Chapter 6 vocab

Question 0

501(c) groups

Answer 0

Tax exempt organizations that can raise and spend unlimited money to promote “social welfare”. They may advocate for or against candidates, but political activities cannot become their primary purpose. They can keep their donors and names of members secret.

Question 1

527 groups

Answer 1

Tax exempt organizations that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections. They can engage in voter mobilization and issue advocacy, but they cannot expressly advocate the election or defeat of a federal candidate.

Question 2

Amicus curiae brief

Answer 2

A legal brief filed by someone or some organization who holds an interest in a case but is not an actual party.

Amicus curiae means “friend of the court” and is basically when in outsider has an opinion or interest that may influence a court case. Even if it doesn’t involve them

Question 3

Bipartisan campaign reform act (brca)

Answer 3

A law that limits hard money contributions during each election cycle to 2000$ from individuals, and 5000$ from PACs

Question 4

By-product theory

Answer 4

The theory that most people will not engage in collective action with the sole aim of producing public goods. Instead groups build membership by offering selective benefits available only to the group

Question 5

Citizens United v. Federal election commission(fec)

Answer 5

Decided that a provision in the McCain-feingold act prohibiting corporations and unions from broadcasting “electioneering communications” within 60 days of a general election is an unconstitutional limitation on the 1st amendment guarantee of free speech. It also held that corporations and labor unions can spend unlimited amounts of money in campaigns.

Question 6

Coalition building

Answer 6

A means of expanding an interesting groups influence that involves working with other groups

Question 7

Collective action

Answer 7

Action in which a group of people work together for the provision of public goods

Question 8

Direct lobbying

Answer 8

Direct contact by lobbyist with government officials in an effort to influence policy.

Question 9

Exchange theory

Answer 9

The theory that interest groups form as a result of a deal-an exchange-between a group entrepreneur and an unorganized interest that may be under represented or not represented at all

Question 10

Federal election campaign act (FECA)

Answer 10

A 1971 act that allowed unions and corporations to form political action committees to raise and contribute campaign funds to candidates.

Question 11

Free rider

Answer 11

A person who makes the strictly rational choice to enjoy the benefits of public goods without incurring the cost of providing them, thus presenting a dilemma to the community as a whole.

Question 12

Group entrepreneur

Answer 12

Someone who invest resources(such as time, money, and organizational skills) to creat and build an organization that offers various types of benefits(material, solitary, and purposive) to entice others to join the group.

Question 13

Hard money

Answer 13

Campaign contributions made directly to candidates and regulated by law.

Question 14

Indirect lobbying

Answer 14

The use of intermediaries by lobbyist to speak to government officials, with the intent to influence policy.

Question 15

Interest groups

Answer 15

A group organized around a set of views or preferences, and who seek to influence others in order to promote or protect those preferences.

Question 16

Lobbying

Answer 16

Activity of a group or person that attempts to influence public policy making on behalf of the individual or the group

Question 17

Lobbyist

Answer 17

Individual whose job is to contact and attempt to influence governmental officials on behalf of others

Question 18

Logrolling

Answer 18

The exchange of support on issues between individuals or groups in order to gain mutual advantages

Question 19

Material benefits

Answer 19

Tangible rewards gained from membership in an interest group

Question 20

Pluralist explanation (of interest groups)

Answer 20

The idea that interest groups form in reaction to problems created by particular social or economic events

Question 21

Political action committee (PACs)

Answer 21

Organizations specifically created to raise money and make political contributions on behalf of an interest group

Question 22

Public good

Answer 22

A benefit that is provided to everyone and cannot be withheld from those who did not participate in its provision(think of air)

Question 23

Purposive benefits

Answer 23

Benefits that interest group members derive from feeling good about contributing to a worthy cause in an effort to improve the lot of social in general, not just the individual concerns of the groups members

You feel good when you help the homeless

Question 24

Rational

Answer 24

Making choices that maximize benefits and minimize cost

Question 25

Selective benefit

Answer 25

Benefits provided by an interest group that are available only to members

Question 26

Single-issue groups

Answer 26

Groups that take positions and are active on only one specific issue(abortion, guns, gay rights)

Question 27

Soft money

Answer 27

Campaign contributions given to political parties rather than directly to candidates.

Question 28

Solidary benefits

Answer 28

Satisfaction gained from membership in interest groups such as friendship and a sense of belonging to a group or meeting people with similar interest.

Question 29

Super PAC

Answer 29

A type of political committee that can raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations, and wealthy individuals to independently support or oppose political candidates. Unlike traditional PACs, super PACs may not contribute directly to or coordinate with political candidates’ campaigns

Question 30

Test case

Answer 30

A lawsuit filed to test the constitutionality of some government policy.