AP Gov Unit 3 Test Elections, Campaigns and Interest Groups

Interest Group

A formal or informal association of people seeking to influence governmental policy in favor of their interests. They may represent social causes, economic interests, or religious and ideological interests.

Iron Triangle

A longstanding, mutually-beneficial relationship between an interest group, congressional committee, and bureaucratic agency devoted to similar issues.

Bureaucracy

The administrative system of government, responsible for implementing regulations, contracts, and other government functions.

Competing Policy Making Interests

The various interest groups that seek to influence public policy in favor of their constituents. Factors such as financial resources, access to decision-makers, and committed members can impact the influence of these groups.

Free Rider Problem

A problem of group behavior where individuals can benefit from a public good without contributing money or effort. For example, listening to public radio without making a donation.

Lobbying

The act of meeting with government officials to try and influence the introduction and voting on bills.

Direct Lobbying

The attempts by interest groups to influence policy by speaking directly with bureaucrats or elected officials.

Inside Strategies

The strategies used by interest groups to influence policy within Washington DC, including direct lobbying, drafting legislation, and suing the government.

Outside Strategies

The strategies used by interest groups to influence policy outside of Washington DC, such as campaign contributions, media coverage, and encouraging constituents to contact elected officials.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Registered fundraising committees that donate money on behalf of interest groups. Super PACs are highly-funded PACs that can spend unlimited amounts in federal elections.

Salience

The degree to which the general public is aware of a policy issue. Policymakers are less likely to accommodate the demands of interest groups on issues with high salience, as they risk alienating voters.

Social Movements

Groups that work to bring about change in society, supporting policies and elected officials that align with their beliefs.

Protest Movement

A group that brings attention to a social problem through public demonstrations or other forms of direct action.

Single-Issue Group

An interest group devoted to one particular issue rather than a larger category of interests.

Open primary

A primary election that is not limited to registered party members, allowing independent voters or members of other parties to participate in selecting candidates for office.

Popular vote

The total or percentage of votes won by each candidate in an election.

Caucus

A meeting where party members choose nominees for political office after hours of speeches and debates, typically promoting the views of dedicated party members.

Electoral college

The group of electors chosen by each state to formally vote for the next U.S. president based on the result of voting in the state.

Incumbency advantage

The tendency of incumbents (officials already holding a political office) to win reelection due to advantages in media exposure, fundraising, and staff.

Party convention

A meeting of delegates from one political party to vote on policy and select party candidates for public office.

Primary election

An election that decides which candidate a party will send on to a general election, pitting candidates from the same party against one another.

Winner-takes-all

An electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes is elected or, in the case of the U.S. Electoral College, gains all the votes of a state or district's electors.

Election timeline

The sequence of events leading up to a presidential election, including state primaries and caucuses, party conventions, and the final election in November.

Stand by Your Ad provision

A provision of the Bipartisan Campaign Act of 2002 that requires ads used to support or oppose a candidate to include the line "I'm [candidate's name] and I approve this message."

Political action committee (PAC)

An organization that raises money with the goal of supporting or defeating candidates, parties, or legislation, subject to limits on the amount of money that can be donated to a candidate or party.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Also known as the McCain-Feingold Act, this law banned soft money and reduced attack ads in campaign finance.

Soft money

Money spent in support of a candidate without directly donating to their campaign, such as paying for ads or campaign events, or giving to the candidate's party.

Super PAC

Also called an "independent expenditure-only committee," a super PAC can raise unlimited funds in support of a candidate or party as long as they do not coordinate with the candidate or party or donate directly to the candidate.

Citizens v United

A Supreme Court case that ruled political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions as a form of protected speech under the First Amendment, leading to debates on the role of money in elections.