AP Gov Media and Interest Groups

Plurality

winner takes all, most votes not majority

22nd Amendment

limited the president to two full terms or a maximum of 10 years

Presidential coattails

No clear impact on who wins, it has an impact but it is erratic and modest

FEC

governs all the money that comes into the campaign and all money spent on the campaign

Interest group

an organization that seeks to achieve goals by influencing government decision making

Faction

medisions terms for interest groups

Pluralist Theory

Policy making competition among diverse interest groups that ensures the representation of individual interest

Elite Theory

a group of wealthy, educated individuals wields the most power

PAC

committee whose specific goal is to raise and spend money to influence the outcome of an election

Lobbying/ Lobbyist

direct approach, waits in the lobby

Iron Triangle

the interaction of mutual interests among members of congress, executive agencies and organizations interest grows

Citizens Vs FEC

lifted ban on corporate and union expenditures to promote or target candidates

Electioneering

working to influence the election of candidates who support the organizations issues

Mass media

not local news, trying to reach country or the world

Framing

process by which the media set a context that helps people understand important events and matters of shared interest

Agenda setting

determination of which public issues the government should consider

Scorekeeper

role of the media to inform the public who is winning and by how much

Gatekeeper

determines what is news and for how long

Watchdog

investigates candidates, reveals scandals, fact checks ideas and policies, goal is a transparent government