Chapter 6 vocab Flashcards
501(c) groups
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.
527 groups
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.
Amicus curiae brief
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
Bipartisan campaign reform act (brca)
A law that limits hard money contributions during each election cycle to 2000$ from individuals, and 5000$ from PACs
By-product theory
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
Citizens United v. Federal election commission(fec)
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.
Coalition building
A means of expanding an interesting groups influence that involves working with other groups
Collective action
Action in which a group of people work together for the provision of public goods
Direct lobbying
Direct contact by lobbyist with government officials in an effort to influence policy.
Exchange theory
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
Federal election campaign act (FECA)
A 1971 act that allowed unions and corporations to form political action committees to raise and contribute campaign funds to candidates.
Free rider
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.
Group entrepreneur
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.
Hard money
Campaign contributions made directly to candidates and regulated by law.
Indirect lobbying
The use of intermediaries by lobbyist to speak to government officials, with the intent to influence policy.
Interest groups
A group organized around a set of views or preferences, and who seek to influence others in order to promote or protect those preferences.
Lobbying
Activity of a group or person that attempts to influence public policy making on behalf of the individual or the group
Lobbyist
Individual whose job is to contact and attempt to influence governmental officials on behalf of others
Logrolling
The exchange of support on issues between individuals or groups in order to gain mutual advantages
Material benefits
Tangible rewards gained from membership in an interest group
Pluralist explanation (of interest groups)
The idea that interest groups form in reaction to problems created by particular social or economic events
Political action committee (PACs)
Organizations specifically created to raise money and make political contributions on behalf of an interest group
Public good
A benefit that is provided to everyone and cannot be withheld from those who did not participate in its provision(think of air)
Purposive benefits
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
Rational
Making choices that maximize benefits and minimize cost
Selective benefit
Benefits provided by an interest group that are available only to members
Single-issue groups
Groups that take positions and are active on only one specific issue(abortion, guns, gay rights)
Soft money
Campaign contributions given to political parties rather than directly to candidates.
Solidary benefits
Satisfaction gained from membership in interest groups such as friendship and a sense of belonging to a group or meeting people with similar interest.
Super PAC
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
Test case
A lawsuit filed to test the constitutionality of some government policy.
