Deck 10: Interest Groups

Question 1

In general, lobbying involves policy changes that will help a small fraction of the population at the expense of everyone else.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Claims that interest groups have an overwhelming influence on decision making in Congress are accurate.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

A group that uses its website to generate and send 10,000 e-mails to a representative is engaged in astroturf lobbying.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Many interest groups claim responsibility for election outcomes regardless of whether their lobbying made in any difference in the result.

Question 5

Interest groups are more likely to succeed when their issues attract little attention from the general public.

Question 6

The increasing number of interest groups and lobbyists is partly due to the size and influence of the federal government.

Question 7

Very few Americans, other than the rich and powerful, belong to interest groups or have groups that lobby on their behalf.

Question 8

The logic of collective action makes it clear that people will automatically form groups when they have a common interest.

Question 9

Most states allow initiatives.

Question 10

The amount of money spent on lobbying today in the United States is about 20 percent of total federal spending.

Question 11

The American Automobile Association (AAA) overcomes the problem of free riding by offering selective incentives, such as road side services and discounts at hotels and restaurants.

Question 12

In general, interest groups have an easier time working to implement a new change than trying to prevent a change in the status quo.

Question 13

There are many groups of people who have similar political interests but who do not have interest group representation because they remain unorganized.

Question 14

Interest group lobbying is not regulated.

Question 15

Most PACs contribute to only a few candidates.

Question 16

The two resources that interest groups use to support their lobbying efforts are people and money.

Question 17

One reason that interest groups originate and form is to counter the efforts of those with competing interests who already formed an interest group.

Question 18

Elected officials who later become lobbyists must wait ten years before they can start lobbying.

Question 19

The American Association of Retired Persons and the National Rifle Association are centralized groups.

Question 20

Because 501(c)(3) organizations are unregulated and are allowed to engage in any political activity, they are a popular vehicle for interest groups in elections.

Question 21

The Sierra Club, which has more than two million members who each pay annual dues of about $30, is an example of ________.

A) a social movement
C) a peak association
B) a citizens' movement
D) a mass association

Question 22

Lobbying in general is anti-majoritarian because

A) lobbying is not mentioned anywhere in the U.S. Constitution.
B) lobbying is inconsistent with democratic principles.
C) groups tend to lobby for changes that help a small fraction of the population.
D) only those groups with large sums of money are able to influence the political process.

Question 23

The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA) comprises 50 largely independent state-level organizations that provide membership benefits to car dealers. NIADA is an example of a group with a ________ organizational structure.

A) centralized
C) confederal
B) latent
D) peak association

Question 24

In America ________ run candidates for office, while ________ do not have an official position on the ballot.

A) interest groups; political parties
C) political parties; interest groups
B) social movements; interest groups
D) interest groups; caucuses

Question 25

The Business Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC), which is an association of several hundred businesses and trade associations, is an example of ________.

A) a social movement
C) a peak association
B) a citizens' movement
D) a mass association

Question 26

Spending by interest groups and lobbyists at the federal level accounts for ________ percent of federal spending.

A) 1
C) 25
B) 10
D) 38

Question 27

The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) is an example of ________.

A) a labor group
C) a citizens' group
B) a trade association
D) a private group

Question 28

An interest group is best defined as an organization that

A) influences policy by running candidates for office.
B) watches over government for the purpose of informing the public.
C) tries to influence public policy for a group of people with common interests.
D) sets rules for the government to follow.

Question 29

When does lobbying typically increase?

A) when new policies are being considered by Congress and/or bureaucrats
B) when the Supreme Court is in session
C) when a Republican is elected president
D) when a Democrat is elected president

Question 30

One view of American government is that Americans participate in politics primarily through interest groups. This is known as ________.

A) representation
C) pluralism
B) elitism
D) free riding

Question 31

The Family Research Council, which lobbies on behalf of a wide range of policies from gay marriage to estate taxes, is an example of ________.

A) a citizen group
C) a single-issue group
B) a labor organization
D) a trade association

Question 32

When an interest group's leadership is concentrated in its headquarters, it has a ________ organizational structure.

A) centralized
C) peak association
B) latent
D) mass association

Question 33

Which one of the following is a characteristic of mass associations?

A) Members are individuals who often pay dues.
B) Members always have a direct say in selecting group leadership.
C) Members are businesses and other organizations.
D) Membership is dominated by ideologically extreme individuals.

Question 34

Although a centralized group can employ its resources ________, it can face significant challenges in ________.

A) efficiently; being effective
B) effectively; being efficient
C) efficiently; learning what its members want
D) effectively; learning what its members want

Question 35

According to pluralists,

A) interest groups pose a threat to democracy.
B) interest groups are fundamental actors in a democracy.
C) interest groups should replace political parties in the United States.
D) most Americans participate in politics by contributing money to political candidates.

Question 36

What does the term "revolving door" mean?

A) the nature of interest group influence in Washington
B) movement of personnel between the government and interest groups
C) the policy expertise of interest group staff members
D) individuals who move between the private sector and interest groups

Question 37

Reports, protests, and informal meetings are all examples of ________.

A) insider strategies
C) electioneering
B) pluralism
D) lobbying

Question 38

What does it mean when the United States is described as an interest group state?

A) Interest groups influence most public policy decisions.
B) Most Americans participate in politics primarily through interest groups.
C) Most interest groups are not in an organized state.
D) Interest groups are typically organized around a narrow interest.

Question 39

Why has the number of interest groups gone up dramatically in the past 50 years?

A) The courts have tried to stay out of political decisions, making lobbying Congress
More important.
B) The average income of most Americans has gone up faster than inflation, giving people more money to donate to interest groups.
C) Money has become less important in politics due to the public funding of elections.
D) The size of the federal government and the types of issues it has involved itself in has increased substantially.

Question 40

Who spends the most on lobbying?

A) American Medical Association
C) National Rifle Association
B) Google
D) US Chamber of Commerce

Question 41

Interest groups sometimes draft legislative proposals. They are most likely to give these proposals to ________.

A) legislators who oppose their cause to try to win converts to their group's side
B) legislators who already support their cause and who have significant influence in Congress
C) legislators who are undecided about matters that affect the group
D) other competing interest groups in an effort to build a bipartisan coalition

Question 42

The Tea Party movement is

A) made up of diverse organizations.
B) made up of organizations which require their members to pay dues.
C) headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
D) involved in a wide variety of lobbying campaigns.

Question 43

Lobbyists contact executive branch bureaucrats because

A) the executive branch determines whether laws are constitutional or not.
B) executive branch bureaucrats provide lobbyists with most of their policy research.
C) executive branch bureaucrats create the federal budget, which ultimately affects virtually every interest group.
D) executive branch bureaucrats change the ways regulations are written and policies are implemented.

Question 44

Which one of the following describes a peak association?

A) composed of several independent local and state offices
B) made up of businesses or other organizations rather than individuals
C) based out of a centralized headquarters rather than having locations throughout
The country
D) made up of a large number of dues-paying individuals as members

Question 45

When an interest group files an amicus curiae brief, it is trying to influence policy through ________.

A) drafting regulations
C) litigation
B) testimony
D) drafting laws

Question 46

What is one advantage of a confederal group structure?

A) The group can cut down on costs.
B) The group can overcome the free rider problem more easily.
C) The group has more influence with Congress.
D) The group can find out what members want more easily.

Question 47

The free rider problem is a problem with the provision of ________.

A) purposive goods
C) public goods
B) solidary goods
D) material goods

Question 48

The key to direct lobbying is to focus on ________.

A) converting opponents into supporters
B) undecided legislators
C) legislators who already share the group's policy goals
D) legislators who are willing to accept campaign contributions

Question 49

One of the most effective ways that labor unions overcome the free rider problem is through ________.

A) protests and strikes
B) union campaign donations or material benefits provided to members of Congress
C) advertisements featuring celebrities who encourage workers to join unions
D) coercion or laws requiring workers to pay union dues as a condition of employment

Question 50

By joining the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), members receive travel and insurance discounts. These discounts are an example of ________.

A) solidary benefits
C) informational benefits
B) selective incentives
D) purposive benefits

Question 51

________ are benefits given only to the members of an interest group.

A) Solidary benefits
C) Informational benefits
B) Selective incentives
D) Purposive benefits

Question 52

The biggest drawback for an interest group in pursuing litigation is that

A) litigation is often time-consuming and costly.
B) litigation can be overturned by future court decisions.
C) the federal court system refuses to hear cases with interest groups as participants.
D) Americans tend to look down on groups that bring politics into the courts.

Question 53

Why is it challenging for interest groups to use people as a resource?

A) Political parties often take away volunteers from interest groups.
B) Motivating members to participate can be difficult.
C) Many people in interest groups simply do not follow politics.
D) Most people in interest groups do not trust government officials.

Question 54

Why do interest groups sometimes form coalitions to work for the same policy goal?

A) Policy makers are more likely to respond to large coalitions with a diverse membership.
B) The president responds to coalitions and can then put pressure on Congress.
C) Coalitions of groups can often make up a majority of Americans and create pressure through elections.
D) Coalitions allow groups to exploit loopholes in campaign finance laws.

Question 55

Even when there is a group of people who share policy goals, it is possible that there is no interest group representing them. This usually occurs because

A) laws prevent interest groups from organizing.
B) forming and maintaining a group presents numerous hurdles and obstacles.
C) preexisting organizations will co-opt the issue to expand their membership base.
D) the group has no financial support from large donors.

Question 56

Inside strategies usually involve which one of the following tactics?

A) direct lobbying
B) electioneering
C) grassroots lobbying
D) marches on Washington to protest and engage in civil disobedience

Question 57

Which one of the following are tactics used by a group conducting an inside strategy?

A) working with other groups, litigating, and mobilizing public opinion
B) drafting legislation, conducting research, and working with other groups
C) electioneering, grassroots lobbying, and using the initiative process
D) using political action committees, mobilizing public opinion, and testifying before Congress

Question 58

Why might officials want to regulate the use of the revolving door?

A) Too many donations to an interest group can be a sign of corruption.
B) It is easier to lobby the executive branch because of the number of bureaucrats.
C) Government officials might give lobbyists what they want in exchange for a future job.
D) Centralized interest groups have an easier time lobbying because they are more efficient.

Question 59

Which types of benefits can a group provide to overcome the free rider problem?

A) tangible, selective, or private benefits
B) solidary, purposive, or selective benefits
C) emotional, selective, or tangible benefits
D) educational, private, or purposive benefits

Question 60

Why do lobbying firms often hire former members of Congress?

A) Powerful party leaders pressure lobbying firms to do so.
B) Former members of Congress will work more cheaply because of their
Government pension.
C) Doing so makes it less likely that the group will be audited or investigated by federal agencies like the Internal Revenue Service.
D) Former members of Congress can provide the group with important information, such as what kinds of policies individual legislators will support.

Question 61

What does the word "Super" refer to in "Super PAC"?

A) the number of donors
B) the amount of money the group takes in and spends
C) the ability to keep the identity of donors a secret
D) that the group was formed before 2010

Question 62

Astroturf lobbying occurs when

A) group members spontaneously contact policy makers.
B) a group lobbies members of Congress in their home districts.
C) a group organizes a large number of contacts with policy makers by regular people.
D) a group organizes a contacting effort directed at policy makers, but it tries to make the effort look spontaneous.

Question 63

Which one of the following is a concern about how interest groups use the ballot initiative process?

A) It is generally a waste of the group's time, effort, and resources.
B) It allows states to undermine federal law.
C) It circumvents the legislators who are supposed to represent voters.
D) It favors groups with many monetary resources.

Question 64

What is the primary difference between a traditional political action committee (PAC) and a 527 organization?

A) There are no major differences.
B) Unlike PACs, 527s are not subject to contribution limits and spending caps.
C) PACs can spend money only on advertising, while 527s can only make donations to candidates.
D) The money given to 527s is tax deductible, while the money given to PACs is not.

Question 65

Astroturf lobbying is sometimes effective because

A) most elected officials are older and can be fooled by technology.
B) interest groups invest huge sums of money into astroturf lobbying.
C) educated citizens understand politics best and are the most likely to participate in astroturf lobbying.
D) it sometimes involves large numbers of participants, forcing elected officials to pay attention.

Question 66

When an interest group puts a policy proposal on a general election ballot at the state level, it is using the ________ process.

A) electioneering
C) initiative
B) referendum
D) recall election

Question 67

Which type of group is not allowed to participate in any political activities or lobbying except for certain limited exceptions?

A) political action committees
C) 501(c)(3) organizations
B) 527 organizations
D) 501(c)(4) organizations

Question 68

If legislators in a state put a tax increase on the ballot, this is an example of ________.

A) an initiative
C) the free rider problem
B) a recall
D) a referendum

Question 69

A group that can raise money for the purpose of contributing to candidates or spending on campaigns is known as ________.

A) a political action committee
C) a peak association
B) a 501(c) organization
D) an issue advocacy group

Question 70

Groups who donate money to candidates for office are engaged in ________.

A) electioneering
C) free riding
B) using the revolving door
D) astroturf lobbying

Question 71

Lobbyists typically focus on

A) their enemies serving in government.
B) their friends serving in government.
C) lawmakers who are undecided on a given issue.
D) congressional leaders.

Question 72

What is grassroots lobbying?

A) whipping up public opinion through media contacts
B) attempting to change what the public thinks about an issue
C) using group members to contact legislators
D) using group members to create chaos through mass protest and civil disobedience

Question 73

Which one of the following are tactics used by a group conducting an outside strategy?

A) working with other groups, litigating, and mobilizing public opinion
B) drafting legislation, conducting research, and working with other groups
C) electioneering, grassroots lobbying, and using the initiative process
D) using political action committees, mobilizing public opinion, and testifying before Congress

Question 74

Federal direct student loans are an example where

A) the will of the majority prevailed.
B) the economic interests of the few prevailed over the many.
C) members of Congress were very attentive to citizen demands about lowering the cost of college in America.
D) interest groups are most likely to succeed when lobbyists pursue significant policy changes.

Question 75

Which one of the following statements best characterizes the influence of interest groups?

A) Most groups are only successful some of the time, regardless of their resources.
B) Most groups get what they want from government most of the time.
C) Interest groups are completely powerless.
D) Only groups with many members and large budgets are successful.

Question 76

Coalitions sometimes present problems for groups because

A) groups may agree on general goals but disagree on specifics.
B) group leaders almost never want to share power with others.
C) the different agendas of various groups often create a confused message on the issue that groups are working on together.
D) research shows that Republicans in Congress will not support an issue-even one backed by conservative groups-if it is supported by a liberal group as well.

Question 77

Astroturf lobbying is sometimes ineffective because

A) citizens generally make poor lobbyists.
B) elected officials often do not take the opinions of average citizens seriously.
C) interest groups often fail to take advantage of the latest communications technology.
D) elected officials do not believe it reflects the mainstream views of their constituents.

Question 78

Issues that attract little public attention are said to have low ________.

A) salience
C) framing
B) collective action
D) electioneering

Question 79

For a group to take advantage of grassroots lobbying, which one of the following characteristics is essential?

A) a large number of members
B) a good media strategy
C) a good legal team
D) a political action committee that organizes voters

Question 80

What is a common goal of mass protests?

A) to draw media attention to help publicize the group's goals
B) to create public confusion about a controversial issue
C) to generate enough anger for a recall election
D) to reduce political apathy among most citizens and improve the democratic process