ap gov unit 11

AP Gov Chapter 11 Vocabulary

1. Actual Group: made of those in the potential group who choose to join, vary in degree of enrollment from potential group

2. Amicus Curiae Brief: meaning “friend of the court,” written arguments submitted to the courts in support of one side of the case

3. Class action lawsuits: allows group of similar plaintiffs to combine similar grievances into a single lawsuit

4. Collective good: something of value that can’t be withheld from potential group members where benefits are shared by the potential group members and the actual group, e.g. clean air or higher minimum wage

5. Electioneering: aiding candidates financially and getting their members to support them to get the right people into office

6. Elite theory: proliferation of business PACs are evidence of more interest group corruption in politics, wealthier interests have advantages of PAC system

7. Free-rider problem: when potential group members don’t join, but sit back and let the actual group members do the work while still benefiting from it

8. Hyperpluralist theory: when major interest group objects to some legislation, policymakers try to accommodate it no matter what

9. Interest groups: organization with similar policy goals and ties to influence political process at every level and branch of government

10. Lobbying: political persuading and usually done by representatives of their organized groups; two types: regular and lobbyists for hire

11. Olson’s Law of Large Groups: the bigger the group the more difficult it is to secure the help

12. Pluralist theory: rough approximation of the public interest emerges from competition between interest groups

13. Political Action Committees: way for interest groups to participate in electioneering; funds go to campaigns for candidates; most go to incumbents since they’re more likely to provide a return for the investment of  money

14. Potential group: made of all people who might become group members because they share similar interests

15. Public interest lobbies: groups that champion causes or ideas “in the public interest;” organizations that seek “collective good” where everyone would be better off, despite whether they’ve joined in lobbying or not

16. Right to Work law: outlaws union membership as a condition of employment; business groups support this

17. Selective benefits: goods that a group can restrict from the potential group; yearly subscription to get benefits like publications, discounts, and group insurance rates

18. Single-issue groups: groups that has a narrow interest, dislike compromise, and single-mindedly pursues its goals

19. Subgovernments (iron triangles): made of key interest groups, government agency to administer policy, and congressional members that handle the same policy

20. Union shop: requires new employees to join the union to keep the job; unions established this