AP US Government & Politics: Chapter 7/9 Test

Interest group

group of people with shared interests; party specialists

linkage institution: link people together to influence gov’t as collective force

do not run candidates for office but pick sides for funding

Political parties

run election battles; policy generalists

Pluralist theory

politics are mainly a competition among groups; COMPROMISE

Elite theory

societies are divided along class lines 

upper elite class rules 

Hyper-pluralist theory

groups are so strong that government is weakened'; EXTREME form of pluralism

5 main functions of interest groups (EPEPP)

Educate public

Provide citizens with access to activism 

Encourage political participation

Provide info

Protect common good

Downside of interest groups (ICE)

Incumbency advantage strengthened

Corruption from PACS

Elite dominance

Citizens United v. FEC 2010