POL Chapter 10 Flash Cards

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Amicus Curiae Briefs

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Documents filed by individuals or groups not direct parties to a case, offering arguments on how a court should rule or interpret the law.

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Association

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Groups of companies or institutions organizing around a common set of concerns, benefiting by pooling resources to influence government policy.

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Astroturf Movement

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A political movement appearing grassroots but supported by wealthy interests or elites behind the scenes.

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Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold, 2002)

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A federal law reducing the influence of unregulated "soft money" in campaigns, imposing restrictions on political advertisements before elections.

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Citizens United

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Refers to a Supreme Court case granting corporations and unions the right to spend unlimited money on elections, treating expenditures as free speech.

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Collective (Public) Goods

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Benefits or goods that are nonexcludable and non-rivalrous, often provided by government or public interest groups.

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Collective Action Problem

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A situation where individuals have a disincentive to participate, leading to under-participation or free riding, undermining collective goods.

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Contract Lobbyist

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A lobbyist working at a contract lobbying firm, representing multiple clients before government.

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Contributions

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Monetary or in-kind donations given to candidates, parties, or political committees by individuals, corporations, or interest groups to support electoral campaigns or policy goals.

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Disturbance Theory

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The idea that external events or shifts in the political, social, or economic environment can lead to the mobilization of new or existing interest groups.