Chapter 7: Interest Groups Flashcards
climate control
the practice of using public outreach to build favorable public opinion of an organization
collective goods
outcomes shared by the general public; also called public goods
economic incentive
motivation to join an interest group because the group works for policies that will provide members with material benefits
electioneering
working to influence the election of candidates who support the organization’s issues
elite theory
a theory that holds that a group of wealthy, educated individuals wields most political power
free rider problem
the phenomenon of someone deriving benefit from others’ actions
interest group
an organization that seeks to achieve goals by influencing government decision making
- have a strong influence on gov
iron triangle
interest groups - $, electoral support → congress - enacts laws in favor of IG + $ → bureaucracy - enforces laws
issue network
the fluid web of connections among those concerned about a policy and those who create and administer the policy
lobby
to communicate directly with policymakers on an interest group’s behalf
pluralist theory
a theory that holds that policy making is a competition among diverse interest groups that ensure the representation of individual interests
political action committee (PAC)
an entity whose specific goals is to raise and spend money to influence the outcome of elections
public employee unions
labor organizations comprising federal, state, and municipal workers, including police officers and teachers
purposive incentive
motivation to join an interest group based on the belief in the group’s cause from an ideological or a moral standpoint
rational choice theory
the idea that from an economic perspective it is not rational for people to participate in collective action when they can secure the collective good without participating
social capital
the many ways in which our lives are improved in many ways by social connections
social movement
a large, often informal group or individuals or organizations striving for a broad, common goal, frequently centered in a significant change to the social or political order
social incentive
the motivation to join an interest group based on the companionship and the satisfaction derived from socializing with others that it offers
umbrella organizations
interest groups that represent collective groups of industries or corporations
key functions
- educate the public
- access to activism
- mobilize citizens
- electoral functions
- provide important info to policy makers
- protect the common good
- checks & balances
who joins?
high income + educated → more informed & willing to invest
social movements: women, black, gay
organizational resources
members (quantity & quality) & finance ($ buys power)
→ success
organizational environment
popular leaders & low opposition → success
economic interest groups
business oriented
ideological interest groups
based on motivations and goals
foreign policy
the balance between foreign governments and american benefits
interest groups & pac
interest group focuses on issue → PAC raises $ for election to further IG
litigation
take to court
