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interest group

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an organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy

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faction

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a group, usually a small part of a larger group, united around some cause; disagreement within an organization

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social capital

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Democratic and civic habits of discussion, compromise, and respect for differences, which grow out of participation in voluntary organizations.

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civic virtue

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People who exemplify this quality go beyond their obligations by taking an active role in improving the community and the experiences of other members of the community.

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pluralist theory

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A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.

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disturbance theory

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Political scientist David B. Truman's theory that interest groups form in part to counteract the efforts of other groups.

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transactions theory

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The theory that public policies are the result of narrowly defined exchanges among political actors.

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population ecology theory

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The theory that the life of a political organization is conditional on the density and diversity of the interest group population in a given area.

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elite theory

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A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization.

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hyperpluralist theory

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A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. Hyperpluralism is an extreme, exaggerated, or perverted form of pluralism

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political action committees (PAC's)

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Federally mandated, funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms. A corporation, union, or some other interest group can create one and register it with the Federal Election Commission, which monitors its expenditures.

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earmarks

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Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents. Usually "hidden"

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subgovernments

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A network of groups within the American political system that exercise a great deal of control over specific policy areas. Also known as iron triangles, they are composed of interest group leaders interested in a particular policy, the government agency in charge of administering that policy, and the members of congressional committees and subcommittees handling policy.

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iron triangles

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mutually dependent relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees. They dominate some areas of domestic policymaking.

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issue network

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Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common policy concern. (interest groups, congressional sub/committees , and government agencies)

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collective good

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Something of value (money, a tax write-off, prestige, clean air, and so on) that cannot be withheld from a group member.

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selective benefits

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Goods (such as information publications, travel discounts, and group insurance rates) that a group can restrict to those who pay their annual dues.

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purposive benefits

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Selective benefits of group membership that emphasize the purpose and accomplishments of the group.

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solidary benefits

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Satisfaction derived from the experience of working with like-minded people, even if the group's efforts do not achieve the desired impact. (friendship, networking)

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material benefits

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Goods and services with real, monetary value. The actual goods and services that come from belonging to an interest group

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informational benefits

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Special newsletters, periodicals, training programs, conferences, and other information provided to members of groups to entice others to join.

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public interest groups

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an interest group that seeks to institute certain public policies of benefit to all or most people in this country

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economic interest groups

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groups that organize to influence government policy for the economic benefit of their members

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government interest groups

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efforts by state and local governments to lobby the federal government have escalated in recent years. The federal government has lobbied in individual states too.

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influence peddling

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takes bribes in order to use their positions to grant favors and/or sell information to which their co-conspirators aren't entitled

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lobbying

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direct contact made by an interest group representative in order to persuade government officials to support the policies their interest group favors

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lobbyist

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someone who tries to persuade legislators to vote for bills that the lobbyists favor

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electioneering

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Direct group involvement in the electoral process. Groups can help fund campaigns, provide testimony, and get members to work for candidates, and some form political action committees (PAC)

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patron

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someone who supports or champions something

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class action lawsuits

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Lawsuits permitting a small number of people to sue on behalf of all other people similarly situated.

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right-to-work laws

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Laws preventing a union and a company from negotiating a contract that requires workers to join a union as a condition of employment. *freedom to join/not to join

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free rider problem

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the problem faced by interest groups when citizens can reap the benefits of interest group action without actually joining, participating in, or contributing money to such groups.

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Olson's law of large groups

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Advanced by Mancur Olson, a principle stating that "the larger the group, the further it will fall short of providing an optimal amount of a collective good."

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litigation

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legal action; a lawsuit

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amicus curiae briefs

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Legal briefs submitted by a "friend of the court" for the purpose of raising additional points of view and presenting information not contained in the briefs of the formal parties. These briefs attempt to influence a court's decision.

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grassroots lobbying

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efforts by groups and associations to influence elected officials indirectly, by arousing their constituents.

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direct lobbying

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paid professional representatives of the interest group meet privately with government officials to suggest legislation and to present arguments supporting their positions.

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coalition lobbying

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...

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institutional advertising

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a form of advertising designed to enhance a company's image rather than promote a particular product

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New Politics movement

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political movement that began in 1960s and 70s, made up of professionals and intellectuals for whom the civil rights and antiwar movements were formative experiences

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Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act (1946)

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A law which required groups and individuals seeking to influence legislation to register with the secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives. Quarterly financial reports on expenses were also to be filed. Note: new reform legislation (1995) was more stringent.

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Federal Election Campaign Act (1971; Amended 1974)

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A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created the Federal Election Commission (FEC), provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections, limited presidential campaign spending, required disclosure, and attempted to limit contributions.

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Watergate

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A break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972 and the subsequent cover-up of White House involvement, leading to the eventual resignation of President Nixon under the threat of impeachment.

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Ethics in Government Act (1978)

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Sets requirements for financial disclosure for elected public officials, and placed restrictions on former government officials lobbying activities(Watergate)

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Lobbying Disclosure Act (1995)

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tightened laws that eliminated the principal purpose standard; requires registration by all individual lobbyists and organizations that seek to influence members of congress from the president down

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Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

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Act that prohibits discrimination or segregation based on race, color, national origin, religion, and gender in all terms and conditions of employment.

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McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Law

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US federal law that regulates the financing of political campaigns; chief sponsors were Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Russell Feingold (D-WI). The law became effective 6 November 2002. Late became bipartisian act 2002

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Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)

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Set more specific limits and restrictions on the fundraising and spending of campaign money, also set limits on campaign donations. *banned soft money

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Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (2007)

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lobbying reform banning gifts to members of Congress and their staffs, toughening disclosure requirements, and increasing time limits on moving from the federal government to the private sector.

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Freedom of Information Act

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citizens have the right to inspect all government records except those containing military, intelligence, or trade secrets or revealing private personnel actions

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Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

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a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States upheld federal limits on campaign contributions and ruled that spending money to influence elections is a form of constitutionally protected free speech. The court also stated candidates can give unlimited amounts of money to their own campaigns. (1st amendment)

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Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee v. Federal Election Committee

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Colorado Republican Party selected its 1986 senatorial candidate, its Federal Campaign Committee (Colorado Party), the petitioner here, bought radio advertisements attacking the Democratic Party's likely candidate. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) brought suit charging that the Colorado Party had violated the "Party Expenditure Provision" of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 197. OPINION: buckley limiations did not apply

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Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas

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1954 - The Supreme Court overruled Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated.

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Roe v. Wade (1973)

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Established national abortion guidelines; trimester guidelines: no state interference in 1st, state may regulate to protect health of mother in 2nd, state may regulate to protect health of unborn child in 3rd. Inferred from right of privacy estab. in Griswald v. Conn.

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Regents of California v. Bakke (1978)

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Banned the use of race-based quotas for college admissions but allowed race to be considered as a fairly weighed element in the selection process.

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Brown University v. Cohen (1997)

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transformation of Title IX from an equal opportunity and antidiscrimination law: MORE rights for women - college sports

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