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| 7999541686 | Interest groups | - group of people that share policy goals and engage in politics - protected by 1st amendment right to organize - do NOT run their own candidates | 0 | |
| 7999552030 | Theories of interest group politics (pluralism, elitism, hyperpluralism) | Pluralism - interest groups are beneficial, exert positive influence on policymakers and reflect citizens' opinions Elitism - interest groups are insignificant, the only groups that matter are the powerful and wealthy, corporations have too much power Hyperpluralism - interest groups contribute to gridlock, candidates try to please everybody end up making contradictory policy | 1 | |
| 7999576077 | Iron Triangle | all parts of the triangle protect their own interests (Congress, Interest Groups, Bureaucracy) |  | 2 |
| 7999745372 | Lobbying | - Hope to influence government - Lobbyists can be paid by a group or hired on a temporary basis - Lobbying Disclosure Act requires organizations to report on lobbyists and salaries - help provide strategies for policy and campaigns, provide ideas, advance their goals | 3 | |
| 7999759079 | Electioneering | Financially assisting candidates (not individual donations) - $305 million from PACs in 2008 - overwhelmingly support incumbents | 4 | |
| 7999783389 | Litigation | - when interest groups fail, COURTS are an avenue for change - Civil Rights Era: Brown v. Board of Education - amicus curiae briefs: allows groups to file to the supreme court to give their opinion on a case Class Action Law Suits: combine people in similar situations to achieve an effect | 5 | |
| 7999820880 | Types of Interest groups | Business: wants to advance profit and gain support of their interest Environment: want to reduce pollution and end climate change (off-shore drilling issue) Equality: Civil rights, argue before courts (NAACP!), advocate equality (NOW, Equal Rights Amendment) Public Interest: seek collective good (Ralph Nader exposing unsafe vehicles) | 6 | |
| 9024956517 | Citizens United decision | Overturned limits of McCain-Feingold Act - ruled that corporations are people who have the right to contribute to candidates / political parties - led to the proliferation of SuperPACs | 7 | |
| 9024975406 | McCain-Feingold Act | - regulates soft money by prohibiting national party committees from raising unlimited funds - placed limits on contributions by interest groups - SuperPACs found loopholes | 8 |
