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Bold Terms for Final
See Title, covers Intrest Groups, Parties and Media
27
Political Studies
Undergraduate 1
12/10/2012

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Term
Interest Group
Definition
Any formally organized association that seeks to influence public policy
Term
Political Movement
Definition
An organized constellation of groups seeking wide-ranging social change
Term
Public Interest Groups
Definition
Those advocating policies they believe promote the good of all Americans and not merely the economic interests of a few
Term
Lobbying
Definition
Tactic for influencing public decisions for private purposes, usually employing personal contact with elected officials
Term
Advocacy Groups
Definition
Groups organized around broad public goals but without local chapters and often without formal membership
Term
Political Entrepreneur
Definition
Individual who develops support for latent causes or projects that have not yet gained widespread popularity.
Term
Collective Goods
Definition
Goods that are not owned privately but benefit all citizens equally, such as clean air
Term
Strategy
Definition
A group's overall plan for achieving it's goals
Term
Tactics
Definition
Specific actions that groups take to implement strategies
Term
Revolving Door
Definition
Term referring to the back-and-forth movement of individuals between government and interest group employment
Term
Iron Triangle
Definition
A decision-making structure dominated by interest groups, congressional committees and executive agency personnel who create policies that are mutually beneficial
Term
Issue Networks
Definition
Decision-making structure consisting of policy experts, including lobbyists, members of Congress, bureaucrats and policy specialist from think tanks and universities
Term
Political Action Committees (PACs)
Definition
Organized financial arms of interest groups used to collect and distribute money to candidates for elective office
Term
Leadership PACS
Definition
Political action committees set up by political leaders as a means to finance the campaigns of political allies whom they believe will reciprocate with support for their own political ambitions
Term
527 Groups
Definition
Tax-exempt organizations set up by interest groups to engage in political activities
Term
Political Disadvantage Theory
Definition
View positing that groups that are likely to seek remedies in courts if they do not succeed in the electoral process
Term
Grassroots Mobilization
Definition
The practice of organizing citizen support for a group's policy or candidate preferences
Term
Mobilizing the Grass Tops
Definition
Mining databases for high-status community leaders for purposes of contacting legislators in key districts regarding the sponsoring group's position
Term
AstroTurf Lobbying
Definition
Using deceptive practices and lack of transparency to manufacture grassroots support for an issue important to a particular set of unidentified interests
Term
Political Party
Definition
Organization created for the purpose of winning elections and governing once in office
Term
Proportional Representation
Definition
System of representation in which seats for office are apportioned according to proportion of votes received by candidates or parties
Term
Single-Member District
Definition
Electoral system in which the candidate receiving a plurality of votes wins the election to represent the district
Term
Plurality
Definition
Having more votes than any other single candidate; may not constitute a majority
Term
Duverger's Law
Definition
Principle that asserts single-member district elections lead to two-party systems
Term
Electoral College
Definition
The assemblage of state electors constitutionally charged with electing the president
Term
Political Machine
Definition
A strong party organization that maintained control by giving favors in return for votes
Term
Patronage
Definition
A preactice
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