Interest Groups Flashcards
What are interest groups?
Factions, people who come together to advocate for a cause which they have common interest in.
What are the three names for interest groups? What are their connotations?
Special Interest- negative
Lobbyists- somewhat negative
Advocacy Group- positive
What are the five different types of interest groups?
Economic Groups
Single Issue Groups
Public Interest Groups
Foreign Policy
Government (Public Sector)
What do economic groups do?
Want more economic power for their kind of work. Pursue what benefits them financially.
What do single issue groups do?
High intensity about a specific issue or cause.
What do Public Interest groups do?
High intensity about the issues of a particular group (such as minorities). Claim to represent the public’s interest.
What do foreign policy groups do?
Promote or oppose foreign policies
How are public sector interest groups (government) interest groups?
Advocate for the government itself.
What are the two incentives for joining an interest group?
Solidarity- able to be with people who share similar interests.
-Material- benefits of a group
What is the disincentive for joining interest groups?
Still are represented without membership.
What is pluralism?
Multiple and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.
What is interest group pluralism? What is the benefit of this?
Varied/Overlapping nature of interest groups. Limits the concentration of power.
What is an open shop?
Labor agreements which union membership cannot be a requirement as condition of employment.
What is a closed shop?
Labor agreements which union membership can be a requirement as condition of employment.
What is a free rider?
Someone who doesn’t join a group representing their interests yet receives benefits.
What are professional associations?
Groups of individuals who share common profession and organized for political purposes related to profession.
What is a nongovernmental organizations?
Non-profit group or association operating outside government that advocates and pursues policy objectives.
What is the technique of political interest groups where they hire people to appeal to Congress?
Register or hire lobbyists
What is the technique of political interest groups where they appeal to the media?
Mass media appeals
What are the two techniques of political interest groups that relate to the media?
Raise awareness
Provide Information
What is the technique of political interest groups where they carry on lawsuits?
Litigation
What is the technique of political interest groups where they support a candidate?
Run issue ads for candidates
What is the technique of political interest groups where they openly show support to a political party?
Donate to political party
What is the technique of political interest groups that has something to do with PAC’s?
Create PAC’s tied to interest groups
What is collective action?
How groups form and organize to pursue goals.
What is public choice?
Synonymous with collective action. Studies how government officials politicians and voters respond to positive and negative incentives.
What is one solution to the free rider problem?
Pay for benefits of special interest groups through taxes.
What are the most important characteristics of groups? (5)
Size
Resources
Cohesiveness
Leadership
Techniques
What are the three types of people in a mass membership organization?
Formal leaders with jobs in department (few)
Devoted members (few hundred)
People who sing their names but not totally faithful (thousands)
What is lobbying?
Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials.
What is a federal register?
An official document published every weekday that lists new and proposed regulations of departments and agencies.
What is grassroots vs. astroturf?
Grassroots- support from people
Astroturf- orchestrated or initiated but looks to be grassroots
What is the amicus curiae brief?
Brief filed by an individual urging Supreme Court to hear case.
What is bundling?
Tactic which PAC’s collect money and present them to candidate in a bundle.
American Medical As., teamsters (shipping), National education as. and businesses are part of what kind of interest group?
Economic
NARAL, NRA, and PETA are what type of interest group?
Single issue groups
AARP, BLM, NAACP, UnidosUs, and NOW are what type of interest group?
Public
What is the iron triangle?
Three way alliance between Congress, the Federal bureaucracy, and Interest Groups.
