AP Government - Interest Groups Flashcards

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