Deck 11: Interest Groups

Question 1

Tocqueville praised __________________.

A) the efforts of Americans at traffic control
B) success of Americans at road construction
C) how Americans used group activity in democracy
D) the high moral standards of Americans
E) the reliance that Americans demonstrated to combat the ills and trials of life

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following would not be considered an advantage of interest group activity?

A) Interest groups provide all groups in society with an opportunity to win support for their ideas and positions.
B) Joining groups and working for the interests of the group is a natural inclination of citizens and is a method of representation in our democracy.
C) Interest groups work to concentrate benefits for the few while distributing costs to the many.
D) The right of association is a basic right protected implicitly by the First Amendment's right "peaceably to assemble."
E) The system is fair in that it gives all groups an equitable opportunity to compete.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which theory says that public policy largely results from a variety of interest groups competing with one another to promote laws that benefit members of their respective groups?

A) cooperativism
B) majoritarianism
C) pluralism
D) capitalism
E) legalism

Answer 3

C

Question 4

In the Federalist Papers, James Madison notes that "the latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man." This means _______________________.

A) latex and rubber are appropriate materials for outdoor clothing worn while camping
B) people are naturally drawn toward organization and collective action
C) free speech is antithetical to a proper functioning democracy
D) factions do not naturally occur and therefore should be created by government
E) factions are best expressed in natural surroundings

Question 5

Which theory says that public policy is a product of whatever the majority of citizens prefer?

A) mass cooperation
B) pluralism
C) majoritarianism
D) democracy
E) conservatism

Question 6

Public support for interest groups is varied. James Madison argued that interest groups ______________________________.

A) are good for society because they give citizens alternative methods of influencing government
B) are dangerous and should be banned by legislation
C) could not be eliminated without destroying liberty itself
D) lead to insurrection in government
E) are harmless methods of building camaraderie and fellowship among citizens

Question 7

Which of the following is the most influential interest group that lobbies for the needs of senior citizens?

A) NAACP
B) the Catholic Church
C) Blue Cross and Blue Shield
D) AARP
E) the Sierra Club

Question 8

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was instrumental in achieving the establishment of the ______________.

A) Department of State
B) Attorney General's Office
C) Department of Homeland Security
D) Department of Labor
E) Department of Commerce

Question 9

Robert Dahl describes a number of "access points" for special interest groups to influence policy. Which of the following is not one of these access points?

A) courts
B) executive branch offices
C) political party organizations
D) Congress
E) news media

Question 10

Often an issue will gain significant support from across the spectrum of interest groups to the point that it becomes known as a movement. Which of the following would not be considered a social movement in American history?

A) women's rights
B) civil rights
C) child labor laws and child protection
D) prohibition of alcohol
E) upgrading of the military

Question 11

Which of the following would not be considered a "con" of interest groups?

A) ​They provide all groups in society with an opportunity to win support for their ideas and positions.
B) ​Groups supported by the wealthy have greater resources to promote their interests.
C) The interest-groups system promotes the advancement of interests that do not work toward the common good.
D) Too many interest groups are operating and this has caused gridlock in the policy making process.
E) Interest group leaders are not elected and therefore are an affront to democracy.

Question 12

Interest groups are protected by which of the following?

A) First Amendment right to "peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances"
B) Second Amendment right "to bear arms"
C) Fifth Amendment double jeopardy protections
D) Tenth Amendment
E) There are no constitutional protections that apply to interest group activities.

Question 13

Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, the concept of labor unions as interest groups continued to grow. What was the relationship between these groups and the goals of the business owners?

A) Their differing goals, that of worker conditions versus maximizing profits, came into frequent and stark contrast.
B) The two groups were commendable in their ability to work through differences.
C) Congress intervened to enforce a peace.
D) The differences usually led to violent confrontations between workers and the police, who were sympathetic to the business owners.
E) The two groups ultimately had the same goal, which was the profitability of the company.

Question 14

Alexis de Tocqueville in his 1835 book Democracy in America addressed, among other things, the existence of interest groups in America. What was Tocqueville's opinion of interest groups?

A) Tocqueville praised the extent to which interest group activity underpins the American democracy.
B) Tocqueville was very critical of interest groups and saw them as undermining the democratic process.
C) Tocqueville viewed interest groups as creating a para-democratic force that could work for good or bad.
D) Tocqueville viewed interest groups as nothing more than political parties.
E) Tocqueville was shocked at the negative influences and forces that these groups had over innocent citizens.

Question 15

Unlike political parties, interest groups ___________________.

A) focus narrowly on special issues or sets of issues
B) appeal to those whose special interests are advocated by the group
C) do not try to appeal to as many individuals as possible
D) focus narrowly on special issues or sets of issues, appeal to those whose special interests are advocated by the group and do not try to appeal to as many individuals as possible
E) None of these choices is correct.

Question 16

An organization of people with shared goals that tries to influence public policy through a variety of activities is called a(n) ______________________.

A) religious denomination
B) interest group
C) political action committee
D) government
E) corporation

Question 17

In which of the following does James Madison express his views on factions (i.e., organized interests)?​

A) ​the Second Amendment
B) ​Federalist No. 78
C) ​the Judiciary Act of 1789
D) ​Federalist No. 10
E) ​the Tenth Amendment

Question 18

Robert Dahl's "access points" _______________________.

A) are a means for interest groups to provide input to influence government
B) are a means for interest groups to compete for influence
C) include Congress, executive branch offices, courts, elections, and the news media
D) can be found in A Preface to Democratic Theory
E) All of these choices are correct.

Question 19

Which of the following is one of the major differences between political parties and interest groups?

A) Contributions to interest groups are tax deductible, whereas contributions to parties are not.
B) Federal law makes it illegal for an interest group to entangle itself with politics and elections, while these activities are legal in the case of political parties.
C) Interest groups do not run candidates for office as do parties, though interest groups will endorse candidates.
D) Political parties are government agencies whereas interest groups are private entities.
E) Interest groups have very little influence in the development of legislation in Congress, whereas this is not the case for political parties.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) Interest groups tend to have a narrow focus on special issues, while major political parties are generally all encompassing with more broad ideological approaches.
B) Interest groups are for-profit organizations, whereas political parties are nonprofit entities.
C) Interest groups are heavily regulated by federal election laws, whereas political parties enjoy considerable freedoms and prerogatives.
D) Interest groups may contribute unlimited and unreported amounts of money to political campaigns, whereas political parties have strong restrictions.
E) Approved interest groups receive funding from the federal government, whereas political parties must raise their funds privately.

Question 21

In the post-Civil War economic boom, Samuel Gompers helped to create and lead the American Federation of Labor (AFL). What was the impact of this interest group on labor relations?

A) The AFL turned public sentiment toward the corporate owners and ultimately damaged worker morale.
B) The government rejected the legitimacy of the AFL as well as that of any other labor union.
C) The government responded to the labor union movement by protecting the corporate interests and banning the unions.
D) The AFL brought many smaller worker trade unions into a large interest group with increased political clout and ultimately won support in Congress for dozens of worker benefits.
E) Gompers and most of his supporters were eventually imprisoned.

Question 22

Which of the following interest groups boasts a lower number of members but has an excess amount of wealth?

A) The Chamber of Commerce
B) American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA)
C) AARP
D) AFL-CIO
E) American Automobile Association (AAA).

Question 23

General characteristics of an interest group that may have a significant bearing on how powerful that group will be ______________________.

A) size of the group
B) wealth of the members
C) dedication of members to the goals of the group
D) size of the group, wealth of the members, and dedication of members to the goals of the group
E) size of the group and wealth of the members

Question 24

Which of the following actors would be part of the iron triangle for defense policies?​

A) ​Senate Armed Services Committee
B) ​Secretary of Defense
C) ​Private defense contractors
D) ​All of these are actors in the iron triangle
E) All of these are actors in an issue network, not an iron triangle

Question 25

During periods of rapid growth in federal spending, such as the New Deal of the 1930s and the Great Society of the 1960s, what has been the corresponding response of interest groups?

A) As funding and services increased, there was far less need for advocacy; thus the number of interest groups decreased.
B) The number of organized and active interest groups increased significantly in order to advocate for or oppose the government's views.
C) Interest groups began to merge their organizations into the federal government's bureaucracy.
D) Interest groups disbanded because, in effect, they had been successful in advocating for the creation of the new funding programs.
E) There was little discernible difference in the organization or number of interest groups.

Question 26

Often an individual will join and support a certain interest group to receive tangible economic advantages from that membership. These advantages are referred to as _________________________.

A) expectations
B) long-term benefits
C) perks
D) material benefits
E) intangible rewards

Question 27

Which of the following best explains the increase in the number of interest groups during the twentieth century?​

A) ​increased public interest in public affairs
B) implementation of the Reagan administration's ​devolution policies of the 1980s
C) ​decrease in the overall population
D) ​amendments to the constitution allowing for interest group involvement
E) ​the expansion of government

Question 28

​If an individual joins the American Bar Association in order to attend the annual meeting for purposes of networking with others in the industry, he or she would be joining due to ____________ benefits

A) ​material
B) ​expressive
C) ​economic
D) ​solidary
E) ​purposive

Question 29

As a means of financing political campaigns, interest groups have formed ______________________.

A) political action committees (PACs)
B) political parties
C) corporate benefits
D) socialist advocacy groups
E) committees of influence

Question 30

One reason why interest groups are appealing is that they offer rewards that benefit society as a whole rather than the individual directly. This is referred to as _________________ benefits.

A) material
B) purposive
C) tangible
D) solidary
E) economic

Question 31

Which of the following would be part of an "issue network"?

A) ​congressional staff
B) ​journalists
C) ​researchers
D) ​the media
E) All of these choices are correct.

Question 32

Why does the wealth of interest group members matter in terms of political influence?

A) Only the wealthy can vote in the United States.
B) Wealthy members can also provide financial contributions to political campaigns.
C) All interest groups have extremely high dues.
D) Interest groups with only wealthy members have success through lobbying efforts.
E) Wealthy members can buy extra votes during an election.

Question 33

The satisfaction that a group member receives from interacting with like-minded individuals for a particular cause is referred to as a(n) _________________.

A) purposive benefit
B) material benefit
C) fraternity
D) solidary benefit
E) bonding

Question 34

Between 1960 and 2000, the number of official associations (interest groups) increased by about ____________.

A) 10 percent
B) 50 percent
C) 150 percent
D) 400 percent
E) 1,000 percent

Question 35

How many Americans belong to at least one interest group?

A) only about 1 percent, though the number of interest groups is large
B) approximately 20 percent
C) approximately 50 percent
D) approximately 80 percent
E) nearly 99 percent

Question 36

When an individual is able to use his or her AARP membership card for a discount at a local retailer, he or she is receiving which of the following?​

A) ​purposive benefit
B) ​fraternal benefit
C) ​material benefit
D) ​solidary benefit
E) ​expressive benefit

Question 37

Organized in 1885, which interest group was formed to advance the interest of the manufacturing businesses, thus becoming a primary opponent of the AFL and other labor interest groups?​

A) ​AARP
B) ​AFL-CIO
C) ​NAM
D) ​NAACP
E) ​SPLC

Question 38

Which of the following is not a primary reason that size of membership makes an interest group more effective?

A) The larger the membership, the more direct benefits to each member.
B) A large membership has an advantage in raising funds to support its activities.
C) Large membership makes elected leaders responsive to a group's concerns.
D) There is "power in numbers."
E) An interest group with large numbers can convince its members to vote for a candidate.

Question 39

Three sets of actors interact to produce policy: congressional committees, executive agencies of government, and private interest groups. This grouping of actors and interests is referred to as the ____________________.

A) impenetrable alliance
B) congressional bond
C) divine design
D) iron triangle
E) American brotherhood

Question 40

If an individual joins the Sierra Club in order to work toward protecting public lands from mining and drilling, he or she would be joining due to which of the following incentives?

A) ​solidary benefit
B) ​purposive benefit
C) ​economic benefit
D) ​material benefit
E) ​fraternal benefit

Question 41

State laws vary in regard to mandatory union membership for certain categories of workers. Laws that allow an employee the option of joining a union are called _____________ laws.

A) open shop
B) closed shop
C) compulsory
D) union buster
E) voluntary association

Question 42

Government interest groups are organized for the purpose of _____________________________.

A) limiting the size and scope of the federal government
B) representing a broad ideological approach on how government should deal with a host of issues
C) lobbying on behalf of small businesses
D) representing the interests of cities and states across the nation
E) providing citizens with representation in legal affairs

Question 43

Groups that exist to promote favorable economic conditions and economic opportunities for their members, are referred to as ________________ groups.

A) economic interest
B) self-help
C) self-interest
D) social interest
E) governmental interest

Question 44

In the United States, which type of workers are the most likely to be unionized?​

A) ​professionals
B) ​service providers
C) ​laborers
D) ​all sectors of the workforce are unionized equally
E) ​unions have been outlawed nation wide

Question 45

Since 1940, what has been the trend in labor union membership as a percentage of the total workforce?

A) It has sharply increased.
B) It has slowly increased.
C) It has remained about the same.
D) It has slightly decreased.
E) It has significantly decreased.

Question 46

The American Medical Association (AMA) is an example of which type of interest group?​

A) ​labor union
B) ​trade association
C) ​professional association
D) ​ideological group
E) ​public interest group

Question 47

Which of the following is not an example of an intergovernmental lobby?

A) The National League of Cities
B) U.S. Conference of Mayors
C) The Council of State Governments
D) The National Governors Association
E) Americans for Free Choice

Question 48

According to Mancur Olson, smaller groups are more likely to organize because ___________________.

A) elected leaders are more likely to be responsive to the issues of a smaller group's concerns
B) members can more readily see the benefits and logic of working together than the same number working independently
C) it is easier to collect dues and hold members accountable for their actions
D) smaller groups can communicate more effectively through the "small group network" principles
E) the smaller the membership, the more monetary gains each member will accrue

Question 49

Which of the following would not be included in a list of economic interest groups?

A) animal rights groups
B) labor unions
C) business and industry associations
D) professional employee associations
E) business groups

Question 50

An example of an interest group that advocates for environmental issues is the ________________.

A) National Rifle Association (NRA)
B) American Association for Retired People (AARP)
C) People for the American Way
D) Sierra Club
E) Halliburton Corporation

Question 51

An interest group that typically focuses on businesses from one particular industry, with members of the group being drawn exclusively from that industry, is referred to as a(n) ______________.

A) trade association
B) employee association
C) professional association
D) fraternity
E) labor union

Question 52

The law that requires employees to become members of the union as a condition of employment in unionized workplaces is called a(n) ______________.

A) closed shop
B) open shop
C) union shop
D) solidary benefit
E) material benefit

Question 53

The law that requires that employees in unionized workplaces to either join the union or pay the equivalent of union dues to it after a set period of time is called a(n) __________________.

A) closed shop
B) open shop
C) union shop
D) solidary benefit
E) material benefit

Question 54

Which term is used to describe how interest groups go about influencing government officials?

A) networking
B) negotiating
C) associating
D) lobbying
E) campaigning

Question 55

Which of the following types of interest groups promote the interests of American workers?​

A) ​trade associations
B) ​business groups
C) ​public interest groups
D) ​labor unions
E) ​ideological groups

Question 56

A well-known public interest groups that champions "open, honest and accountable government," is called the _____________________.

A) National Association of Farmers
B) National Association of Workers
C) National Organization of Women
D) American Civil Liberties Union
E) Common Cause

Question 57

Which group does the U.S. Chamber of Commerce represent in its lobbying efforts?

A) retail and wholesale employees
B) consumers and their safety concerns
C) as many as 3 million businesses
D) Wall Street investment companies
E) state government interests at the federal level

Question 58

Those individuals and/or businesses that do not join or contribute to an interest group, but that enjoy the benefits gained by interest groups, are referred to as _____________.

A) scabs
B) free riders
C) picket busters
D) chop shops
E) union busters

Question 59

Noneconomic interest groups that focus on specific and sometimes very narrow perspectives and issues, such as abortion or capital punishment, are referred to as _______________________.

A) public interest groups
B) issue and ideological groups
C) business groups
D) opinion associations
E) environmental advocacy groups

Question 60

Noneconomic interest groups that exist to promote the broad, collective good of citizens and consumers are called ______________.

A) collective bargaining groups
B) professional associations
C) public interest groups
D) ideological groups
E) issue groups

Question 61

​In which of the following ways can interest groups be involved in electoral politics?

A) ​provide campaign contributions through PACs
B) endorse a candidate
C) ​perform "get out the vote" calls
D) provide expertise to candidates
E) All of these choices are correct.

Question 62

A lobbyist may legally communicate with public officials in all of the following ways, except _______________.

A) ​formal presentations
B) ​written memos
C) ​face-to-face meetings
D) ​e-mails
E) ​an extravagant gift

Question 63

Explain the "iron triangle" of policy-making? Describe each group and the role it plays in the process. Discuss the significance of the role of interest groups and what value they provide to the policy-making process.

Question 64

What are the three general characteristics of interest groups that may be significant in understanding why some interest groups are more powerful than others? Provide the names of at least two powerful interest groups in America today and, using these characteristics, explain why they are powerful.

Question 65

Describe the various ways interest groups achieve their goals, including lobbying, supporting candidates in elections, litigation, and persuasion campaigns.

Question 66

Historically, which Americans have been most likely to join interest groups? Describe the incentives for joining interest groups (material, purposive, and solidary), and how they help explain why people join interest groups.

Question 67

Compare and contrast the different types of economic interest groups. Distinguish between those functioning on behalf of businesses and those that serve individuals as members. What is the difference between labor unions and professional associations? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Question 68

Explain James Madison's views of factions, as expressed in Federalist No. 10. What guarantees does the First Amendment provide to interest groups? Given Madison's views and the protections provided in the First Amendment, do you believe interest groups serve an important role in our democracy? Explain.

Question 69

Interest groups perform which of the following functions?

A) provide information and expertise to government officials
B) support political candidates through financial contributions
C) lobby on behalf of their members
D) persuade government officials to make decisions favorable to their goals
E) interest groups do all of the these functions

Question 70

​When an interest group mobilizes public opinion to exert influence on government action, this is referred to as ___________.

A) ​moral suasion
B) ​invasive lobbying
C) ​grassroots lobbying
D) ​intergovernmental lobbying
E) ​bribery

Question 71

Through __________, interest groups use the court system as a means of achieving their goals.​

A) ​persuasion politics
B) ​litigation
C) ​electioneering
D) ​grassroots lobbying
E) ​campaigning

Question 72

Compare and contrast the different types of noneconomic interest groups. Provide examples of each.

Question 73

States, cities, and other governments organize collectively through a variety of interest groups, which are collectively referred to as not

A) intergovernmental lobbies
B) inter-operational task forces
C) coalitions for good governance
D) intergovernmental cooperatives
E) governmental adaptive systems

Question 74

Describe the "pros" and "cons" of interest groups. With this understanding, explain the theories of "pluralism" and "majoritarianism," and the role of interest groups in each.

Question 75

Describe the development and evolution of interest groups in the United States. How have interest groups grown and what has caused their proliferation?

Question 76

Explain the concept of "lobbying." How do interest groups use lobbying as a technique? What important functions does lobbying serve for government and our democratic system?