Chapter 7

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

A 2010 landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that individuals, corporations, and unions could donate unlimited amounts of money to groups that make independent political expenditures.

Iron Triangle

A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest 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

Rational Choice Theory

A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.

Elite Theory

A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization.

pluralist theory

A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.

interest group

An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy

Electioneering

Direct group involvement in the electoral process, for example, by helping to fund campaigns, getting members to work for candidates, and forming political action committees.

free rider problem

For a group, the problem of people not joining because they can benefit from the group's activities without joining.

collective goods

Goods and services, such as clean air and clean water, that by their nature cannot be denied to anyone.

economic incentives

Motivation to join an interest group because the group works for policies that will provide members with material benefits.

issue network

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

climate control

The use of public relations techniques to create favorable public opinion toward an interest group, industry, or corporation.

purposive sampling

a biased sampling technique in which only certain kinds of people are included in a sample

social captial

an asset that involves getting people with different views and values to talk and listen to one another, to find common ground based on understanding and trust, and to work together to solve environmental and other problems facing our societies.

umbrella organizations

interest groups that represent collective groups of industries or corporations

public employee unions

labor organizations comprising federal, state, and municipal workers, including police officers and teachers

social environment

the entire human environment, including interaction with others

solidary incentives

the social rewards (sense of pleasure, status, or companionship) that lead people to join political organizations

lobby

to try to persuade officials to support or reject a cause