Deck 11: Interest Groups and Social Movements

Question 1

In order for mortgage-backed securities to provide a return to their customers,

A)home prices had to go down.
B)interest rates had to go up.
C)home prices had to go up.
D)interest rates had to go down.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Because banks could not produce enough loans to supply the mortgage-backed securities market, they began to

A)take increasingly larger risks.
B)forge mortgage documents.
C)decline mortgage customers.
D)approve loans only for the wealthy.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

A problem with mortgage-backed securities (MBS)was

A)they were too mathematically complicated for the average banker to understand.
B)the relationship between the borrower and the holder of the loan was totally disconnected.
C)average citizens were basing their home mortgages on complicated financial products.
D)they became too popular as a tool for financing high-valued properties.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following describes the paradox of factions?

A)While they are dangerous, they are also easy to legislate through laws at the federal and state levels.
B)They may be potentially dangerous, but the Constitution virtually guarantees their formation.
C)Factions are inevitable, but they can be legally prohibited through applying the Constitution.
D)Democracies require factions in order to operate efficiently and effectively at a national level.

Question 5

Associations of individuals that come together to change things or to keep things from changing by calling attention to a set of perceived injustices or wrongs in order to get policy makers to act and/or to educate the people are best described as

A)citizen counsels.
B)political action committees.
C)social movements.
D)interest groups.

Question 6

In the American political system, elected leaders are tasked with

A)countering the effects of factions.
B)speaking on behalf of the people.
C)voting their conscience at all times.
D)analyzing and changing regulations.

Question 7

The roots of the financial crisis in the first decade of the 21st century were in the ______ market.

A)housing
B)stock
C)commodities
D)bond

Question 8

Members of interest groups and social movements often resort to ______ to achieve their goals.

A)membership dues
B)recruitment efforts
C)GOTV activities
D)different tactics

Question 9

Madison's solution to the problem of factions was to

A)discourage their formation.
B)encourage competing factions.
C)restrict the civil liberties of citizens.
D)radically expand the Bill of Rights.

Question 10

James Madison realized that to eliminate factions, a republic must also

A)highly restrict the liberties of its citizens.
B)encourage citizens to exercise their civil rights.
C)discourage citizens from participating in elections.
D)encourage civic duty and responsibility.

Question 11

In what year did the American housing market crash?

A)2001
B)2004
C)2008
D)2012

Question 12

Which of the following, because of its efforts to right a perceived social wrong, would be considered an interest group that spawned a social movement?

A)the American Banking Association (ABA)
B)the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
C)the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
D)the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

Question 13

James Madison addressed the problem of factions in

A)Federalist 7.
B)Federalist 10.
C)Federalist 11.
D)Federalist 15.

Question 14

Voluntary associations of people that come together with an agreed-upon set of political and policy objectives and who attempt to pull the levers of political power in the service of these defined goals are known as:

A)citizen counsels.
B)political action committees.
C)social movements.
D)interest groups.

Question 15

voluntary associations share common traits in that they

A)operate under Congressional and federal authority.
B)tend to form naturally and without any logical reason.
C)are granted articles of incorporation by the state.
D)get their rights to organize from the First Amendment.

Question 16

Alexis de Tocqueville was struck by Americans' passion for

A)direct democracy.
B)republican ideals.
C)joining groups.
D)rugged individualism.

Question 17

Mortgage-backed securities are described as the financial equivalent of

A)paper money.
B)stock markets.
C)junk food.
D)crack cocaine.

Question 18

What policy decision did banks want the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department to make?

A)a large national bailout
B)lower interest rates
C)higher interest rates
D)tighter money policies

Question 19

The danger in interest groups and social movements is always one of ______.

A)factions that trample on the rights of others
B)societal change that occurs too rapidly
C)competing interests that cause conflict and strife
D)expanding communities that change the will of the majority

Question 20

Groups and communities that join with each other in pursuit of collective interests and common goals are known as

A)voluntary associations.
B)special interests.
C)political action committees.
D)citizen counsels.

Question 21

The theory of governmental influence that focuses on the advantages that certain interests have in the political process based on the unequal distribution of economic and political power is called ______ theory.

A)pluralist
B)capitalist
C)elitist
D)centrist

Question 22

David Truman, in his 1962 book The Governmental Process, noted that the federalists were, ironically, an important example of a

A)runaway faction.
B)tyrannical majority.
C)grassroots movement.
D)political pressure group.

Question 23

How political interest groups wield power and how much power they have depends on

A)the demographic makeup of the group,
B)the level of wealth and elitist leadership.
C)the level of organization within the group.
D)they type of group it wishes to become.

Question 24

Economist Mancur Olson developed an influential theory on the logic of interest group participation in his study of

A)why people choose to join groups.
B)how groups recruit and activate members.
C)which groups attract which types of people.
D)why people choose not to participate.

Question 25

The theory of pluralism is one in which

A)competition among groups serves to keep any one of them in check.
B)the growth of interest groups must be suppressed by he government.
C)individual voices matter more than those of interest groups.
D)large interest groups are encouraged to operate at the expense of minorities.

Question 26

Tangible benefits made available to members and contributors of a group are best described as

A)collective benefits.
B)selective benefits.
C)social benefits.
D)material rewards.

Question 27

According to the research of C.Wright Mills, the greatest challenge is found in the

A)grassroots movements of individuals in a democracy.
B)nation's defense industry and its allies in government.
C)left and right fringe factions that differ from the center.
D)nation's congressional caucuses that control legislation.

Question 28

The set of issues to which government officials, voters, and the public attend is known as the

A)partisan agenda.
B)interim agenda.
C)policy agenda.
D)personal agenda.

Question 29

An example of a "free rider" would be a person who

A)pays a toll to cross a bridge built with public money.
B)pays state income tax when buying products.
C)uses a public park but pays no local taxes.
D)has never served in the United States military.

Question 30

A group composed of the top echelons of people in the business world in government and in the military is known as the ______.

A)republican center
B)democratic base
C)grassroots constituency
D)power elite

Question 31

Benefits or desirable outcomes that individuals can enjoy or profit from even if they do not help achieve or secure them are known as

A)economic goods.
B)capitalist profit.
C)collective goods.
D)free products.

Question 32

Political action that occurs when individuals contribute energy, time, or money to a larger group goal is called

A)individual attraction.
B)collective action.
C)affirmative action.
D)persuasive contribution.

Question 33

C.Wright Mills noted that the exercise of power may be seen

A)not only in actions that are taken but in inaction or the prevention of actions.
B)only in the hands of the people at the grassroots political level.
C)in the actions of elected lawmakers who act on the beliefs of their constituents.
D)in the actions taken by large social movements that control the political agenda.

Question 34

According to the theory of pluralism, the Occupy Wall Street Movement

A)distracted from American democracy.
B)acted as a counterweight to the financial firms.
C)was a dangerous threat to the public welfare.
D)had little if any true impact on the democratic process.

Question 35

Those individuals who enjoy collective goods without contributing to them are called

A)criminals.
B)pacifists.
C)free riders.
D)communists.

Question 36

The failure of Lehman Brothers illustrates the advantages and disadvantages of

A)forming an interest group.
B)starting a social movement.
C)being a free rider.
D)joining a collective action.

Question 37

Goods that are made available only to those who join or contribute to a group are best described as

A)collective benefits.
B)selective benefits.
C)social benefits.
D)material rewards.

Question 38

According to James Madison, which of the following posed the greatest danger?

A)social inequality
B)inequality of wealth
C)civic inequity
D)failure to participate

Question 39

Political scientist Robert Dahl, in confronting the question of how a democratic system works amid an inequality of resources, focused his attention on the theory of ______.

A)elitism
B)nationalism
C)pluralism
D)constitutionalism

Question 40

Which of the following would be a good example of collective goods?

A)national banks
B)small businesses
C)public transportation
D)grocery stores

Question 41

Which specific part of the First Amendment guarantees the right of a citizen to lobby?

A)the Establishment Clause
B)the Free Exercise Clause
C)the Free Press Clause
D)the Redress of Grievances Clause

Question 42

Which interest groups account for the largest number and the largest amount of campaign donations in all categories of interest groups?

A)public interest groups
B)economic interest groups
C)governmental interest groups
D)social interest groups

Question 43

Interest groups are often categorized and analyzed according to

A)the demographics of their membership as it compares to the overall goals of the group.
B)the common traits that members share when organizing and activating towards success.
C)the way in which they recruit and motivate members in order to maximize political results.
D)the broader goals that they set out to achieve and on whose behalf they hope to succeed.

Question 44

Members of AARP receive a monthly magazine and a free gift when they join.This is an example of

A)collective benefits.
B)material rewards.
C)selective benefits.
C) social benefits.

Question 45

While taxpayers and citizens were sending their message to Congress on the bailout proposal, the ______ was sending its own message of impending financial collapse.

A)stock market
B)housing market
C)banking system
D)Federal Reserve

Question 46

When one receives the satisfaction of working with others to achieve a common goal or purpose, these inducements are referred to as ______.

A)collective benefits
B)selective benefits
C)social benefits
D)purposive benefits

Question 47

Organizations that act to secure the interests of local, state, or foreign governments in the political process are known as

A)economic interest groups.
B)public interest groups.
C)governmental interest groups.
D)professional interest groups.

Question 48

In a study published in 2011 entitled "A Fistful of Dollars.Lobbying and Financial Crisis," the authors reached the conclusion that the greatest risk taking was among

A)those least active in lobbying.
B)those in the housing industry.
C)those in the banking industry.
D)those most active in lobbying.

Question 49

In the aftermath of the financial crisis and Wall Street bailout debate, many Americans were calling for

A)legislative reform.
B)Constitutional reform.
C)financial reform.
D)socialist reform.

Question 50

In December 2014, Senator Elizabeth Warren highly criticized which of the nation's most powerful financial firms?

A)Deutchebank
B)Citigroup
C)Bank of America
D)J. P. Morgan Chase

Question 51

Since 2000, the lobbying influence over Congress has

A)increased.
B)decreased.
C)remained stable.
D)not been measured.

Question 52

In the years following the financial crisis, the AARP argued for

A)tighter financial controls.
B)a reduction in social benefits.
C)a strengthening of Social Security.
D)a strengthening of Medicaid and health care.

Question 53

The proposal to allow underwater homeowners to refinance their distressed mortgages with government guarantees was called the

A)"HARP" plan.
B)"Citigroup" Plan.
C)"Credit Suisse" Plan.
D)"Paulsen" Plan.

Question 54

When the representative of a group interacts directly with government officials in order to advance that group's goals in the area of public policy, it could best be described as

A)lobbying.
B)influencing.
C)networking.
D)acknowledging.

Question 55

Which of the following would be the best example of an economic interest group?

A)the National Association of Colored People
B)the League of United Latin American Voters
C)the National Automotive Dealers Association
D)People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Question 56

Many people join professional associations with the hope of networking with or meeting influential people in their field.This would be an example of

A)collective benefits.
B)material rewards.
C)selective benefits.
D)social benefits.

Question 57

By 2008, which of the following facts was becoming clear?

A)Bankers failed to agree on the need for a bailout.
B)Large numbers of Americans were wary of using taxpayer dollars to fund a bailout.
C)The $700 billion dollar bailout plan was Wall Street's only hope.
D)A grassroots movement was demanding a financial bailout solution.

Question 58

In the end, which of the following was Congress's policy decision?

A)They passed a gutted bailout.
B)They passed a full bailout bill.
C)They denied the bailout.
D)They reached a compromise.

Question 59

The AAA offers roadside assistance service only to its dues-paying members in good standing.This is an example of

A)collective benefits.
B)selective benefits.
C)social benefits.
D)purposive benefits.

Question 60

Which of the following would be an example of a public interest group?

A)the National Defense Contractors' Association
B)the American Bankers Association
C)the American Medical Association
D)the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund

Question 61

Webs of influence among interest groups, policy makers, and policy advocates are known as

A)iron triangles.
B)agency capture.
C)governmental lobbies.
D)issue networks.

Question 62

In contrast to iron triangles, issue networks are often

A)permanent.
B)stronger.
C)temporary.
D)weaker.

Question 63

Interest groups most often try to influence judicial decisions by way of

A)direct testimony.
B)indirect lobbying.
C)amicus curiae briefs.
D)directly sponsoring cases.

Question 64

Select the correct chronological order of lobbying legislation from the choices below.

A)U.S. v. Hariss -> Ethics in Government Act -> Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act -> Honest Leadership and Open Government Act -> Lobbying Disclosure Act
B)Ethics in Government Act -> Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act -> U.S. v. Hariss -> Lobbying Disclosure Act -> Honest Leadership and Open Government Act
C)Honest Leadership and Open Government Act -> Ethics in Government Act -> U.S. v Hariss -> Lobbying Disclosure Act -> Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act
D)Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act -> U.S. v. Hariss -> Ethics in Government Act -> Lobbying Disclosure Act -> Honest Leadership and Open Government Act

Question 65

When lobbyists contact members of Congress (or their staff)directly to advocate for their group's position, they are practicing

A)coercive lobbying.
B)inside lobbying.
C)outside lobbying.
D)agency lobbying.

Question 66

In evaluating the membership of groups, most of the evidence points to

A)the declining influence of elitist memberships and increased democratization.
B)an increasing movement toward balanced membership within the groups.
C)rising influence of minority groups, particularly Hispanics and African Americans.
D)a continued overrepresentation by the elite, powerful, and wealthy.

Question 67

If there is one noun that captures the tension between representation by individual Americans and the outcomes of the political process in which they engage, it is

A)democracy.
B)liberty.
C)power.
D)money.

Question 68

Social movements like the civil rights movement and LGBT movement have most often used which of the following tactics?

A)protest and civil disobedience
B)internal lobbying
C)presentations to Congress
D)financial contributions to candidates

Question 69

Public demonstration designed to call attention to the need for social action or change is best defined as

A)civil disobedience.
B)social injustice.
C)protest.
D)direct lobbying.

Question 70

Efforts that focus on reaching the constituents themselves rather than their representatives are described as

A)inside lobbying.
B)outside lobbying.
C)governmental lobbying.
D)agency lobbying.

Question 71

Most recent efforts to regulate lobbying have focused on

A)making the process more transparent.
B)passing regulations that limit the number of lobbyists.
C)limiting the amount of influence a lobbyist may have.
D)regulating the degree to which lobbyists may see politicians in office.

Question 72

When agencies tasked with regulating businesses, industries, or other interest groups are populated by individuals with close ties to the very firms that they are supposed to regulate, it is described as

A)inside lobbying.
B)purposive lobbying.
C)agency capture.
D)executive collusion.

Question 73

Successful lobbyists must have

A)solid, useful policy knowledge as well as the ability to be heard by those in government.
B)impeccable credentials accompanied by a wide spectrum of professional experience.
C)high levels of education, which give credibility to the message they deliver to Congress.
D)the fortune of being in the right place at the right time in a political campaign.

Question 74

According to data presented by opensecrets.org, the ______ sector accounted for the single largest group of contributions when analyzed by sector.

A)financial
B)retail
C)technology
D)industrial

Question 75

The movement of individuals between government and lobbying positions is known as the ______ phenomenon.

A)open window
B)revolving door
C)closed circuit
D)employment cycle

Question 76

The coordinated (and mutually beneficial)activities of interest groups, Congress, and the bureaucracy to achieve shared policy goals, sometimes against the general interests of society or specific groups within it, best describes

A)agency capture.
B)the iron triangle.
C)internal lobbying.
D)illegal lobbying.

Question 77

Interest groups vary on the basis of their ______.

A)name recognition, intensity of their base, and desire to achieve
B)membership, collective goals, and desire to achieve them
C)wealth, political clout, and access to governmental officials
D)size, political influence, and ability to persuade members of Congress

Question 78

When a group manufactures or presents the facade of grassroots support that does not really exist on its own or at least would not have happened without the "purchase" of support by the lobbying firm itself, political scientists refer to this as

A)outside lobbying.
B)grassroots movement.
C)astroturf lobbying.
D)internal lobbying.

Question 79

The first and perhaps foremost role of interest groups in the electoral process is

A)targeted financial support.
B)direct lobbying.
C)constituency support.
D)voter education.

Question 80

The intentional breaking of a law for the purpose of calling attention to an injustice is best described as

A)civil disobedience.
B)social injustice.
C)protest.
D)direct lobbying.