Chapter 10: Interest Groups and Lobbying

How is the interest group system different from the political party system?

political parties seek to elect candidates while interest groups focus more on specific issues

What is the primary difference between private and public goods?

private goods are items an individual can own; public goods benefit most or all citizens

Which of the following is an activity that all kinds of lobbyists regularly engage in?

providing decision-makers with information about an interest group's position on a particular issue

voting cues

sources—including fellow lawmakers, constituents, and interest groups—that lawmakers often use to help them decide how to vote, especially on unfamiliar issues

material incentives

substantive monetary or physical benefits given to group members to help overcome collective action problems

Which of the following is a strategy of interest groups to accomplish goals?

target members of relevant Congressional committees, contact members amenable to supporting/opposing an issue, target members of Congressional conference committees

inside lobbying

the act of contacting and taking the organization's message directly to lawmakers in an attempt to influence policy

outside lobbying

the act of lobbying indirectly by taking the organization's message to the public, often through the use of the media and/or by issue press releases, in hopes that the public will then put pressure on lawmakers

efficacy

the belief that you make a difference and that government cares about you and your views

elite critique

the proposition that wealthy and elite interests are advantaged over those without resources

fragmentation

the result when a large interest group develops diverging needs

free rider problem

the situation that occurs when some individuals receive benefits (get a free ride) without helping to bear the cost

disturbance theory

the theory that an external event can lead to interest group mobilization

iron triangle

three-way relationship among congressional committees, interests groups, and the bureaucracy

Which of the following is a primary type of organization that lobbies on behalf of workers rights?

worker union

Citizens United v. FEC

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was a 2010 Supreme Court case that granted corporations and unions the right to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections

Which of the following would be considered an inside lobbying strategy?

Inside lobbying tactics include testifying in legislative hearings and helping to draft legislation.

What was the outcome of the Supreme Court's ruling in the Citizens United case?

There is no limit to how much money unions or corporations can donate to super PACs.

particularized benefit

a benefit that generally accrues to a narrow segment of society

collective good

a good such as public safety or clean air, often produced by government, that is generally available to the population as a whole

issue network

a group of interest groups and people who work together to support a particular issue or policy

contracts lobbyist

a lobbyist who works for a contract lobbying firm that represents clients before government

legislative liason

a person employed by a governmental entity such as a local government, executive department, or university to represent the organization before the legislature

pluralist

a person who believes many groups healthily compete for access to decision-makers

lobbyist

a person who represents an organization before government in an attempt to influence policy

neopluralist

a person who suggests that all groups' access and influence depend on the political environment

grassroot movement

a political movement that often begins from the bottom up, inspired by average citizens concerned about a given issue

astroturf movement

a political movement that resembles a grassroots movement but is often supported or facilitated by wealthy interests and/or elites

In addition to influencing policy, interest groups also _______________.

also monitor government activity, serve as a means of political participation for members, and provide information to the public and to lawmakers.

in-house lobbyist

an employee or executive within an organization who works as a lobbyist on behalf of the organization

public interest group

an interest group that seeks a public good, which is something that accrues to all

membership organization

an interest group that usually consists of dues-paying members who organize around a particular cause or issue

Which of the following scenarios is an example of the free-rider problem?

an open source website like Wikipedia struggling to raise money

solidarity incentives

benefits based on the concept that people like to associate with those who are similar to them

purposive incentives

benefits to overcome collective action problems that appeal to people's support of the issue or cause

How is pluralism said to further democracy?

by ensuring that no single interest dominates all others

In what ways are lobbyists regulated?

certain activities are prohibited, contributions must be disclosed, lobbying is prohibited immediately after leaving office

Which of the following is characteristic of pluralist belief?

competition among diverse interests is good for society

James Madison defined ________ as statistical minorities who would organize around issues they felt strongly about.

factions

Interest group activity is always in line with political party activities.

false

Interest groups function primarily to elect candidates under a certain political party.

false

association

groups of companies or institutions that organize around a common set of concerns, often within a given industry or trade

Someone who lobbied on behalf of a company that he or she works for as part of his or her job is _____________.

in-house lobbyist

Corporate interest groups seek to ________________________.

influence policy in a way that benefits their business

A(n) ___________ refers to any formal association of individuals or organizations that attempt to influence government decision-making and policy.

interest group

Which of the following would be considered an outside lobbying strategy?

issuing press releases, placing stories and articles in the media, entering coalitions with other groups, and contacting interest group members, hoping that they will individually pressure lawmakers to support or oppose legislation.

revolving door laws

laws that require a cooling-off period before government officials can register to lobby after leaving office

soft money

money that interests can spend on behalf of candidates without being restricted by federal law