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Government Exam 3

Terms in this set (56)

astroturf lobbying
A simulation of grassroots support, usually conducted by specialized lobbying firms
grassroots lobbying
indirect lobbying efforts that spring from widespread public concern
Dark Money
Money spent on political activities by nonprofit organizations. (Does not have to report its source of funding
Electioneering
Method used by organized interest groups to attempt to shape public policy by influencing who is elected, especially by being a source of campaign funding
Expressive benefits
Benefits that arise from taking action to express one's views; motivates group membership
Free-rider Problem
Citizens who do not contribute to the efforts of the group, but enjoy the results of the efforts.
Grasstop Lobbying
the attempt to influence legislators through key constituents or friends
Hyperpluralism
The view that we are evolved beyond pluralism, and now there is many narrow interests represented. Often this comes at the expense of the broader public interest
Independent political expenditures
Spending on behalf of a candidate that is done without coordination of the candidate or their campaign
Intergovernmental Lobbying
Lobbying that occurs between different levels of government
Labor Unions
Organizations that represent the interests of working people seeking better pay and better working conditions
Lobbying
Direct contact with legislative or executive branch members to influence legislative or administrative action
Organized Interest
an individual, group of people, or group of businesses that organizes its efforts to influence public policy
Pluralist Perspective
A view of politics that argues that democracy is best practiced when citizens participate through groups; a greater number of organized interests means wider participation and a healthier democracy.
Political Action Committee (PAC)
the fundraising arm of an interest group that has been organized to raise and spend money under state and federal campaign finance rules
Professional associations
Organizations that represent the interests of white-collar professions like doctors
public interest group
Organizations that pursue noneconomic policies on behalf of the GENERAL PUBLIC
revolving door
the phenomenon of legislators and members of the executive branch moving easily from government office to lucrative positions with lobbying firms
Selective Incentives
Benefits exclusively available to members of an organization
Single-issue Interest Groups
groups usually organized around one side of a single issue, such as pro-choice or anti-abortion groups
Solidarity Benefits
Social interactions that individuals enjoy from joining a group and working together for a common cause
Super PAC
An organized group that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money as long as it does not coordinate with a candidates campaign
trade association
Organizations of similar businesses that work together to advance shared goals
Advanced or Early voting
Voting system that allows a voter to cap a ballot before an election, thus making voting more convenient
Blanket/Wide-Open Primary
a primary in which voters do not register party affiliations and receive ballot papers containing the names of all political parties running for office; usually voters may choose only one candidate per office rather than one candidate per political party
Casework
The process of solving problems for constituents
Closed Primary
Electoral contest restricted to party loyalists
Credit Claiming
the advantage derived from incumbents' ability to point to positive outcomes for which they are responsible
Cross-Filing
A system that allows candidates to run simultaneously as a Democratic and Republican candidate
Direct Primary
A primary where voters directly select the candidates who will run for office
Disclosure
Reporting who contributes money to a campaign
Equal protection clause
14th amendment clause that requires state laws and state constitutions to treat all citizens equal
General election
Election in which candidates from two or more political parties and independent candidates compete for political office
Grandfather Clause
Granting voting rights to only those citizens whose grandfathers had the right to vote. (Kept African Americans from voting. NOT USED IN TEXAS)
incumbent
The current officeholder
Motor Voter Act
The National Voter Registration Act, which allows citizens to register to vote when applying or renewing their driver's license
Open Primary
a primary election in which voters are not required to declare party affiliation to participate, but must request a specific party's ballot at the primary. Subsequently bars voters from participating in other party's primary.
Party Primary
Electoral contest to win a political party's nomination for the right to appear as the party's candidate on the ballot in the general election
Plurality election
election in which the candidate with the most votes wins
Preference primary
Intraparty election in which candidates compete to determine who will win the party's nomination in the general election
Public Financing
Government covers some or all the cost of elections for political parties or candidates
Roll off
process in which voters mark off only the "more important" offices on a lengthy ballot—usually national or statewide offices—and leave the county or local office choices blank.
Runoff Election
a "second round" election in which voters choose between the top two candidates from the first round
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Eliminated literacy tests as qualification to vote
white primary
Attempt by the Democratic Party to only allow party members to vote. (Only whites basically)
Capital Punishment
Death penalty
Castle Doctrine
can use lethal force without retreating if attacked in your own home
Incapacitation
An approach to criminal justice that emphasizes removing the guilty from society to prevent new crime
Incarceration Rate
A calculation of how many prisoners a state has per 100,000 people
Indigent defense
Requirement that the government provide legal counsel to those charged with serious crimes who cannot afford representation
Plain Sight Doctrine
An exemption to the need for a search warrant based upon the evidence being in plain sight of the police
Private prison
For-profit prison
Recidivism
A former inmate's resumption of criminal activity after his or her release from prison
Rehabilitation
Focuses on therapy or education to reform criminal behavior
Restorative justice
punishment designed to repair the damage done to the victim and community by an offender's criminal act
Tort
wrongful act by a person that results in injury to another person or property in civil law
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