AP Government and Politics: Chapter 17-Interest Groups

amicus curiae

Someone who is not a party to a case but submits a legal brief on behalf of the case

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Campaign spending by unions and corporations is a protected form of speech--This case started SuperPACs.

501 (c)(4)

Certain organizations such as a civic or a neighborhood organization that can lobby and campaign

501 (c)(3)

Include churches and certain hospitals, they receive tax deductions for charitable donations and can influence government, but they cannot lobby government officials or donate to campaigns

direct lobbying

Attempts to influence a legislative body through communication with a member or employee of a legislative body, or with a government official who participates in formulating legislation

free rider

Nonmembers of interest groups that choose not to bear the participation costs of time and fees but do benefit from the associated group's efforts

grassroots lobbying

An approach that separates itself from direct lobbying through the act of asking the general public to contact legislators and government officials concerning the issue at hand, as opposed to conveying the message to the legislators directly. Companies, associations and citizens are increasingly partaking in this type of lobbying as an attempt to influence a change in legislation

grasstops

Activists or members of an organization or geographic area that have a high professional and/or public profile, may be part of the "political family" for a decision maker, and can raise public attention or influence decision makers through established connections.

insider strategies

Quietly persuade government decision makers through exclusive access.

intergovernmental lobby

Made up of mayors, governors, superintendents of schools, state directors of public health, country highway commissioners, local police chiefs, and others who count on federal funds.

leadership PACs

A political action committee that can be established by current and former members of Congress as well as other prominent political figures.

lobbying

The process by which interest group members and other individuals attempt to influence public policy through contacts with public officials.

lobbyist

A person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators.

material incentives

Travel discounts, subscriptions, or complimentary items such as bags or jackets used to get people to join an interest group

Nineteenth Amendment

Guaranteed women the right to vote throughout the United States

outsider strategy

Lobbying technique that relies on things such as lawsuits or get-out-the vote drives

pluralism

A multitude of views that ultimately results in a consensus government

political action committees (PACs)

The political arm of a labor union, interest group, or corporation. They involve themselves in a wide array of election season activities, such as sending direct mail, creating advertising, staging rallies, and campaigning door-to-door.

professional associations

An organization seeking to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession and the public interest.

public interest group

Geared towards improving life or government for the masses.

purposive incentives

A reason or motive having to do with ethical beliefs or ideological principles

revolving door

Occurs when officials leave their jobs in Congress or the Executive Branch to lobby the very government agencies that they departed.

Seventeenth Amendment

Empowered citizens to elect their U.S. senators directly as opposed to them being appointed by state legislators

single-issue group

Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics.

Sixteenth Amendment

Allows for Congress to impose an income tax

solidary incentives

Social rewards such as pleasure, status, or companionship that lead people to join political organizations

super PAC

Technically known as independent expenditure-only committees, these groups may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals, then spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates.

think tanks

Research institutions, often with specific ideological goals

trade associations

Organizations founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry.

upper-class bias

Though annual membership fees in most interest groups are modest, critics argue that the trend results in policies that favor higher socioeconomic classes.

Iron Triangle

A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group

issue network

A network of people in Washington, D.C.-based interest groups, on congressional staffs, in universities and think tanks, and in the mass media, who regularly discuss and advocate public policies.

Ideological Groups

political organizations that attract members by appealing to their political convictions or principles

Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

bundliEnacted to help Congress regain powers previously lost to the executive branch.

Created the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to evaluate the president's budget.

Established a budget process that includes setting overall levels of revenues and expenditures.

Bundling

A tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals (each limited to $2000) and present them to a candidate or political party as a "bundle," thus increasing the PAC's influence.

Dark Money

political money where the donors of the money do not have to be disclosed

endorsement

an act of giving one's public approval or support to someone or something

Government Accountability Office

A federal legislative agency that audits (investigates) other agencies of the federal government and reports it's findings to Congress (makes sure they are not spending more money than the government has appropriated for them).