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POLS 203-Ch. 6
Ch. 6 Vocabulary
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Interest group | an organized group of individuals sharing common objectives who actively attempt to influence policymakers. |
Purposive incentive | if a group stands for something that you believe is very important, you can gain considerable satisfaction in taking action from within that group. |
Solidary incentive | some people enjoy the camaraderie and sense of belonging that come from associating with other people who share their interests and goals. |
Material incentive | some groups offer their members material incentives for joining, such as discounts on products, subscriptions, or group insurance programs. |
Pluralist theory | that views politics as a contest among various interest groups-at all levels of government-to gain benefits for their members. |
Majoritarianism | the belief that public policy is or should be set in accordance with the opinions of a majority of the people. |
Elite theory | the belief that the government is controlled by one or more elite groups. |
Trade Organization | an association formed by members of a particular industry, such as oil or trucking industries. To develop common standards and goals for the industry. Lobby government for legislation or regulations that specifically benefit their members. |
Right-to-work laws | laws that ban unions from collecting dues or other fees from workers whom they represent but who have not actually joined the union. |
Public-interest group | an interest group formed for the purpose of working for the “public good.” Ex. American Civil Liberties Union and Common Cause. |
Direct technique | any method used by an interest group to interact with government officials directly to further the group’s goals. |
Lobbying | all of the attempts by organizations or by individuals to influence the passage, defeat, or contents of legislation or to influence the administrative decisions of government. |
Lobbyist | an individual who handles a particular interest group’s lobbying efforts. |
Political Action Committee (PAC) | a committee that is established by a corporation, labor union, or special interest group to raise funds and make campaign contributions on the establishing organization’s behalf. |
Independent expenditure | an expenditure for activities that are independent from (not coordinated with) those of a political candidate or a political party. |
Indirect technique | any method used by interest groups to influence government officials through third parties, such as voters. |
Rating System | a system by which a particular interest group evaluates (rates) the performance of legislators based on how often the legislators have voted with the group’s position on particular issues. |