Government Ch.10

Front 1

Define interest groups and list 2 keys factors that distinguish interest groups from political parties.

Back 1

An organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals. Interest groups pursue their goals in many arenas.

2 key factors

* interest groups support candidates for office but do not run their own slate of candidates.

*interest groups are policy specialist & parties are policy generalists.

Front 2

Pluralism

Back 2

A theory of government and politics emphasizing that "many groups", each pressing for its preferred policies, "complete and counterbalance" one another in the political marketplace.

Front 3

Elitism

Back 3

A theory of government and politics contending that an upper class "elite will hold most of the power" and thus in effect run government.

Front 4

Hyperpluralism

Back 4

A theory of government and politics contending that "groups are as so strong that government, seeking to please them all, is thereby weakened."

Front 5

List 3 key factors that affect success of an interest group.

Back 5

*size of the group

*its intensity- the emotion poured into the issue

*financial resources- more money; get heard

Front 6

Actual group

Back 6

The people in potential groups who actually join.

Front 7

List the 4 basic strategies used by interest groups in order to try to achieve their policy goals.

Back 7

* Lobbying-communication directed to a decision-marker with the hope of influencing his/her decision.

* Electioneering-group involvement in the electoral process. ( helping fund)

* Litigation-(friend of court) Amicus curiae briefs & Class action lawsuits.

* Going public- interest in opinion of the public (advertise & public reaction)

(advertise & public reaction)

Front 8

List 2 main policy goals of labor interest groups.

Back 8

*better working conditions

* higher wages

Front 9

Union shop

Back 9

A provision fund in some collective bargaining agreement requires all employees of business to join the union within a short period, usually 30 days, and to remain members as condition of employment.

Front 10

List the 4 main policy goals of business interest groups

Back 10

*regulation

*tax

*world trade

*subsides/ contracts

Front 11

List 4 goals of environmental interest groups.

Back 11

*pollution

*global warming control

*wilderness

*species protection

Front 12

1 main goal policy goal of equality interest interest groups

Back 12

Have made equal rights their main policy goal.

-NAACP want policies against racial discrimination.

-NOW want policies against woman discrimination.

Front 13

Public interest lobbies

Back 13

"Seek a collective good", the achievement of which will not selectively and materially benefit the membership or activists of the organization.

Front 14

List the task of the consumer products safety commission.

Back 14

*speak for those (kids) that cannot speak for themselves

*push for government openness & fairness in government.

*want what they consider to be moral standards for society.

Front 15

What was James Madison's solution to the problems posed by interest groups?

Back 15

Was to create a wide open system in which many groups with opposing interests would counterbalance one another in a wide open system.