chapter 8 Flashcards
Special interests
are viewed as the rich and powerful pulling the strings of public officials behind the scenes.
Interest groups
as people organized to pursue a common interest by applying pressure on the political process.
Alexis De Tocqueville Democracy in American
He was impressed that Americans constantly joined all kinds of groups. The Frenchman thought these “associations” were essential to why democracy worked in the United States.
Major types of interest groups:
Business groups- have a common interest in making profits, which also involves supporting the markets that makes profits possible.
Professional groups- include the American Medical Association, Bar Association, all of which have powerful lobbies in Washington.
Labor Unions- like the international Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Unions that make up the American Federation of Labor and the congress of Industrial Organizations, are the most important financial supporters of the Democratic party.
Agricultural interests- The American Farm Bureau Federation, The national Farmers union, and the National Grange are powerful groups in Washington. Have a long history of influential lobbying.
Direct lobbying
Usually takes place quietly in congressional committees and executive bureaucracies. Lobbyists interacting directly with decision makers.
Five commandments of lobbying
- Demonstrate a constituent interest. 2.) Be well informed. 3.) Be balanced. 4.) keep it short and sweet. 5.) Leave a written summary
Indirect lobbying-
may involve massive letter-writing that looks as if each letter has been individually written. Lobbyists getting others to interact directly with decision makers.
Grassroots lobbying
its lobbyists getting voters contacting their representative or senator. This demonstrates intensity and broad popular support, reflects the issues local impact in the members have region, and reminds elected officials of the electoral pain that awaits a wrong decision.
PAC ( political action committee
PACS are organizations set up by private groups such as businesses or labor unions to influence the political process by raising funds from their members and making campaign donations.
Hyperpluralism
too many groups making too many demands on government. Groups demand benefits.
527 groups-
private groups usually organized to support a presidential candidate by raising unregulated money; they are a way to get around the limits on campaign fundraising
Agenda setting
a listening of national priorities; a major media functions achieved by the prominence given certain news stories
News leaks
information and by controlling information going to the public.
E.E Schattschneider’s “definition of alternatives”
is the supreme instrument of powers. Means the ability to set limits on political debates, to define what is politically important and what is not, and to make certain solutions reasonable and acceptable, and others not.
Pseudoevents-
not real news at all, but happenings that are staged solely to be reported.
Federal communication commission FCC 1934
generally took a pro-industry stance in restricting entry to broadcasting competitors.
Access-
This is what lobbyists want and what campaign contributions buy. Not necessarily a favorable decision but access to the decision maker to make your case.
Fourth branch of government
this is referred to the media (fourth estate).
Chicken noodle news
ted turner, few people believed there be enough demand for such a station, and it was jokingly called this types of news.this refers to CNN.
Concentration of ownership
owners sought to operate more cheaply and reach larger audiences by controlling larger markets. More and more media outlets in fewer and fewer hands raising concerns about the concentration of power this represents and the declining number of alternative viewpoints.
Medias political functions-
- telling the public what their leaders are doing
- serving as a watchdog to hold leaders accountable
The demands of the marketplace, by turning newscasts into entertainment and the undermining the financial viability of many newspapers, have limited the medias ability to fulfill either political functions.
