OS Ch. 10 -- Interest Groups

An interest group

• Is not significantly different from a political party

• Is a group of people with similar goals who try to influence the political process to achieve those goals

• Differs from what Madison referred to as a faction in The Federalist Papers because a faction can only represent a minority of the population

• Consists of community leaders, members of Congress, and media representatives

Whereas a party runs a slate of candidates for office and attempts to win control of the government, an interest group

• Attempts to affect election outcomes and influence government policy

• Creates a party to pursue the interest group’s objectives

• Generally avoids the electoral process and focuses instead on increasing benefits for members of the group

• Controls the nomination process to achieve its policy outcomes

Interest groups are usually policy _____, whereas political parties are usually policy _____.

• managers / specialists

• generalists / specialists

• generalists / managers

• specialists / generalists

According to (a)   theory, interest group activity brings representation to all as groups compete and counterbalance each other.

According to (a)   theory interest groups are extremely unequal in power.

According to (a)   theory, too many groups get too much of what they want, resulting in contradictory or ineffective policy.

Which TWO of the following are true?

• The poor participate in politics at a high rate due to their sense of political efficacy.

• The poor participate in politics at a low rate due to their sense of political efficacy.

• In general, minorities tend to participate at a higher rate than do non-Hispanic whites.

• In general, minorities tend to participate at a lower rate than do non-Hispanic whites.

According to (a)   , the larger the group, the greater the free-rider problem.

A ______ is something of value such as national security that cannot be withheld from a potential group member.

• Group benefit

• Political resource

• Potential asset

• Collective (or public) good

PAC’s or political action committees

• Funnel money to interest groups

• Collect money from group members and contribute it to candidates

• May not participate in a political campaign

• Are tightly restricted by the First Amendment