Unit 3 Flashcards
(49 cards)
mass media
the entire array of organizations through which information is collected and disseminated to the general public
muckracking
a form of journalism devoted to exploring misconduct by government businesses and individual politicians
yellow journalism
a form of newspaper publishing that featured pictures, comics, color and sensationalized news coverage
narrowcasting
targeting media programming at specific populations within society
press conference
meetings of public officials with reporters
policy agenda
the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actively involved in politics
policy entrepreneurs
people who invest their political capital in an issue to get it placed higher on the government agenda by using media to raise awareness
civic virture
the tendency to form small-scale associations for the public good
interest group
a collection of people or organizations that tries to influence public policy
disturbance theory
theory that interest groups form as a result of changes in the political system
transactions theory
public policies are the result of narrowly defined exchanges among political actors
collective good
something of value that cannot be withheld from a nonmember of a group; tax write-off or better environment
public interest group
an organization that seeks a collective good that will not selectively and materially benefit the members of the group
economic interest group
primary purpose of promoting the financial interests of its members
earmark
funds that an appropriations bill designates for specific projects within a state or congressional district
political action committee
a legal entity formed expressly for the purpose of contributing money to candidates and influencing electoral outcomes.
lobbyist
interest group representative who seeks to influence legislation that will benefit his or her organization or client through political or financial persuasion
lobbying
the activities of a group or organization that seek to persuade political leaders to support a group’s position
direct sponsorship
resources to shepard a case through the judicial system
elite theory
society is divided along class lines and upper class elite rules regardless of formal niceties of government organization
pluralist theory
the theory that political power is distributed among a wide array of diverse and competing interest groups
hyperpluralist theory
the theory that says too many groups are getting too much of what they want, resulting in a government policy that is often contradictory and lacking in direction
free-rider
people who don’t join because they benefit without joining
popular press
material written for the general public
