American Politics Final

Front 1

An organized group of individuals sharing common objectives who actively attempt to influence policymakers.

Back 1

Interest Groups

Front 2

An organization or individual who attempts to influence legislation and the administrative decisions of government.

Back 2

Lobbyist

Front 3

The difficulty interest groups face in recruiting members when the benefits they achieve can be gained without joining the group.

Back 3

Free Rider Problem

Front 4

A reason or motive having to do with the desire to associate with others and to share with others a particular interest or hobby.

Back 4

Solidary Benefits

Front 5

A reason or motive having to do with economic benefits or opportunities

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Material Benefits

Front 6

A reason for supporting or participating in the activities of a group that is based on agreement with the goals of the group.

Back 6

Purposive Benefits

Front 7

Includes business, agriculture, labor unions and their members, government workers, and professionals.

Back 7

Economic Interest Groups

Front 8

The best interests of the overall community; The national good, rather than the narrow interests of a particular group.

Back 8

Public Interest

Front 9

Have simple and straightforward goals and because their members tend to care intensely about the issues.

Back 9

Single Interest Groups

Front 10

An interest group activity that involves interaction with government officials to further the group's goals

Back 10

Direct Technique

Front 11

A strategy employed by interest groups that uses third parties to influence government officials.

Back 11

Indirect Technique

Front 12

Forming a coalition with other groups concerned about the same legislation.

Back 12

Building Alliances

Front 13

Focus on the legislators' campaign needs.

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Campaign Assistance

Front 14

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

Back 14

Climate Control

Front 15

A form of pressure or protest -- an organized refusal to purchase a particular product or deal with a particular business.

Back 15

Boycott

Front 16

A group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine public policy.

Back 16

Political Party

Front 17

A group or bloc in a legislature or political party acting in pursuit of some special interest or position.

Back 17

Faction

Front 18

Those members of the general public who identify with a political party or who express a preference for one party over another.

Back 18

Party-in-the-electorate

Front 19

The formal structure and leadership of a political party, including election committees, local, state, and national executives, and paid professional staff.

Back 19

Party Organization

Front 20

All of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a political party.

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Party-in-government

Front 21

Rewarding faithful party workers and followers with government employment and contracts.

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Patronage

Front 22

A situation in which one major political party controls the presidency and the other controls the chambers of Congress or in which one party controls a state governship and the other controls the state legislature.

Back 22

Divided Government

Front 23

Voting for candidates of 2 or more parties for different offices.

Back 23

Ticket Splitting

Front 24

A political party other than the 2 major political parties.

Back 24

Third Party

Front 25

A new party formed by a dissident faction within a major political party.

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Splinter Party

Front 26

A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long term change in the political landscape.

Back 26

Realignment

Front 27

A decline in party loyalties that reduces long-term party commitment.

Back 27

Dealignment

Front 28

A court rule bearing on subsequent legal decisions in similar cases.

Back 28

Precedent

Front 29

Judge-made law. Decisions were applied to similar situations and gradually became common in the nation.

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Common Law

Front 30

To stand on decided cases; The judicial policy of following precedents established by past decisions.

Back 30

Stare Decisis

Front 31

A question that has to do with the U.S. Constitution, Acts of Congress, or treaties.

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Federal Question

Front 32

The authority of a court to decide certain cases.

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Jurisdiction

Front 33

Exists when a court's authority to hear cases is not significantly restricted.

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General Jurisdiction

Front 34

A court having jurisdiction to review cases and issues that were originally tried to lower courts.

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Appellate Court

Front 35

An order issued by a higher court to a lower court to send up the record of a case for review.

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Writ for Certiorari

Front 36

A U.S. Supreme Court procedure by which 4 justices must vote to grant a petition for review if a case is to come before the full court.

Back 36

Rule of Four

Front 37

The verbal agreements presented in person by attorneys to an appellate court.

Back 37

Oral Arguments

Front 38

To declare that a court ruling is valid and must stand.

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Affirm

Front 39

To annul or make void a court ruling or account of some error irregularity.

Back 39

Reverse

Front 40

To send a case back to the court that originally heard it.

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Remand

Front 41

A doctrine holding that the Supreme Court should take an active role by using its powers to check the activities of governmental bodies when those bodies exceed their authority.

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Judicial Activism

Front 42

A doctrine holding that the Supreme Court should defer to the decision made by the elected representatives of the people in the legislative and executive branches.

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Judicial Restraint

Front 43

A judicial philosophy that looks to the "letter of the law" when interpreting the Constitution or a particular statute.

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Strict Constitution

Front 44

A judicial philosophy that looks to the context and purpose of a law when making an interpretation.

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Broad Constitution

Front 45

A court opinion or determination on which all judges agree.

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Unanimous Opinion

Front 46

A court opinion reflecting the views of the majority of the judges.

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Majority Opinion

Front 47

A separate opinion prepared by a judge who supports the decision of the majority of the court but who wants to make or clarify a particular point or to voice disapproval of the grounds on which the decision was made.

Back 47

Concurring Opinion

Front 48

A separate opinion in which a judge dissents from the conclusion reached by the majority on the court and expounds his or her own views about the case.

Back 48

Dissenting Opinion

Front 49

Try to percolate from the bottom (public)

Back 49

Grassroots Efforts

Front 50

Take your name, e-mail, etc. and send our calls and e-mails for you.

Back 50

Astroturf Lobbying