POLSCI Chapter 8: Interest Groups (fill in the blank)

Interest groups also use _________ to promote their image as ________ who protect the environment and care about their communities.

advertisements, good citizens

Interest groups often undertake expensive public relations campaigns to bring _______ to the __________.

an issue, public's attention

Political parties nominate _______, contest ________, and seek to ________ over government. Interest groups seek to _______ public officials and influence public _________.

candidates, elections, gain control, support, policies

Lobbyists often testify before _______________.

congressional committees

Public interest groups support causes such as _________, alternate sources of _________, and _____________.

consumer rights, clean energy, electoral reform

If interest groups fail to achieve their goals in Congress, they can often take their case to the ______. For example, in the 1950s, Congress repeatedly thwarted the _______'s efforts to support ____________.

courts, NAACP, civil rights legislation

Interest groups are not limited to ____________ a case. They can also file an ________ brief in a case the group is interest in. This brief consists of written arguments submitted to a court in support of one side of a case.

directly sponsoring, amicus curiae

Leading environmental interest groups include the ___________, the ____________, and the ____________.

Sierra Club, Audubon Society, World Wildlife Fund

___________ groups focus their efforts on one issue. For example, the ________________ opposes abortion, while _________ lobbies for reproductive rights.

Single-issue, National Right to Life Committee, Planned Parenthood

Although _______ comprise less than __% of America's population, their interest groups play an influential role in shaping agricultural policies.

farmers, 2

While lobbyists can often meet informally with members of Congress and the executive branch, it would be inappropriate for lobbyists to have an informal meeting with a ___________ who is hearing a case important to the _________ the lobbyists are representing.

federal judge, interest group

Interest groups now play a prominent role in influencing who is nominated to the __________. This is especially true for __________ nominations.

federal, Supreme Court

Large interest groups are vulnerable to the __________ problem. They are people who benefit from an interest group without making any contribution. For example, why should a consumer join a public interest group if he or she will benefit from the group's hard work without joining?

free-rider

The American _____ movement reached its peak in 1956 when 33% of the nonagricultural work force belonged to a union. Today, ___ million Americans, or about 13% of the nonagricultural work force, belong to a union.

labor, 16

Interest groups convey government policy information to ________.

their members

Political parties are public organizations that are accountable to the ______. In contrast, interest groups are private organizations that are accountable to ________.

voters, their members

Political parties have positions on a __________ of public issues. Interest groups focus ___________ issues that directly _____ their members. As a result, interest groups are able to articulate _________ positions.

wide range, only on specific, affect, specific policy

What are the three fundamental goals of interest groups?

1. gain access to policymakers 2. influence public policy 3. support sympathetic policymakers

Over ______ groups champion causes that promote the ____________. Leading public interest groups include Common Cause and the League of Women Voters.

2000, public good

Approximately _______ lobbyists currently work in Washington, D.C. They spend over $__ billion a year lobbying congress.

30,000; 2

There are currently over _____ PACs. Over half of all PACs are sponsored by __________ and __________.

4,600; corporations, business groups

The _____________ is a voluntary association of _______ lawyers and law students. The ____ is actively involved in setting academic standards for law schools and in formulating ethical codes for the legal profession.

American Bar Association (ABA), 410,000, ABA

The _____________ and _______________ are America's largest labor union both in size and political power. About ___ million workers are members of unions belonging to the _____.

American Federation of Labor, Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), 10, AFL-CIO

The ___________ is the nation's largest association of physicians and medical students. The ___ is actively involved in proposals to reform the health care system.

American Medical Association (AMA), AMA

The NAACP responded by sponsoring the ________________ case. The Supreme Court's landmark decision marked a historic victory for the NAACP, while at the same time encouraging other interest groups to use ________ to achieve their goals.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, litigation

The __________ is an association of about 150 chief executive officers of leading US corporations with $5 trillion in annual revenues and nearly 10 million employees.

Business Roundtable

The _________ is the world's largest business federation. It spends $20 million a year lobbying for its 3,000 local chambers and 3 million members.

Chamber of Commerce

Lobbyists often meet informally with ____________.

Congressional aides

_________ interest groups support wilderness protection, pollution control, and animal rights. They oppose strip mining, nuclear power plants, and offshore drilling.

Environmental

The ___________ and ____________ are broad-based organizations that speak for farmers.

Farm Bureau, National Farmers Union

The __________ Theory argues that there are too many interest groups trying to influence public policy. As a result of this theory, legislators avoid making hard choices that are in the nation's best interest.

Hyperpluralist

The ______________________ is one of America's oldest and most influential civil rights organizations. It is dedicated to fighting racial discrimination.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

The _____________ represents 12,000 small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. It focuses on legislation affecting sector laws, minimum wages, corporate taxes, and trade regulations.

National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)

The ______________ represents ___ million public school teachers, support personnel, and retired educators. The ___ is actively involved in the debate over how to implement the ______________ Act.

National Education Association (NEA), 3.2, NEA, No Child Left Behind

Specialized interest groups represent different famr products. For example the ___________ represents the interests of American _____ farmers.

National Milk Producers Federation, dairy

The ________________ is the largest feminist organization in the US. Its mission is "to take action to bring women into full participation in society--sharing equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities with men, while living free from discrimination."

National Organization of Women (NOW)

The _____________ is one of the best known and most influential single-interest groups. It works to uphold the right of people to bear arms for recreation and self-defense. In contrast, the ___________ is a single-interest group dedicated to gun control.

National Rifle Association, National Coalition to Bar Handguns

__________ Theory argues that many interest groups compete for power in a large number of policy areas, and public policies emerge from bargaining and compromises among competing groups.

Pluralist

A ____________ is a committee formed by individual candidate is limited by law. For example, a ___ can contribute a maximum of $_____ per candidate per election. Elections such as primaries, general elections, and special elections are counted separately.

Political Action Committee (PAC), PAC, 5000

____________ Theory believes that a small number of super rich individuals, powerful corporate interest groups, and large financial institutions dominate key policy areas.

Power Elite

Most executive lobbying focuses on presenting a point of view to ___________ and other _________.

White House aides, government officials

PACs play a particularly significant role in supporting ________ members of the ____________. PACs typically contribute to the campaigns of House members who serve on committees or subcommittees that consider legislation affecting the _________.

incumbent, House of Representatives, interest group

Interest groups raise and spend money to ___________.

influence policymakers

an organization of people whose members share policy views on specific issues and attempt to influence public policy to their benefit; operate at every level of government in America's federal system

interest group

The number of ________ has increased from 6,000 in 1959 to approximately 22,000 in 2010.

interest groups

Officials in the _________ and _________ branches control the distribution of billions of federal dollars. As a result, most industries, corporations, professions, and unions now have _________ to represent them in Washington, D.C.

legislative, executive, interest groups

the process by which interest groups attempt to influence the decisions of policymakers

lobbying

Most large corporations employ ________ to monitor legislative activity that may affect their business.

lobbyists

people who attempt to persuade policymakers to support the goals of an interest group

lobbyists

All interest groups require adequate funding. Money is necessary to hire _______, support _____, write __________, and pay for a host of other activities.

lobbyists, PACs, amicus curiae briefs

Lobbyists often bring influential constituents to Washington to discuss important ___________ with their _______.

policy matters. representatives

Interest groups express their members' _________ to government policymakers.

preferences

Interest groups may also engage in highly visible ___________ designed to draw attention to their cause. While business groups rarely use this _________ tactic, it has been used effectively by ______________. For example, during the 1960s, this group used nonviolent marches and sit-ins to direct public attention to the injustices of _________.

protest demonstrations, grassroots, civil rights groups, segregation

Interest groups direct particular attention to establishing access to ____________.

regulatory agencies

What three factors contribute to the success of an interest group?

size, intensity, and financial resources

Most presidents have created a __________ to provide interest groups with access to their _____.

staff position, administration

Lobbyists often provide members of Congress with information on ___________.

technical issues