social 12- chapter 9

Question 1

interest group

Answer 1

a collection of people who share certain views on public matters and work to shape public policy to their benefit.

Question 2

public policy

Answer 2

includes all of the goals that a government pursues in the many areas of human affairs in which it is involved.

Question 3

pluralistic

Answer 3

made up of several groups with different ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds.

Question 4

elite

Answer 4

a select, privileged group in a society.

Question 5

public affairs

Answer 5

those issues and events that concern the people at large.

Question 6

trade association

Answer 6

interest groups that segments of the business community have.

Question 7

labor union

Answer 7

An organization of workers who share the same type of job or who work in the same industry.

Question 8

public interest group

Answer 8

organization that works for the best interests of the overall community.

Question 9

lobbying

Answer 9

the process by which organized interests attempt to affect the decisions and actions of public officials.

Question 10

lobbyists

Answer 10

those people who try to persuade public officials to do those things that interests groups want them to do.

Question 11

amicus curiae brief

Answer 11

not a party in the court case, but can present an argument.

Question 12

grass root pressures

Answer 12

pressures from members of an interest group or from the people at large, often beginning at a very basic level- to bear on public officials.

Question 13

propaganda

Answer 13

a technique of persuasion aimed at influencing individual or group behaviors.

Question 14

electioneering

Answer 14

help a group or public official get elected.

Question 15

interest groups are sometimes called:

Answer 15

“pressure groups”, “organized interests”, and “special interests”

Question 16

where can interest goups be found?

Answer 16

Wherever public policies are made or can be influenced. Ex: Capital Hill (DC), State Legislature (St Paul), Local Governments

Question 17

three ways in which political parties and interes groups differ

Answer 17

1. parties nominate candidates for public office, interest groups do not.
2. parties are chiefly interested in winning elections and thereby controlling government. Interest groups are interested in controlling or influencing the policies in government.
3. parties are concerned with the whole range of public affairs. Interest groups focus on the issues that directly affect the interests of their members.

Question 18

six valuable functions of interest groups

Answer 18

1. organized interests help to stimulate awareness of an interest in public affairs.
2. represent their members on the basis of shared attitudes rather than on the basis of geography.
3. organized interests often provide useful, specialized, and detailed info to government.
4. interest groups are vehicles for political participation.
5. add another element to the checks and balances feature of the political process
6. regularly compete with one another in the public arena.

Question 19

four criticisms of interest groups

Answer 19

1. influence far out of proportion to their size or importance/contribution to the public good.
2. sometimes hard to tell just who or how many people a group really represents.
3. many groups do not represent the views of all of the people for who they claim to speak.
4. some groups use tactics that, if they were to become widespread, would undermine the whole political system.

Question 20

The largest number of interest groups have been formed on the basis of ……

Answer 20

economic interest

Question 21

what is an issue oriented group and provide examples

Answer 21

Groups that promote a cause or idea. The American Civil Liberties Union, Women’s Political Caucus, National Right-to-life Committee

Question 22

intrest groups direct and indirect approach differences

Answer 22

Direct efforts involve immediate face to face contacts with policy makers. Indirect efforts contact their members of congress with letters, phone calls, and emails.

Question 23

where does lobbying occur?

Answer 23

Wherever public policy is made.

Question 24

brown vs topeka board of education

Answer 24

Interest groups also influenced court decisions (NAACP)

Question 25

lobbyists often provide what to congress?

Answer 25

useful information

Question 26

lobbyists are ready to do such things as:

Answer 26

1. make campaign contributions
2. provide information
3. write speeches
4. draft legislation

Question 27

lobbyists work hard to influence what 3 things:

Answer 27

1. committee action
2. floor debate
3. final vote in a legislative body