Political Science Chapter 12 Vocab

Front 1

Pluralism

Back 1

the theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government. The outcome of this competition is compromise and mederation

Front 2

Interest group

Back 2

a voluntary membership association that pursues a common cause through political participation

Front 3

Membership association

Back 3

an organized group in which members actually play a substantial role, sitting on committees and engaging in group projects

Front 4

Staff organization

Back 4

a type of membership group in which a professional staff conducts most of the group's activities

Front 5

Collective goods

Back 5

benefits, sought by groups, that are broadly available and cannot be denied to nonmembers

Front 6

Free riders

Back 6

those who enjoy the benefits of collective goods but did not participate in acquiring them

Front 7

Informational benefits

Back 7

special newsletters, periodicals, training programs, conferences, and other information provided to members of groups to entice others to join

Front 8

Material benefits

Back 8

special goods, services, or money provided to members of groups to entice others to join

Front 9

Solidary benefits

Back 9

selective benefits of group membership that emphasize friendship, networking, and consciousness-raising

Front 10

Purposive benefits

Back 10

selective benefits of group membership that emphasize the purpose and accomplishments of the group

Front 11

New Politics movement

Back 11

a political movement that began in the 1960s and 1970s, made up of prefessionals and intellectuals for whom the civil rights and antiwar movements were formative experiences. The New Politics movement strengthened public interest group

Front 12

Public interest group

Back 12

groups that claim they serve the general good rather than their own particular interest

Front 13

Lobbying

Back 13

a strategy by which organized interests seek to influence the passage of legislation by ecerting direct pressure on members of the legislature

Front 14

Access

Back 14

the actual involvement of interest groups in the decision-making process

Front 15

Icon triangle

Back 15

the stable, cooperative relationship that often develops between a congressional committee, an administrative agency, and one or more supportive interest groups

Front 16

Issue network

Back 16

a loose network of elected leaders, public officials, activists, and interest groups drawn together by a specific policy issue

Front 17

Capture

Back 17

an interest's acquisition of substantial influence over the government agency charged with regulating its activities

Front 18

Going public

Back 18

a strategy that attempts to mobilize the widest and most favorable climate of public opinion

Front 19

Institutional advertising

Back 19

advertising designed to create a positive image of an organization

Front 20

Grassroots mobilization

Back 20

campaign in which a group mobilizes its membership to contact government officials in support of the group's position

Front 21

Political action committee (PAC)

Back 21

a private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns

Front 22

Soft money

Back 22

money contributed directly to political parties for voter registration and organization