Ch18-19

Interest Group

A group of people with common goals who organize to influence government.

Public-Interest Group

A group that seeks policy goals that it believes will benefit the nation.

Lobbying

Direct contact made by a lobbyist in order to persuade government officials to support the policies their interest group favors.

Lobbyist

Interest group representative.

Public Opinion

The ideas and attitudes a significant number of Americans hold about issues.

Peer Group

An individual’s close friends, religious group, clubs, or work group.

Mass Media

Means of communication, such as television, newspapers, movies, books, and the Internet, that influence large audiences.

Political Culture

A set of shared values and beliefs about a nation and its government.

Biased Sample

In polling, a group that does not accurately represent the larger population.

Universe

In polling, the group of people that are to be studied.

Representative Sample

A small group of people, typical of the universe, that a pollster questions.

Random Sampling

A polling technique in which everyone in the 'universe' has an equal chance of being selected.

Sampling Error

A measurement of how much the sample results may differ from the sample universe.

Cluster Sample

A polling method that groups people by geographical division.

News Release

A ready-made story government officials prepare for members of the press.

News Briefing

A meeting during which a government official makes an announcement or explains a policy, decision, or action.

Leak

The release of secret information by anonymous government officials to the media.

Media Event

A visually interesting event designed to reinforce a politician’s position on some issue.

Front-Runner

The early leader in an election.

Spot Advertising

The brief, frequent, positive descriptions of a candidate or a candidate’s major themes, broadcast on television or radio.

Prior Restraint

Government censorship of information before it is published or broadcast.

Libel

False written or published statements intended to damage a person’s reputation.

Shield Law

A law that gives reporters some means of protection against being forced to disclose confidential information or sources in state courts.

Fairness Doctrine

Rule requiring broadcasters to provide opportunities for the expression of opposing views on issues of public importance.

Partisan

Adhering to or supporting a particular party, faction, cause, or person.

Electronic Mailing List

An automated e-mail notification that provides subscribers with current information on a topic.

Action Alert

A message from an interest group to its members, calling upon them to respond immediately by telephone, fax, or e-mail to a specific lawmaker, group of lawmakers, or other official.

Electronic Petition

A message that asks the recipient to 'sign' his or her name electronically to a request that will be sent to an official.