Ap Gov Chp 11 Vocab

Front 1

interest group

Back 1

an organization of people w/ shared policy goals entering the political process at several points to try to achieve those goals. Goals are pursued in many arenas

Front 2

pluralist theory

Back 2

government is mainly a competition btwn grps and brings representation to all

Front 3

elite theory

Back 3

societies are divided along class lines and upper class elite rules

Front 4

hyperpluralist theory

Back 4

groups are so strong that gov is weakened

Front 5

subgovernments

Back 5

aka iron triangles. Network of groups that exercise control over specific policy areas (includes interest grp leaders, gov. agency, members of congressional committees)

Front 6

potential group

Back 6

ppl who might be interested grp members b/c they share common interests. Always larger than actual grp

Front 7

actual group

Back 7

part of potential grp consisting of members who actually join

Front 8

collective goods

Back 8

something of value (such as clean air) that cannot be held from a potential grp member

Front 9

free-rider problem

Back 9

problem faced by unions and other grps when people do not join bc they can benefit from grps's activities w/o actually joining. The bigger the grp, the more serious the problem

Front 10

Olsen's Law of Large Groups

Back 10

the larger the group, the further it will fall short of providing an optimal amount of collective good

Front 11

single-issue group

Back 11

grps that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from ppl new to politics

Front 12

lobbying

Back 12

political persuaders who represent organized grps and try to influence decisions of policymakers

Front 13

electioneering

Back 13

aiding candidates financially and getting interest grp members out to support them

Front 14

political action committees (PACs)

Back 14

political funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms. A corporation, union, or interest grp can create a PAC and register it w/ FEC which will monitor the PAC's expenditures

Front 15

amicus curae briefs

Back 15

"friend of the court" briefs. Consists of written arguments submitted to court in support of one side of a case that attempts to influence the court's decision

Front 16

class action lawsuits

Back 16

lawsuits permitting a small # of ppl to sue on behalf of all other ppl similarly situated

Front 17

union shop

Back 17

provision in collective bargaining arguments requiring all employees of a business to join the union within a short period

Front 18

right-to-work laws

Back 18

a state law forbidding requirements that workers must join a union to hold their jobs. Permitted by the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947

Front 19

selective benefits

Back 19

goods (such as info publications, travel discounts, grp insurance rates) that a grp can restrict to those who pay their yearly dues

Front 20

public interest lobbies

Back 20

organizations that seek collective goods for everyone including ppl not part of the interest grp