Unit 2 Flashcards
Centralized v. Confederation
Cen.: leadership is concentrated, can be challenging to figure out what members want
Con.: several independent, local org., easier to learn what members want (often have conflict)
Mass Association
i.g.´s that have a large number of dues-paying indi.´s as members (ex. AARP)
Peak Association
i.g´s whose members are businesses or other org.´s vs. indi.´s
Solidary Benefits
satisfaction derived from working with like-minded people
Purposive Benefits
satisfaction from working to achieve a desired policy goal (to have purpose)
Material Benefits
benefits given only to members of an i.g.
Inside Strategies
I: actions taken inside gov. (fed., state, or local)
- Drafting legislation + regulation
- Direct lobbying
- Research, hearings, working with other i.g.´s
- Litigation (taking gov. to court)
Outside Strategies
O: actions taken outside gov.
- Grassroots lobbying (relies on participation by groups members, ex. writing letters to congressmen)
- Mobilizing Public Opinion
- Electioneering
- Cultivating Media Contacts
- Bypassing gov. (referendum, initiative)
Litigation
taking gov. to court (not consistent with the Constitution or misinterpreting a law)
Grassroots Lobbying
attempt to influence legislation by trying to affect public opinion
Referendum
direct vote by citizens on a policy change proposed by a legislature or another gov. body
Initiative
direct vote by citizens on a policy change proposed by fellow citizens or organized groups outside gov. (typically require a certain # of signatures in support)
Trade Association
a ‘not-for-profit organization made up of a collection of companies and/or individuals with common interests
Filtering
Editors and journalists decide what stories to focus on
Framing
Editors and journalists decide how to present a story to the public
Electoral college
decided by senators and house of reps (how many per state)
Hard money
contributors intended to help elect/defend a specific candidate (has limits)
Soft money
funds used for other activities (does not have limits)
Scorekeeper
how the media tracks political success and failure (ups and downs of candidates, ¨horse-race¨ journalism)
Gatekeeper
how editors/owners in media determine what is newsworthy + therefore what info the public will get (lots of issues, not enough time/outlets/space)
Watchdog
obligation to keep an eye on gov. or industry (investigative reporting, Watergate, pentagon papers)
Retrospective
- track records of candi.´s and/or parties
- focus on what has happened (past)
Prospective
anticipating future performance + policy stances
PACs
can only contribute $5,000 to an indi.´s campaign (+ vice versa, cam. -> PAC)
Super PAC
- raise and spend unlimited funds (CANNOT donate directly to a candi.)
- ALL SPENDING MUST BE INDEPENDENT
- NO CORDINATING WITH A CAMPAIGN
Citzens United v. FEC (2010)
corporate funding is an expression of FREE SPEECH
- gave rise to Super PACs
- overturned parts of BCRA
Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act (2002)
tried to limit soft money, has since been overturned
Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
candi.´s can spend as much of their own money as they want (FREE SPEECH)
Who controls voting regulation?
STATES, not fed. gov.!!
Baker v. Carr (1962)
SCOTUS established ¨one person, one vote¨
- people should have equal rep. in voting
Astroturf Lobbying
masking the sponsor of a message or organization
