Interest groups (14 questions) Flashcards
Iron triangle
Has one angle in an executive branch program, another angle in Senate or House legislative committee or subcommittee, and a third angle in some highly stable and well-organized interest group.
Free rider problem
As the number of involved persons increases, or as the size of the group increases, the free rider phenomenon becomes more of a problem.
Revolving door
The movement of high-level employees from public sector jobs to private sector jobs and vice versa. The idea is that there is a revolving door between the two sectors as many legislators and regulators become consultants for the industries they once regulated and some private industry heads receive government appointments that relate to their former private posts.
Political action committees (PACs)
Private groups that raise and distribute funds for use in election campaigns.
-focus on influencing elections rather than trying to influence the elected
Members of an interest group
a
Outside lobbying (i.e. outside game)
a form of lobbying in which an interest group seeks to use public pressure as a means of influencing officials.
Federalist #10
Federalist, no. 10, is the most frequently quoted of the group. In it, Madison discussed the idea of political factions. At the time it was commonly agreed that democratic society needed to prevent factions because they would ultimately undermine the government and lead to violence. Madison agreed that factions can divide government but came to the opposite conclusion: the more factions, the better. In Madison’s view more factions would make it less likely that any one party or coalition of parties would be able to gain control of government and invade the rights of other citizens. The system of checks and balances contained in the Constitution was part of Madison’s plan for frustrating factions.
Characteristics of a successful interest group
- Information used to persuade ppl in office
- Political Skills
- Money is the motor to politics; campaign contribution, research, higher higher people
- Public Support
Citizens United
The Citizens United ruling, released in January 2010, tossed out the corporate and union ban on making independent expenditures and financing electioneering communications. It gave corporations and unions the green light to spend unlimited sums on ads and other political tools, calling for the election or defeat of individual candidates.
Campaign contributions (2 questions)
a contribution made to a politician or a political campaign or a political party
Lobbyists
the practice of lobbying; the activities of a lobbyist
Access
Important strategy for interest groups
Earmarks
Congressional directive that funds should be spent on a specific project.
