Final Exam Flashcards
What is a number of citizens united and activated by a common interest opposed to the rights of others or the public good?
Faction
Madison suggested a few ways that government could control the effects of faction, what were they?
Remove the causes: get rid of liberty or impose common interests & control the effects: republic, public-interested leaders, federal system, large number of leaders
What is an association of individuals or organization that attempts to influence public policy to benefit themselves or their cause?
interest group
Interest groups maintain this form of representation when they contract out lobbying services to other firms
surrogate
To maintain direct representation, interest group need either _________ or _______
money (resources); members
What are the political and societal changes that have influences the balance of power in the interest group system?
Expansion of government
Supreme Court action
Shifts in party power
Evidence indicates the _______ network exerts considerable influence on the Republican Party and its economic policies
Koch
This theory of group political emphasizes the importance of groups in politics and views groups as critical to providing the public with representation
pluralism
One objection to pluralism is that this type of group dominates the interest group system
business interests
Proponents of pluralism argue that group conflict with produce beneficial policies, but group conflict tends to…
Fail to solve problems and group interest nor the public interest are supported
Olson argued that most adversely affected individuals do not form groups because of this…
collective action dilemma
One component of the collective action dilemma is the temptation individuals have to _________ or forgo contribution
free ride
Group efforts are most likely for this type of group
privileged
Large groups can overcome the collective action dilemma is they provide _________ incentives
selective
__________ incentives are rewards that derive from the act of particiaption itself
purposive
Beyond money, identify three distinct ways groups can play a role in elections
recruiting, endorsements, voter mobilization, communication with members, advertising
Hartney examined the effect of endorsements by __________ on local school board elections
teacher’s unions
Hartney conducted his research in two states: __________ and ___________
California and Florida
Endorsements by teacher’s unions increased the likelihood that candidates won elections even in __________ states
Republicans, anti-union, or pro-charter states
Identify types of voter mobilization efforts
voter registration drives, door-to-door canvassing, phone banks, direct mail, commercial advertising, voter guides, and Election Day support like transportation
Groups are the second most important source of campaign funds. Who is the first?
Individuals
These two acts regulate contributions to candidates, parties, and groups
FECA and BCRA
What were the two main actions of FECA?
Disclosure and limits
Organizations can be motivated to contribute to candidates for two reasons. What are they?
Access and ideology
Policy
This type of advertisement expressly calls for the election or defeat of a candidate for federal office
Independent
In this court case, the Supreme Court overturned the ban on corporations and unions from using corporate and union funds to pay for campaign messages that expressly support or oppose federal candidates
Citizens United v. FEC
This type of organization is formed for non-political purposes and does not disclose to the FEC, by can sponsor advertisements
501c
This court case essentially created SuperPACs by overturning the contribution limits for groups that engage in only independent spending
Speechnow.org v. FEC
Groups use their members or the public to pressure Congress to support the group’s agenda
grassroots lobbying or outside strategy
Groups consult with legislators and their staff to persuade them to take (or not take) action
inside strategy or lobbying
State legislators across multiple states introduce legislation drafted by interest groups. What is this type of legislation called?
Model Legislation
Ways in which lobbyists gain access to members of Congress
Contributions
Constituency concentration
technical information
coalitions
Types of legislators that are targeted by interest groups
committee members
party leadership
appropriations and rules committees
Groups persuaded members of Congress by providing
technical or political information
Identify reasons why researchers find a weak link between campaign contributions and legislative voting
- contributions buy access or affect wording and activity
- contributions are often non-cash forms of support (issue ads, volunteers, etc.)
- most legislators are not persuadable, but those that are may affect the outcome
- successful lobbying involves preventing a roll call vote
Requires lobbyists to disclose lobbying activities and expenditures biannually
Lobbying Disclosure Act
During presidential appointments, these types of groups expect to be consulted
Groups in the President’s electoral coalition and important groups in a given policy area
Implements laws passed by Congress through adminstrative rule making
bureaucracy
Within this type of rule making, drafts of regulations are published in the Federal Register and the public (including groups) can write comments about the proposals
notice-and-comment or informal
Within this type of rule making, hearings are mandatory and the rules must be justified on the basis of the comments/hearings
formal or rule making on the record
Rule making advantages groups (trade associations, unions & corporations) with ___________ & ____________
resources and motivation
After rules have been implemented, groups can…
judicial review, congressional review, presidential review
Some observers have argued that agencies surrender to those they are responsible for regulating. Identify the reasons thy this might happen.
Budget constraints
work overload
time delays
conflicts of interest
lack of political support for the agency
In the context of judicial appointments, there is very little group can do to affect the nomination itself. Name the two groups that have been involved in recent appointments.
ABA and Federalist Society
Groups sponsor direct litigation or ________ _______ to obtain court rulings favorable to the groups’s polticial objectives
test cases
For a group to get a case heard before the courts, they must be an appropriate party to it. This is called….
standing
Originally used to inform judges of precedent, but now are viewed as friends of the parties to the case
amicus briefs
Why do interested choose to influence the Court by submitting amicus briefs
less cost
lower risk
immediate effect
visibility
Name the groups that top the list on amicus brief filings
US Government
CATO Institute
ACLU
National Association of Criminal Defense
Chamber of Commerce
Americans for prosperity
Do appellants have greater success with friendly amicus curie breifs
Yes
