Flashcards in Unit III Vocab Deck (31)
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1
"Friend of the court brief"
Amicus curiae brief
2
Brief filed by an interest group to influence a Supreme Court decision
Amicus curiae brief
3
Contention that parties are less important to voters, who have abandoned parties to become independents
Dealignment argument
4
Government in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls Congress
Divided government
5
Theory that upper class elites excercise great influence over public policy
Elite theory
6
Term used by Madison to denote what we now call interest groups
Factions
7
FCC rule that required broadcasters to air a variety of viewpoints on their programs
Fairness doctrine
8
Is the Fairness Doctrine still in effect?
No
9
The media attack when they sense wrongdoing or scandal in the government, giving massive coverage to these stories
Feeding frenzy
10
The problem faced by interest groups when citizens can reap the benefits of interest groups without joining, participating, or contributing money
Free rider problem
11
The tendency of media to report on an election campaign as if it were a horse race
Horse race coverage
12
Media coverage of a campaign based on who is ahead or behind
Horse race
13
An informal association of federal agency, congressional committee, and interest group that is said to have heavy influence in policy making
Iron Triangle
14
The act or process of carrying out a lawsuit
Litigation
15
Attempt to influence policy makers
Lobbying
16
Elections in which candidates are not identified by party membership on the ballot
Nonpartisan election
17
Ballot in which candidates are arranged by office, not by party
Office column voting
18
Ballot arrangement which encourages split ticket voting
Office column
19
Ballot in which candidates are arranged by party, not by office
Party column ballot
20
A staged campaign event which attracts favorable visual media coverage
Photo opportunity
21
Example of a photo opportunity
Reading to school children
22
Theory that policy making is the result of interest group competition
Pluralism
23
an interest group that raises funds and donates to election campaigns
PAC
24
Appointing loyal party members to government positions
Patronage
25
The cycle in which a person alternately works for the public and private sector (eg: government and interest groups)
revolving door
26
The practice of selectively choosing media sources which are in harmony with one's own beliefs
Selective exposure
27
According to selective exposure, what news would a conservative watch?
FOX News
28
The practice of perceiving media messages the way one wants to
Selective perception
29
A short, pithy statement which is likely to attract media attention
Sound bite
30
Placing a certain slant on a story to deflect negative public attention against a politician
Spin control
31
