Unit 10

Question 1

What Amendment protects the freedom to organize?

Answer 1

The First Amendment.

Question 2

What is an interest group?

Answer 2

An organized group of people with a shared policy goal(s), who enter the policy process to try to achieve their goals.

Question 3

What are the three important theories of American democracy (relating to interest groups)?

Answer 3

1. Pluralism
2. Elitism
3. Hyperpluralism

Question 4

Pluralism

Answer 4

The theory that interest groups are dispersed in power and represents everyone; every group balances each other out.

Question 5

Elitism

Answer 5

The theory that few interest groups (primarily the wealthy) have the most power and is not shared equally. (Believes lobbying is a problem because it only benefits those in power.)

Question 6

Hyperpluralism (AKA Interest Group Liberalism)

Answer 6

The theory that the interest group system is out of control and that government policies are too deferential to them. This often results in government policies being too contradictory.

Question 7

Iron Triangles

Answer 7

Subgovernments composed of key interest group leaders interested in policy X, the government agency in charge of administering policy X, and the members of the congressional committees/subcommittees handling policy X.

Question 8

What do all Iron Triangles have in common?

Answer 8

They all want to protect their self-interest.

Question 9

What is the Madisonian system?

Answer 9

A structure of government in which the powers of government are separated into three branches: legislative, judicial, and executive.

Question 10

What factors can make an interest group successful?

Answer 10

1. Financial resources
2. Size of group
3. Intensity / Passion

Question 11

What is a collective good?

Answer 11

Something of value or benefit, such as clean air.

Question 12

What is a free-rider?

Answer 12

A person or group who benefits from the efforts of others without bearing any costs.

Question 13

Collective Goods/Free-Rider Problem

Answer 13

For an interest group, the fact that some/many potential members will not join because they can obtain benefits from group activities without actually joining.

Question 14

Selective Benefits

Answer 14

Goods that a group can restrict to those who actually join. Helps overcome the Free-Rider Problem.

Question 15

Single-Issue Group

Answer 15

Group that has a narrow interest, dislikes compromise, and “single-mindedly” pursues their goal. It is assumed that Anti-Vietnam War activists were the first.

Question 16

What strategies do interest groups use to achieve their policy goals?

Answer 16

1. Lobbying
2. Litigation
3. Electioneering
4. Appealing to the Public

Question 17

Lobbying

Answer 17

The process by which an individual or group communicates with policymakers in an attempt to influence policy decisions.

Question 18

The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995

Answer 18

Established criteria for determining whether an organization or firm should register its employees as lobbyists.

Question 19

Electioneering

Answer 19

Direct group involvement in the electoral process; help fund campaigns, getting members to work for candidates, etc.

Question 20

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Answer 20

Provides a means for interest groups to participate in electioneering; raises and spends money to elect/defeat candidates.

Question 21

Litigating

Answer 21

When legislative objectives fail to pass in Congress, interest groups may fight for specific rulings via the judicial process.

Question 22

Example of an interest group undergoing litigation:

Answer 22

American Civil Liberties Union challenged the constitutionality of the Communications Decency Act (regulating offensive content on the internet). In the case of Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union (1997), they succeeded in having the Supreme Court strike down the law.

Question 23

Amicus Curiae briefs

Answer 23

Known as “friend of the court” briefs, which are written arguments submitted to courts in support of one side of the case. Usually seen in highly publicized or emotionally charged cases.

Question 24

Example of use of Amicus Curiae briefs:

Answer 24

Was used in Fisher v. University of Texas (challenging the university’s affirmative action programs as a form of reverse discrimination).

Question 25

Appealing to the Public

Answer 25

Using social media as a means to communicate and interact with voters. Politicians tend to spend much of their budget onto social media, making it almost comparable to actual political campaigns.

Question 26

What are the types of interest groups?

Answer 26

1. Economic interest groups
2. Environmental interest groups
3. Equality/Civil rights interest groups
4. General public interest groups

Question 27

Economic Interest Groups

Answer 27

Deals with business, labor, and farming industries worried about the impact of government regulations.

Question 28

What is the main interest group representing labor?

Answer 28

Unions. (ie. AFL-CIO and the National Education Association)

Question 29

Right-to-Work Laws

Answer 29

Outlaws union membership as a condition of employment; forbid the creation of union shops.

Established by the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947.

Question 30

Which case weakened the ability for public sector unions to take fees from nonmembers?

Answer 30

Janus v. AFSCME

Question 31

Environmental Interest Groups

Answer 31

Primarily advocates for environmental protection; promotes policies to control pollution and combat global warming, etc.

Question 32

Example of an Environmental Interest Group:

Answer 32

The Sierra Club or the National Wildlife Federation.

Question 33

Equality Interest Groups

Answer 33

Represents minorities and women and advocates have made equal rights their main policy goal.

Question 34

Example of Equality Interest Group:

Answer 34

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Organization for Women (NOW).

Question 35

Other Public Interest Lobbies

Answer 35

Organized groups may form ideas/various cases “in the public interest.”

Question 36

Public Interest Lobbies

Answer 36

Organizations that seek a collective good, which benefits the society as a whole.

Question 37

Indirect Democracy

Answer 37

A type of democratic government in which voters elect representatives to make laws on their behalf.
(ie. Voters vote for a candidate running for Congress into office.)

Question 38

Direct Democracy

Answer 38

A type of democratic government in which voters have a direct role in policymaking / democratic decision making without any representative.
(ie. Propositions)

Question 39

Indirect vs. Direct

Answer 39

With a large population, it is better to have an indirect democracy for better decision-making, and also mitigates the disadvantage in the minority (gives them a better chance to be represented).