Chapter 10: Interest Groups - Vocabulary + Quiz

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 an interest group, the fact that some or many potential group members will not join because they can benefit from the group's activities without joining.

selective benefits

Goods that a group can restrict to those who actually join.

single-issue groups

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

right-to-work laws

State laws that forbid the creation of union shops. These laws were specifically authorized by the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947.

union shop

A provision found in some collective bargaining agreements requiring that all employees of a unionized business join the union within a short period of being hired, usually 30 days, and remain members as a condition of employment.

hyperpluralism

A theory of American democracy arguing that a wide variety of interest groups have become empowered with the ability to veto policy change, thereby leading to regular gridlock in Washington.

elitism

A theory of American democracy contending that a few groups (primarily the wealthy) have most of the power to make government policy, regardless of the formal governmental organization.

pluralism

A theory of American democracy emphasizing that the policymaking process is very open to the participation of all groups with shared interests, with no single group usually dominating. Pluralists tend to believe that as a result, public interest generally prevails.

A lobbyist advocating for a right-to-work law would most likely make which of the following arguments? A. Right-to-work laws protect an individual's right not to belong to a group. B. Right-to-work laws will lead to higher wages for everyone. C. Right-to-work laws will lead to safer working conditions for everyone. D. Right-to-work laws make unions stronger.

A. Right-to-work laws protect an individual's right not to belong to a group.

How can a lobbyist help a member of Congress? A. by offering valuable political information about policy proposals B. by offering gifts C. by introducing bills D. by handling requests from constituents

A. by offering valuable political information about policy proposals

In his research on the lobbying power of corporations, Lee Drutman concluded that large corporations __________. A. have markedly increased their political power by greatly increasing their lobbying efforts B. are investing less in lobbying and more in PACs C. have lost some of their influence due to competition from public interest lobbies D. spend a great deal on lobbying with little to show for it

A. have markedly increased their political power by greatly increasing their lobbying efforts

Industry lobbying on environmental regulations reflects the fact that interest groups often serve to __________. A. monitor policy developments and develop reactive strategies B. mislead government officials C. improve the efficiency of government programs D. further the general public interest

A. monitor policy developments and develop reactive strategies

potential group

All the people who might be interest group members because they share some common interest.

iron triangles

Also known as subgovernments, iron triangles consist of interest groups, government agencies, and congressional committees or subcommittees that have a mutually dependent, mutually advantageous relationship; they dominate some areas of domestic policymaking.

interest group

An organization of people with a shared policy goal, or goals, who enter the policy process at one or more points, in one or more policy arenas, to try to achieve their goals.

Why do PACs typically contribute more to congressional incumbents than to their challengers? A. PACs are afraid of alienating incumbents by supporting their challengers. B. Challengers rarely win, and thus they represent a riskier investment than incumbents. C. Most challengers reject PAC money. D. Challengers are less likely to support the issues that PACs care about.

B. Challengers rarely win, and thus they represent a riskier investment than incumbents.

Why is the relationship between a group's financial resources and lobbying success so weak? A. The free-rider problem makes it difficult for even well-financed groups to influence policy. B. Well-financed groups often face strong opposition from other groups with other types of resources. C. Negative media coverage of well-financed groups tends to diminish their political clout. D. Politicians often vote against wealthy interests because they do not want to appear biased.

B. Well-financed groups often face strong opposition from other groups with other types of resources.

Which statement best characterizes the impact of public interest lobbies on policies affecting consumers? A. They have been unsuccessful in pushing legislation, though they have pressured companies into making safer products. B. They have successfully pushed to repeal laws regulating product safety. C. They have successfully pushed for regulations focused on product safety. D. They have been unsuccessful in pushing legislation, though they have raised public awareness.

C. They have successfully pushed for regulations focused on product safety.

What are the three components of an iron triangle? A. interest group, president, political party B. interest group, president, congressional committee C. interest group, government agency, congressional committee D. interest group, congressional committee, the media

C. interest group, government agency, congressional committee

The civil rights movement successfully challenged school segregation and employment discrimination using what primary strategy? A. going public B. electioneering C. litigation D. lobbying

C. litigation

How is the intensity of lobbying related to interest group success? A. Groups that lobby more subtly rather than intensely are more successful in bringing about policy change. B. Groups that lobby more intensely are less successful in blocking policy change. C. There is no relationship between intensity of lobbying and interest group success. D. Groups that generate more intense support from their membership are more successful in blocking policy change.

D. Groups that generate more intense support from their membership are more successful in blocking policy change.

Which of the following is a key difference between interest groups and political parties? A. Interest groups do not play any role in election campaigns, while political parties do. B. Interest groups are vastly outnumbered by political parties. C. Interest groups operate in more policy arenas than do political parties. D. Interest groups are usually policy specialists, while political parties are policy generalists.

D. Interest groups are usually policy specialists, while political parties are policy generalists.

Which of the following is a common characteristic of single-issue group members? A. They are moderate in their policy positions. B. They are young. C. They do not identify with a political party. D. They are extreme in their support for their group's position.

D. They are extreme in their support for their group's position.

Lobbying works best with what type of elected official? A. one who opposes the lobbyist's policy position B. one who has much detailed knowledge about the policy issue C. one who is not usually the target of lobbying D. one who already supports the lobbyist's policy position

D. one who already supports the lobbyist's policy position

In recent years, the labor movement has expanded in what sector? A. the agricultural sector B. the technology sector C. the manufacturing sector D. the public sector

D. the public sector

Elite theorists and pluralists differ in their __________. A. approaches to studying interest groups B. definitions of interest groups C. views about how powerful interest groups are D. views about how power is distributed among interests

D. views about how power is distributed among interests

political action committees (PACs)

Groups that raise money from individuals and then distribute it in the form of contributions to candidates that the group supports. PACs must register with the FEC and report their donations and contributions to it. Individual contributions to a PAC are limited to $5,000 per year and a PAC may give up to $5,000 to a candidate for each election.

lobbying

In the words of Lester Milbrath, a "communication, by someone other than a citizen acting on his or her own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his or her decision."

public interest lobbies

Organizations that seek a collective good, which benefits the society as a whole.

collective good

Something of value that cannot be withheld from a potential group member.

actual group

The people in the potential group who actually join.