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2. Lecture 11-2

3. Elitist theorists argue thatA)groups weak in one resource can use another, and all legitimate groups are able to affect public policy by one means or another.B)the larger the group, the further it will fall short of providing an optimal amount of a collective good.C)the fact that there are numerous groups proves nothing, because most groups are extremely unequal in power.D)governments should be controlled by a select group of well-educated, cultured, wealthy persons who understand the laws of economics and can run the most efficient government.E)the government has treated all interest group demands as legitimate, and unwisely chosen to advance them all.

4. The role of groups is emphasized in the concept of America as a(n)A) group intensive democracy.B) pluralist democracy.C) liberal democracy.D) elitist democracy.E) none of the above

5. The size of an interest group is the most important factor in determining itsA) ideology.B) effectiveness.C) support of candidates for public office.D) closeness to the mainstream of American politics.E) none of the above

6. A group that is NOT necessarily organized but which nevertheless has a commonality of interest is a/an A) shared attitude interest group.B) common interest group.C) latent interest group.D) free rider interest group.E) none of the above

7. Vocab – “PUBLIC POLICY” • Public Policy is the product of the following institutions: • Congress (In reality congressional committees) – Law • President – Executive Orders • Exec Agencies - The “Bureaucracy”– Administrative Regulations • Judiciary – Decisions/Opinions, “Precedents” • SIGs try to influence all of them

8. Vocab • Grassroots – at the local/individual level. As opposed to doing something at the top (federal/national) level

9. Lobbying the Public – The Grassroots Level • The media • Direct mail • Opinion leaders • Conduct mail campaigns and protest demonstrations

10. Involvement in the Electoral Process: PACs • Political action committees are organizations, formally independent of candidates themselves, which are devoted to channeling money from members of interest groups to political candidates sympathetic to the groups’ policy preferences • PACs blossomed as a result of the Federal Election Act of 1974

11. Involvement in the Policy Process: Lobbying • Lobbying is an attempt to influence the shape of legislation emanating from Congress and other legislative and rule-making bodies • Lobbying is big business in Washington, employing thousands of people

12. Involvement in the Administrative and Regulatory Process • Lobbyists keep watch on the rules and regulation written by the many agencies of the executive branch. • The threesome of interest groups, legislators, and administrators is called the iron triangle

13. The Iron Triangle(Sub Government Cozy Triangle) • Interlocking relationship between • Congressional Committees • Interest Groups • Administrative Agencies • The Revolving Door

14. Iron Triangle Relationships

15. Involvement of SIGs in the Judicial Process • Class action lawsuits • Influence the selection of state and federal judges • Participate as parties in cases • Support litigation by others • File amicus curiae briefs

16. ________ enables a group of similarly situated plaintiffs to combine similar grievances into a single suit.A)A collective civil suit B)An amicus curiae brief C)Olson's Law of Large Groups D)A class action lawsuit E)A public interest suit

17. In recent years interest groups have been deeply involved in the financing of political campaigns, usually throughA) single-issue groups.B) political action committees.C) mainstream groups.D) radical groups.E) none of the above

18. The Federal Election Act of 1974 caused political action committees toA) decrease greatly in number.B) proliferate.C) become less prominent.D) become less involved in politics.E) none of the above

19. An iron triangle involves interest groups, pertinent administrators, and pertinent congressional committees in the making and implementation ofA) awards and settlements.B) subpoenas.C) public policy.D) court decisions.E) none of the above

20. Grassroots lobbying includes such tactics asA) petition drives. B) door-to-door campaigns. C) contacting candidates and office holders. D) all of the above.

21. Interest groups lobby the courts throughA) contributions to federal judges and justices. B) direct contact with judges and justices. C) sponsoring lawsuits and filing briefs. D) all of the above.