NG ALL key terms

association

groups of companies or institutions organized around shared concerns (companies working together) memory: companies teaming up

astroturf movement

fake grassroots movement supported by elites or wealthy interests (looks citizen-led but is not) memory: fake grassroots = paid

Citizens United

2010 Supreme Court case allowing unlimited political spending by corporations and unions (money treated as speech) memory: money = speech

collective good

benefit available to everyone like clean air or public safety memory: everyone gets it

contract lobbyist

outside lobbyist hired to influence government memory: hired persuader

disturbance theory

external events trigger interest group formation or action memory: something shakes people up

efficacy

belief that you can influence government memory: I can make a difference

elite critique

view that wealthy groups have more political power memory: rich have advantage

fragmentation

large group splits into smaller competing groups memory: group breaks apart

free rider problem

people benefit without contributing memory: benefit without paying

grassroots movement

bottom-up movement led by citizens memory: people-powered

in-house lobbyist

lobbyist working inside an organization memory: internal lobbyist

inside lobbying

direct contact with lawmakers memory: talk to lawmakers

iron triangle

relationship between Congress, bureaucracy, and interest groups memory: 3-way power loop

issue network

loose network of groups working on policy memory: web of players

legislative liaison

person connecting organization to legislature memory: bridge to lawmakers

lobbyist

person who influences government policy memory: persuader

material incentives

tangible rewards like money or goods memory: money rewards

membership organization

group with dues-paying members memory: pay to join

neopluralist

view that influence varies and is unequal memory: unequal group power

outside lobbying

influencing public to pressure government memory: public pressure

particularized benefit

benefit to a small specific group memory: narrow reward

pluralist

belief many groups compete equally memory: many groups compete

public interest group

group seeking benefits for all memory: for everyone

purposive incentives

motivation from belief in cause memory: belief-driven

soft money

unregulated political contributions memory: loose money

solidary incentives

motivation from social belonging memory: social benefit

voting cues

shortcuts used to decide how to vote memory: decision shortcut

apportionment

distribution of House seats among states memory: divide seats

bicameralism

two-chamber legislature memory: two chambers

bill

proposed law memory: law in progress

cloture

vote to end Senate debate memory: stop debate

collective representation

Congress representing the whole nation memory: national focus

conference committee

group reconciling House and Senate bills memory: compromise group

constituency

voters represented by official memory: your voters

delegate model

representatives follow voters’ wishes memory: do what voters say

descriptive representation

reps reflect population traits memory: looks like people

enumerated powers

powers listed in Constitution memory: written powers

filibuster

long debate to delay/block bill memory: talk forever

implied powers

powers assumed from Constitution memory: not written but assumed

inherent powers

powers from existence of nation memory: because country exists

joint committee

committee with both chambers memory: both chambers

majority leader

leader of majority party memory: winning party leader

markup

process of editing bills in committee memory: edit bill

minority leader

leader of minority party memory: opposition leader

oversight

Congress monitors executive branch memory: watchdog

politico model

mix of delegate and trustee memory: depends situation

pork-barrel politics

spending for local districts memory: bring home bacon

president pro tempore

senator presiding in absence of VP memory: temporary Senate leader

representation

acting for constituents memory: speak for voters

select committee

temporary committee memory: short-term group

Speaker of the House

leader of House memory: House boss

standing committee

permanent committee memory: ongoing group

surge-and-decline theory

turnout rises in presidential elections, falls in midterms memory: high then low turnout

trustee model

rep uses own judgment memory: trust me

whip

enforces party discipline memory: keeps party in line

Executive order

presidential directive with force of law memory: president acts alone

Cabinet

president’s advisors memory: president’s team

bureaucracy

system of government agencies memory: gov system

bureaucrat

government employee memory: gov worker

civil service

system of hiring government workers memory: gov job system

merit system

hiring based on ability memory: hire by skill

spoils system

jobs given for political support memory: reward supporters

patronage

political job rewards memory: jobs for loyalty

red tape

excessive rules and procedures memory: too many rules

bureaucratic discretion

agency decision-making power memory: agency choice