collects contributions from individuals and other PACs and then makes contributions to other candidates and political parties.

Question 18

Bundling

Answer 18

A tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals (each limited to $2,000) and present them to a candidate or political party as a “bundle,” thus increasing the PAC’s influence.

Question 19

Soft money

Answer 19

Unlimited amounts of money that political parties previously could raise for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contribution to state and local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.

Question 20

Quid pro quo

Answer 20

Something given with the expectation of receiving something in return.

Question 21

Independent expenditures

Answer 21

The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals, groups, and parties can spend unlimited amounts in campaigns for or against candidates as long as they operate independently from the candidates. When an individual, group, or party does so, they are making an independent expenditure.

Question 22

Issue advocacy

Answer 22

Unlimited and undisclosed spending by an individual or group on communications that do not use words like “vote for” or “vote against”, although much of this activity is actually about electing or defeating candidates.

Question 23

Faction

Answer 23

A term the founders used to refer to political parties and special interests or interest groups.