Interest Groups and Democracy Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about interest groups, their formation, influence, and role in American democracy.

Interest Groups

Organizations of individuals who share a common political goal and unite for the purpose of influencing government (public policy) decisions.

Linkage Institution

Interest groups serve as a linkage mechanism, helping connect citizens to the political world.

Lobbying

Contacting officials to influence policy decisions.

PACs

Political Action Committees, which receive campaign contributions.

Federalist 10

Discusses the inevitability of "factions" (interest groups) in a free society and how to control their negative effects through fragmentation of authority and federalism.

Pluralism

The theory that interest group competition is the foundation of American democracy, where each interest is represented, and the government acts as an arbitrator.

Collective Goods (Public Goods)

Goods that are non-excludable and non-rivalrous, leading to the free rider problem.

Free Rider Problem

The challenge of getting individuals to participate in a group when they can benefit from the group's activities without contributing.

Selective Incentives/Benefits

Benefits offered to group members to overcome the free rider problem, including material, solidary, and expressive benefits.

Iron Triangles

Symbiotic relationships of interest groups, congressional (sub)committees, and bureaucratic agencies that exert control over policy areas of mutual interest.

Issue Networks

A broad group of interest groups and people who work together to support a particular issue or policy; broader than iron triangles.

Special Interest Groups

Interest groups are sometimes referred to as this, because they seek particulars.

American Medical Association

A professional association and lobbying group for physicians.