Pre-Constitution/Interest Groups/Media (Part of Final) Flashcards
What were the eight weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
- No ability to collect taxes
- No executive power
- No national court system
- One vote per state
- 9/13 to pass a law
- 13/13 to amend a law
- No regulation of interstate commerce
- Firm league of friendship (sovereign states agreeing to help each other)
What was the Virginia Plan?
- Two houses
- Population based
What was the New Jersey Plan?
- Unicameral
- Equal representation
What was the Connecticut (“Great”) Compromise?
- Bicameral
- Equal representation in the senate and population based representation in the house
What was the 3/5 Compromise?
- Slaves were worth 60% of a person
Strong central government
Federalist: Support
Anti-federalist: States rights-ists (the 10th amendment made them feel better)
Bill of Rights
Federalists: No (If it was written, it could place a limit on rights which were actually NATURAL rights)
Anti-federalists: Support
What is a sound bite?
A small clip of what someone says designed to create a lasting impression
- 1968: Avg. 42 sec
- 1988: Avg.
What are leaks?
The release of information that’s supposed to be secret
What are the three differences between interest groups and parties?
- Parties put forth candidates, interest groups support them
- Parties deal with several issues, interest groups focus on specific ones
- Interest groups can deal with things other than politics
What is lobbying?
Going to politicians and supporting points of view
What is electioneering?
Helping people get elected through PACs, donations, and endorsements
What are litigations?
Taking court cases on behalf of candidates
What is “appealing to the public”?
Advertising and public relations
What are examples of economic interest groups?
Unions, professional groups
What are examples of consumer and public interest lobbies?
Groups that support the best interest of the public
What is pluralism?
- Interest groups are positive because they provide a link between the people and the government
- Lots of groups means that one doesn’t get too powerful
- Groups follow rules because they don’t want bad publicity
What is the “elite”?
Only a few interest groups have real power and influence
What is hyperpluralism?
Too many groups to the point where nothing gets done
What is an institutional interest group?
A bigger group like corporations, counties, and universities
What are individual interest groups?
Individual people with common beliefs
What is a revolving door?
A member of Congress becomes a lobbyist for an interest group after leaving office
What is the iron triangle?
The government happens in small pockets of power
Executive agencies, interest groups, congressional committees
What is Olson’s Law?
The theory that a number of people can actually be negative for interest groups (more people = more free riders)
What is a PACs?
An organization that raises money to support and fund candidates
What is a solidary incentive?
Being around people with the same ideology and beliefs as you
What is a material incentive?
- Shirts, stickers, discounts, etc.
- Works for the collective good
What is a purposive incentive?
- Supporting a cause because you’re passionate about the cause
