Unit 5.4 Political Participation - Interest Groups

amicus curiae brief

Literally, a "friend of the court" brief, filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.

Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

Enacted to help Congress regain powers previously lost to the executive branch.

Created the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to evaluate the president's budget.

Established a budget process that includes setting overall levels of revenues and expenditures.

Citizens United v. FEC

A 2010 decision by the United States Supreme Court holding that independent expenditures are free speech protected by the 1st Amendment and so cannot be limited by federal law. Leads to creation of SuperPACs & massive rise in amount of third party electioneering (Citizens for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow)

Dark Money

political money where the donors of the money do not have to be disclosed

direct lobbying

direct interaction with public officials for the purpose of influencing policy decisions

501(c)(3) organization

A tax code classification that applies to most interest groups; this designation makes donations to the group tax-deductible but limits the group's political activities.

Government Accountability Office

A federal legislative agency that audits (investigates) other agencies of the federal government and reports it's findings to Congress (makes sure they are not spending more money than the government has appropriated for them).

grassroots lobbying

Efforts by groups and associations to influence elected officials indirectly, by arousing their constituents.

issue network

Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common policy concern.

Iron Triangle

an informal association of federal agency, congressional committee, and interest group that is said to have heavy influence over policy making.

Lobbying

Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact.

Lobbyists

people who represent interest groups

Pluralism

A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations

public interest group

an organization that seeks a collective good that will not selectively and materially benefit group members

revolving door

Employment cycle in which individuals who work for governmental agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern.

single issue groups

Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics.

16th Amendment

Amendment to the United States Constitution (1913) gave Congress the power to tax income.

Super PACs

political action committees established to make independent expenditures