PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS
Terms
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- PLURALIST DEMOCRACY
- a theory of democracy that holds that citizen membership in groups is the key to political power.
- POLITICAL PARTY
- a group of citizens united by ideology and seeking control of government in order to promote their ideas and policies.
- PARTISANSHIP
- loyalty to a political clause or party.
- PARTY ORGANIZATION
- the official structure that conducts the political business of parties.
- ELECTIONEERING
- the process of getting a person elected to public office.
- NOMINATING CONVENTION
- formal party gathering to choose candidates.
- PARTY-IN-GOVERNMENT
- members of the party who have been elected to serve in government.
- GOVERNING
- activities directed toward controlling the distribution of political resources by providing executive/legislative leadership, enacting agendas, mobilizing support, and building coalitions.
- PARTY-IN-THE-ELECTORATE
- ordinary citizens who identify with the party.
- PARTY IDENTIFICATION
- voter affiliation with a political party.
- PARTY BASE
- members of a political party who consistently vote for that party's candidates.
- RESPONSIBLE PARTY MODEL
- party government when four conditions are met: clear choice of ideologies, candidates pledged to implement ideas, party held accountable by voters, party control over members.
- PARTY MACHINE
- mass-based party system in which parties provided services and resources to voters in exchange for votes.
- PARTY BOSS
- party leader, usually in an urban district, who exercised tight control over electioneering and patronage.
- PATRONAGE
- a system in which successful paty candidates reward supporters with jobs or favors.
- PARTY PRIMARY
- nomination of party candidates by registered party members rather than party bosses.
- PARTY ERA
- extended period of relative political stability in which one party tends to control both the presidency and Congress.
- CRITICAL ELECTION
- an election signaling the significant change in popular allegiance from one party to another.
- REALIGNMENT
- substantial and long-term shift in party allegiance by individuals and groups, usually resulting in a change in policy direction.
- DEALIGNMENT
- a trend among voters to identify themselves as independents rather than as members of major party.
- PARTY ACTIVISTS
- the "party faithful" ; the rank-and-file members who actually carry out the party's electioneering efforts.
- SPLINTER PARTY
- a third party that breaks off from one of the major political parties.
- FACTION
- a group of citizens united by some common passion or interest and opposed to the rights of other citizens or to the interests of the whole community.
- INTEREST GROUP
- an organization of individuals who share a common political goal and unite for the purpose of influencing government decisions.
- LOBBYING
- interest group activities aimed at persuading policymakers to support the group's positions.
- FREE RIDER PROBLEM
- the difficulty groups face in recruiting when potential members can gain the benefits of the group's actions whether they join or not.
- COLLECTIVE GOOD
- a good or service that, by its very nature, cannot be denied to anyone who wants to consume it.
- SELECTIVE INCENTIVE
- a benefit that is available only to group members as an inducement to get them to join.
- MATERIAL BENEFIT
- a selective incentive in the form of a tangiable reward.
- SOLIDARY BENEFIT
- a selective incentive related to the interaction and bonding among group members.
- EXPRESSIVE BENEFIT
- a selective incentive that derives from the opportunity to express values and beliefs and to be committed to a greater cause
- ECONOMIC INTEREST GROUP
- a group that organizes to influence government policy for the economic benefit of its members.
- EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INTEREST GROUP
- a group that organizes to promote the civil and economic rights of underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.
- PUBLIC INTEREST GROUP
- a group that organizes to influence government to produce collective goods or services that benefit the general public.
- DIRECT LOBBYING
- direct interaction with public officials for the purpose of influencing policy decisions.
- INDIRECT LOBBYING
- attempt to influence government policymakers by encouraging the general public to put pressure on them.
- REVOLVING DOOR
- the tendency of public officials, journalists, and lobbyists to move between public and private sector (media, lobbying) jobs.
- POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
- the fundraising arm of an interest group.
- ISSUE ADVOCACY ADS
- advertisements that support issues or candidates without telling constituents how to vote.
- SOCIAL PROTEST
- public activities designed to bring attention to political causes, usually generated by those without access to conventional means of expressing their views.
- GRASSROOTS LOBBYING
- indirect lobbying efforts that spring from widespread public concern.
- ASTROTURF LOBBYING
- indirect lobbying efforts that manipulate or create public sentiment.
- INTEREST GROUP ENTREPRENEUR
- an effective group leader, who is likely to have organized the group and can effectively promote its interests among members and the public.