DE CH10

association

n. / groups of companies or institutions that organize around a common set of concerns, often within a given industry or trade

astroturf movement

n. / a political movement that resembles a grassroots movement but is often supported or facilitated by wealthy interests and/or elites

Citizens United

n. / Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was a 2010 Supreme Court case that granted corporations and unions the right to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections

collective good

n. / a good such as public safety or clean air, often produced by government, that is generally available to the population as a whole

contract lobbyist

n. / a lobbyist who works for a contract lobbying firm that represents clients before government

disturbance theory

n. / the theory that an external event can lead to interest group mobilization

efficacy

n. / the belief that you make a difference and that government cares about you and your views

elite critique

n. / the proposition that wealthy and elite interests are advantaged over those without resources

fragmentation

n. / the result when a large interest group develops diverging needs

free rider problem

n. / the situation that occurs when some individuals receive benefits (get a free ride) without helping to bear the cost

grassroots movement

n. / a political movement that often begins from the bottom up, inspired by average citizens concerned about a given issue

in-house lobbyist

n. / an employee or executive within an organization who works as a lobbyist on behalf of the organization

inside lobbying

n. / the act of contacting and taking the organization’s message directly to lawmakers in an attempt to influence policy

iron triangle

n. / three-way relationship among congressional committees, interests groups, and the bureaucracy

issue network

n. / a group of interest groups and people who work together to support a particular issue or policy

legislative liaison

n. / a person employed by a governmental entity such as a local government, executive department, or university to represent the organization before the legislature

lobbyist

n. / a person who represents an organization before government in an attempt to influence policy

material incentives

n. / substantive monetary or physical benefits given to group members to help overcome collective action problems

membership organization

n. / an interest group that usually consists of dues-paying members who organize around a particular cause or issue

neopluralist

n. / a person who suggests that all groups’ access and influence depend on the political environment

outside lobbying

n. / the act of lobbying indirectly by taking the organization’s message to the public, often through the use of the media and/or by issue press releases, in hopes that the public will then put pressure on lawmakers

particularized benefit

n. / a benefit that generally accrues to a narrow segment of society

pluralist

n. / a person who believes many groups healthily compete for access to decision-makers

public interest group

n. / an interest group that seeks a public good, which is something that accrues to all

purposive incentives

n. / benefits to overcome collective action problems that appeal to people’s support of the issue or cause

revolving door laws

n. / laws that require a cooling-off period before government officials can register to lobby after leaving office

soft money

n. / money that interests can spend on behalf of candidates without being restricted by federal law

solidary incentives

n. / benefits based on the concept that people like to associate with those who are similar to them

voting cues

n. / sources—including fellow lawmakers, constituents, and interest groups—that lawmakers often use to help them decide how to vote, especially on unfamiliar issues