Ch 10 Interest Groups
Iron Triangle
A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group
lobbyist
A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.
Soft Money
Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.
Lobbying Disclosure Act 1995
Defined who can/can't lobby, requires lobbyists to register w/ gov
PACs
Organization created to raise and spend money to influence politics and contribute to candidate's campaigns
President Obama's Executive Order 13490
Prohibited appointees in the executive branch from accepting gifts from lobbyists and banned them from drafting contracts or regulations involving the appointee's former clients or employer for a period of two years
Honest Leadership and Open Government Act 2007
Prohibited contact between members of congress and lobbyists who where the spouses of other congress members, broadened definition of lobbyist, required detailed disclosure of spending on lobbying activity, including who is lobbied and what bills are of interest
McCutcheon v. FEC (2014)
Removed the aggregate (combined) contribution limit. Each individual contribution is limited; however, the contributor can make as many of contributions as their bank account allows.
Federal Election Campaign Act 1971
Set limits on how much presidential and VP candidates could donate to own campaigns Allowed corporations and unions to form PACs Required public disclosure of campaign contributions 1974: amended: banned transfer of union, corporate, trade association money to parties for distribution to campaigns
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2002
The law prohibited national political parties, federal candidates, and officeholders from soliciting soft money contributions in federal elections. Barred corporations and unions from using treasury funds to finance issue advertisements which are defined as "broadcast ads referring to clearly identified federal candidates within 60 days of a general election or 30 days of a primary election or caucus." In 2010, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that this provision was unconstitutional.
Buckley v. Valeo 1976
Upheld FECA's limitations placed on campaign contributions but protected independent political expenditures as free speech.
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
contract lobbyist
a lobbyist who works for a contract lobbying firm that represents clients before government
Legislative liaison
a person employed by a gov entity such as a local gov, exec dept, univ to rep the org before the legislature
pluralist
a person who believes many groups healthily compete for access to decision-makers
neopluralist
a person who suggests that all groups' access and influence depend on the political environment
grassroots 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-house lobbyist
an employee or executive within an organization who works as a lobbyist on behalf of the organization
disturbance theory
an external event can lead to interest group mobilization
membership organization
an interest group that usually consists of dues-paying members who organize around a particular cause or issue
public interest group
an organization that seeks a collective good that will not selectively and materially benefit group members
purposive incentive
benefits to overcome collective action problems that appeal to people's support of the issue or cause
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
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
overturned soft money ban of Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act and allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections Ruled entities had free speech rights like individuals and free speech includes campaign spending
Super PACs
political action committees established to make independent expenditures, cannot contribute directly to candidate or strategize w/ campaign but can raise/spend as much as they want to support or attack a candidate
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
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
solidary incentives
the social rewards (sense of pleasure, status, or companionship) that lead people to join political organizations