Vocab

Question 1

Lobbying

Answer 1

Directly contacting public officials to advocate for public policy

Question 2

Implementation

Answer 2

Administrative agencies carrying out broad public policies, enforcing state laws, providing public services, and managing day-to-day government

Question 3

Discretion

Answer 3

Wide latitudes to make decisions within the broad requirements set out in the law

Question 4

Clientele groups

Answer 4

The groups most affected by a government agency regulations and programs; frequently these interest groups form close alliances with the agencies based on mutual support an accommodation

Question 5

Co-optation

Answer 5

Development of such a close alliance between state regulatory agencies in their clientele group that the regulated have, in fact, become the regulators; the interest group has captured such a complete control of the regulatory agency that they have essentially self regulated

Question 6

Astroturf lobbying

Answer 6

Special interest groups is trading demonstrations to get the impression of widespread in spontaneous public support

Question 7

Umbrella organizations

Answer 7

Associations formed by smaller interest joining together to promote common policy goals by making campaign contributions and hiring lobbyist to represent their interests

Question 8

Iron triangles

Answer 8

Long-standing alliances among interest groups, legislators, and bureaucrats held together by mutual self interest and act as subsystems in the legislative and administrative decision making process

Question 9

Issue networks

Answer 9

Dynamic alliances among a wide range of individuals and group activated by broad public policy questions

Question 10

Political movement

Answer 10

A mass alliance of like-minded groups and individuals seeking broad changes in the direction of government policies

Question 11

Pluralist theory

Answer 11

The view that, in a free society, public policy should be made by a multitude of competing interest groups, ensuring that policies will not benefit a single elite at the expense of the many

Question 12

Elitist theory

Answer 12

The view that the state is ruled by a small number of participants who exercise power to further their own self interest

Question 13

Revolving door

Answer 13

Interchange of employees between government agencies in the private businesses with which they had dealings

Question 14

Conflict of interest

Answer 14

A solution in which public officers stand to benefit personally from their official decision

Question 15

Late train contributions

Answer 15

Campaign funds given to the winning candidate after the election up to 30 days before the legislature comes into session. Such contributions are designed to curry favor with winning candidates 

Question 16

Term limits

Answer 16

Legally mandated restrictions on the number of times that a politician can be reelected to an office or the number of years that a person may hold a particular office

Question 17

Per diem

Answer 17

The amount paid each day that a legislator is working, both in regular and special sessions, and when committees meet during that interaction between sessions

Question 18

Retainer fees

Answer 18

Fees charged by lawyer legislators for services to clients, including those who have business with state agencies or may have lawsuits against state agencies

Question 19

Consulting fee

Answer 19

Fees charged by legislators who make contract with business clients to consult on matters pending in the legislature, thereby helping the clients to benefit from legislation being considered

Question 20

Descriptive representation

Answer 20

The idea that elected bodies should accurately represent not only constituents political views but also the ethnic and social characteristics that affect their political perspectives

Question 21

Single member district

Answer 21

A district that elects one senator or one representative; districts should be equal in populations

Question 22

Ex officio

Answer 22

Holding a position automatically because one also holds some other office

Question 23

Malapportionment (outlawed)

Answer 23

Drawing of district lines so that one districts population is substantially larger or smaller than others

Question 24

Reapportionment

Answer 24

The redistricting or redrawing of district lines, after every census to reflect the population changes over the previous decade

Question 25

Gerrymandering

Answer 25

The practice of drawing district lines in such a way to give candidates from a certain party, ethnic group, or faction an advantage

Question 26

Cracking

Answer 26

Gerrymandering technique of dividing up a minority party’s voters into so many geographical districts that are voting power in anyone district is negligible

Question 27

Packing (influence)

Answer 27

Gerrymandering technique in which members of a party are concentrated into one district, thereby ensuring that the group will influence only one district election rather than several

Question 28

Pairing

Answer 28

Placing two current office holders and parts of their political bases in the same elective district through redistricting

Question 29

Incumbent

Answer 29

Currently elected officials

Question 30

Resolution

Answer 30

A formal expression of legislative sentiment, such as recognizing people, memorializing events , or making decisions that do not involve passing statutes

Question 31

Simple resolution

Answer 31

A resolution passed by a single house of the legislature affecting only that house and needing no action by the governor

Question 32

Concurrent resolution

Answer 32

A resolution requiring the house and the senate to agree by simple majority and usually require an approval by the governor

Question 33

Joint resolution

Answer 33

A resolution, such as one dealing with constitutional amendments, that requires approval of both houses but not the governor. Ex: needs two thirds vote

Question 34

Delegate type representative

Answer 34

Legislators who interpret their role as being elected to represent a majority of voters interest in their districts

Question 35

Trustee type representatives

Answer 35

Legislators who interpret their role as being elected to use their judgment and making decisions in the best interest of the state as a whole 

Question 36

Bureaucratic oversight

Answer 36

The legislature monitoring state agencies to see that these agencies are carrying out public policies as intended

Question 37

Legislative redress

Answer 37

The power of the legislature to monitor and police itself

Question 38

Standing committees

Answer 38

Permanent committees that function throughout the legislative session. There are two types substantive and procedural

Question 39

Mark up

Answer 39

To rewrite or change q bill by adding or deleting provisions before it is considered for passage

Question 40

Pigeonhole

Answer 40

To set a bill aside and not take any action on it throughout the entire legislative session; many bills are pigeonholed

Question 41

Floor action

Answer 41

Action by the entire house or the entire to senate to debate, amend, and vote on legislation 

Question 42

Quorum

Answer 42

To take official action, both houses require 2/3 of the total membership to be present

Question 43

Floor leaders

Answer 43

The legislators who are responsible for getting legislation passed or defeated 

Question 44

Point of order

Answer 44

A formal objection that rules of procedure or not being followed on the house floor

Question 45

Chubbing

Answer 45

Slows down while legislative process

Question 46

Filibuster

Answer 46

A prolonged debate by a senator to delay passage of a bill