Deck 5: Interest Groups

Question 1

Which of the following is the main type of organization that lobbies on behalf of workers?

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

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In what areas have labor unions seen growth in recent years?

A)the service sector and public sector
B)manufacturing and agriculture
C)transportation and communications
D)communications and the service sector

Answer 2

A

Question 3

In The Federalist,No.10,James Madison described how a government could be designed to control the effects of __________.

A)monarchies
B)factions
C)political parties
D)trade associations

Answer 3

B

Question 4

By 1900,the __________,a confederation of unions representing craft workers,was the dominant labor union in the United States.

A)Congress of Industrial Organizations
B)International Brotherhood of Teamsters
C)American Federation of Labor
D)Change to Win Federation

Question 5

The __________ problem occurs when people fail to join a group because they can get the benefits the group offers without contributing to the group's efforts.

A)free rider
B)pluralist
C)collective good
D)group coordination

Question 6

Which of the following is a similarity between labor unions in open shop and closed shop states?

A)In both,unions are prevented from forming political action committees (PACs).
B)In both,the free rider problem limits the political power of unions.
C)In both,the benefits that unions gain are reserved for union members.
D)In both,all workers share the benefits the unions gain.

Question 7

What is a trade association?

A)a coalition of public interest groups in a specific policy area,such as environmental policy
B)an organization that coordinates exchanges of information and resources among multiple interest groups
C)an organization that represents businesses within a specific industry
D)an organization that represents the federal government during the negotiation of international trade agreements

Question 8

Which of the following raise money from individuals and then distribute it in the form of contributions to political candidates?

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

Question 9

A(n)__________ refers to a voluntary organization that seeks to influence government.

A)corporation
B)interest group
C)institute
D)faction

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of a professional association?

A)the National Association of Home Builders
B)the American Association of Retired People (AARP)
C)the National Rifle Association
D)the National Wildlife Federation

Question 11

How has union leadership changed since the mid-20ᵗʰ century?

A)It has become more powerful.
B)It has become less consolidated.
C)It has become weaker.
D)It has become less ideological.

Question 12

To overcome the free rider problem,many interest groups offer material benefits.What are tangible incentives?

A)the policies that interest groups help to bring about
B)benefits given only to group members
C)campaign contributions to elected officials
D)bonuses given to the most effective lobbyists

Question 13

How does the unionization of the American workforce compare to other industrialized democracies?

A)The American workforce has stronger unionization in the technology sector.
B)The American workforce has a similar overall level of unionization.
C)The American workforce has stronger unionization in manufacturing.
D)The American workforce is among the least unionized.

Question 14

People who associate with the Tea Party are mainly concerned about __________.

A)increasing government spending and growing government power
B)the influence of political action committees (PACs)on elections
C)the decreasing power of labor unions
D)the influence of lobbyists on government decisions

Question 15

When a case that an interest group is interested in,but not actually sponsoring,comes before a court,the group can __________.

A)meet with judges to explain the group's policy preferences
B)file an amicus curiae brief to present the group's analysis of the case
C)file an appeal to move the case to a different court
D)file a petition to get the group added to the list of plaintiffs

Question 16

Which of the following was a consequence of Wisconsin's 2011 law limiting public employee union rights?

A)The number of union members rose dramatically as public sector workers fought to repeal the law.
B)The number of union members fell sharply.
C)Governor Scott Walker was voted out of office in a recall election.
D)The state experienced a shortage of public school teachers.

Question 17

Collective bargaining is a process whereby which of the following occurs?

A)Members of Congress debate the merits of a bill.
B)Unions represent a group of employees in negotiations with management.
C)Interest group leaders solicit input from their members about the group's goals.
D)PAC contributors decide how to distribute their funds.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of a public interest group?

A)a consumer rights group
B)a professional association
C)a labor union
D)a group representing a state government

Question 19

According to James Madison,a(n)__________ is a group of individuals concerned more with their self-interest than with the rights of individuals outside the group or with the needs of society as a whole.

A)faction
B)political party
C)single-issue organization
D)oligarchy

Question 20

What is an amicus curiae brief?

A)a written argument submitted to a court in support of one side of a case
B)a petition to remove a judge from a court case
C)a petition submitted to Congress in support of or opposition to a judicial nominee
D)a petition submitted to an executive branch agency requesting a review of the agency's decision

Question 21

An interest group's success depends not only on its size,but also its __________,or the extent to which its membership is concentrated or dispersed.

A)cohesion
B)spread
C)unity
D)diversity

Question 22

What feature of the U.S.political system reflects the Framers' desire to limit the "mischiefs of faction"?

A)staggered terms of office
B)selection of senators by state legislatures
C)the protection of free speech in the First Amendment
D)the president's power as commander-in-chief of the military

Question 23

Why do interest groups typically offer tangible benefits to their members?

A)to foster greater diversity among group members
B)to encourage only the most committed supporters to become involved
C)to distract members from the groups' political motives
D)to overcome the free rider problem

Question 24

You are a lawyer who believes that the standards for admission to the state bar have been set too low.What type of group should you form to attempt to change the admission standards?

A)a labor union
B)a trade association
C)a professional association
D)a public interest group

Question 25

Which of the following is an example of an economic interest group?

A)the American Association of Retired People (AARP)
B)the Chamber of Commerce
C)the National Organization for Women
D)the National Education Association

Question 26

What term is used to describe an interest group that appears to be grassroots,but whose activity is orchestrated or initiated centrally?

A)astroturf
B)closed shop
C)elitist
D)free rider

Question 27

How do interest groups lobby the courts?

A)through letter-writing campaigns addressed to particular judges
B)by publishing editorials in major newspapers stating their views on cases
C)by bringing lawsuits to the courts on behalf of classes of citizens
D)by meeting with judges to express their views on cases

Question 28

Which of the following is an activity that lobbyists regularly engage in?

A)answering e-mails from elected officials' constituents
B)speaking on behalf of elected officials at press conferences
C)providing elected officials with information about an interest group's position on a bill or issue
D)providing legal counsel to interest groups in court cases

Question 29

In 2010,a recall drive against Governor Walker of Wisconsin was initiated in response to which of the following?

A)the state's growing budget deficit
B)a new law limiting public employee union rights
C)allegations that the governor violated campaign finance laws
D)the state's high unemployment rate

Question 30

How would you characterize the distribution of PAC money to congressional candidates since 1998?

A)Contributions to challengers steadily increased through 2012.
B)Incumbents continue to receive fewer contributions than their challengers.
C)PACs continue to contribute disproportionately to incumbents.
D)PAC contributions have decreased significantly.

Question 31

How could a local government overcome the free rider problem with respect to providing street lights?

A)by requiring residents to pay taxes to pay for the lights
B)by asking residents to donate money to pay for the lights
C)by forming a trade association to lobby the state legislature
D)by forming a public sector interest group to lobby the state legislature

Question 32

Which of the following is an example of a faction,as conceptualized by Madison in The Federalist,No.10?

A)the media
B)an interest group
C)the legislature
D)the executive branch

Question 33

What type of group is a trade association?

A)an economic interest group
B)a public interest group
C)a public sector interest group
D)a labor union

Question 34

What was the major achievement of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA)?

A)All lobbyists are now required to register with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate.
B)Disclosure laws now apply to people who indirectly try to influence policy or legislation.
C)Lobbyist registration and reports are now available to the public online.
D)Nearly 100 percent of data in all lobbyist reports can now be verified.

Question 35

An interest group filing an amicus curiae brief is an example of __________.

A)how interest groups influence elections
B)lobbying an executive branch agency
C)the impact of lobbying disclosure requirements
D)lobbying the judicial branch

Question 36

Which of the following is an example of the free rider problem?

A)an elected official accepting bribes from an interest group
B)an elected official relying on information from lobbyists
C)a union bargaining with management for higher wages in an open shop state
D)an environmental group disagreeing on what policy goals to pursue

Question 37

Interest groups use __________ to obtain the specific language and deadlines of proposed regulations.

A)amicus curiae briefs
B)issue networks
C)the Federal Register
D)collective bargaining

Question 38

How has the Internet helped interest groups in their lobbying efforts?

A)by allowing citizens to easily organize themselves and by opening new forms of political action
B)by allowing citizens to register to vote online
C)by increasing the security of interest groups' databases
D)by making it easier for citizens to submit amicus curiae briefs

Question 39

How do lobbyists typically seek to influence members of Congress?

A)by introducing bills
B)by filing amicus curiae briefs
C)by organizing protests and demonstrations on Capitol Hill
D)by providing technical assistance on policy issues

Question 40

__________ is a professional association,labor union,and public sector interest group.

A)The Chamber of Commerce
B)The National Education Association
C)Common Cause
D)The American Bar Association

Question 41

Which of the following actions might boost union membership in the United States?

A)increase national minimum wage rates
B)increase the number of states with closed shops
C)increase the number of states with open shops
D)offer free ridership to more union members

Question 42

What did the 2012 election highlight about the disclosure of lobbying activity?

A)Most voters are unconcerned about disclosure.
B)Disclosure has a significant impact on election outcomes.
C)Disclosure rules are highly effective.
D)Disclosure sometimes does not occur until after key election contests.

Question 43

Concern over the use of money to influence politicians dates to __________.

A)the beginning of the twentieth century
B)the ratification of the Constitution in 1791
C)Andrew Jackson's administration in the 1830s
D)Ulysses S.Grant's administration in the 1870s

Question 44

Political action committees (PACs)are an attractive option for campaign contributions because __________.

A)they are allowed by law to contribute unlimited sums of money to political candidates
B)they combine many individual contributions,resulting in one large contribution that is greater than what one individual could do alone
C)PAC contributions are tax deductible
D)PACs are not required to disclose their donors

Question 45

Interest groups are important subjects of study in American politics because __________.

A)they are always successful in getting their demands met by government
B)they provide a venue for citizens to participate in government
C)they determine what issues get covered in the media
D)they determine who runs for elected office

Question 46

Why do interest groups offer campaign contributions to help elect candidates?

A)Helping to elect candidates creates a relationship between the interest group and the elected official that the group may be able to exploit later.
B)Helping to elect candidates is the easiest way to influence government policy.
C)Through campaign contributions,interest groups are able to elect their own staff members to positions in government.
D)Through campaign contributions,interest groups are able to offer input into the political party platforms.

Question 47

How did issue advocacy allow interest groups to circumvent disclosure and contribution limits starting in the mid-1990s?

A)Any group that defined itself as advocating a single issue was exempt from reporting contributions to the government.
B)By focusing on issues rather than candidates,interest groups could appeal to a broader segment of the population.
C)Individuals were allowed to select one issue-based interest group and make an unlimited contribution to that group.
D)Interest groups were able to make election ads without words like "vote for" or "vote against."

Question 48

How do PAC contributions differ from independent expenditures?

A)PAC contributions are given to congressional candidates,whereas independent expenditures are given to judicial candidates.
B)PAC contributions are given to candidates in federal elections,whereas independent expenditures are given to candidates in state elections.
C)PAC contributions are given directly to candidates,whereas independent expenditures are given to political parties.
D)PAC contributions are given directly to candidates,whereas independent expenditures are not given to candidates.

Question 49

Since Congress passed the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act in 2007,senators must wait _________ after leaving office before they are allowed to become lobbyists.

A)six months
B)one year
C)two years
D)four years

Question 50

Which of the following conditions,if true,would eliminate the free rider problem?

A)if participation in an interest group were mandatory
B)if members were allowed to vote on matters of concern to the interest group
C)if participation in an interest group were voluntary
D)if an interest group focused on providing benefits to society as a whole

Question 51

What is the single most important element that lobbyists provide to members of Congress?

A)financial resources for reelection campaigns
B)political information
C)substantive information
D)volunteers for campaign activities

Question 52

Why was Madison particularly concerned about factions in The Federalist,No.10?

A)He believed that factions pursuing their self-interest would work against the broader public interest.
B)He worried that factions were too focused on the public good and that they neglected to take care of their own needs.
C)He worried that the Constitution did not provide enough opportunities for factions to be involved in politics.
D)He worried that the faction he belonged to would lose power if the Constitution was ratified.

Question 53

You are the leader of an environmental organization working to address the problem of climate change.Given the free rider problem,what would be the most effective way to get others to join your cause?

A)Describe the harmful consequences of global warming.
B)Explain how future generations will benefit from enacting climate change legislation.
C)Offer an incentive,such as a tee shirt,to those who join the campaign.
D)Circulate a petition on the Internet.

Question 54

The term "interest group pluralism" refers to the fact that __________.

A)competition among open,responsive,and diverse groups helps preserve democratic values
B)the Framers of the Constitution hoped to see many political factions thrive in the United States
C)interest groups are not allowed to restrict membership on the basis of race,ethnicity,gender,or age
D)interest groups do not need to focus on a single issue,such as faulty automobiles,but can advocate for a set of issues that address a broader scope,such as consumer protection

Question 55

What did the Supreme Court declare unconstitutional in its 2014 decision in McCutcheon v.Federal Election Commission?

A)the aggregate limit on individual contributions to candidates,party committees,or PACs
B)individual contribution limits to any particular candidate,party committee,or PAC
C)limits on corporations' and unions' use of general funds for election-specific ads
D)limits on corporations' and unions' use of general funds to contribute to particular candidates

Question 56

When an interest group forms a new political party,what is the group's most likely objective?

A)to win an election
B)to publicize a cause
C)to replace one of the two major political parties
D)to change the balance of power in Congress

Question 57

According to the Supreme Court's 1976 ruling on independent expenditures,which of the following is unconstitutional?

A)any contribution of more than $100,000 made by any one individual
B)directing unlimited amounts of money to a particular race
C)disclosing personal expenditures to the Federal Election Commission without the individual's knowledge
D)limiting contributions that are truly independent of a party or candidate

Question 58

You are the leader of a consumer rights group that has been unable to get a meeting with its elected representative in Congress.How could you get the attention of your legislator on the issues your group cares about?

A)Organize a demonstration in the representative's district and invite the media.
B)File an amicus curiae brief.
C)Draft a bill and introduce it in Congress.
D)Contact the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

Question 59

How is a Super PAC different from a PAC?

A)PACs operate on the state level,while Super PACs are involved in politics on a national scale.
B)Unlike PACs,Super PACs are allowed to endorse candidates.
C)Super PACs are formed when two or more PACs join together to raise funds for a particular candidate.
D)Unlike PACs,Super PACs may accept donations of any size.

Question 60

When an interest group's members share common views on the aims of the organization,it is said to be __________.

A)strong
B)resourceful
C)concentrated
D)cohesive

Question 61

In __________,James Madison expressed concerns about the harmful effects of factions.

Question 62

Labor unions traditionally identify with the Democratic Party.

Question 63

Membership in labor unions has increased over the last several decades.

Question 64

__________ are collections of people who share a common interest or attitude and seek to influence government for specific ends.

Question 65

In a __________ state,workers may be required to join a union to be hired at a particular company if most employees at that company vote to unionize.

Question 66

The __________ problem occurs when people fail to join a group because they can receive the benefits the group offers without contributing to the group's efforts.

Question 67

Today,more than one-half of lobbyists in Washington are women.

Question 68

The technique of __________ lobbying was used to defeat the nomination of federal judge Robert Bork to the U.S.Supreme Court.

Question 69

The Tea Party is a political party.

Question 70

If James Madison were alive today,he would most likely view the rapid growth of interest groups over the past several decades as a positive development.

Question 71

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)claims to represent all older citizens.

Question 72

In 2010,the Supreme Court upheld a long-standing ban on the use of corporate or union funds for election-specific ads.

Question 73

A pluralist would view the presence and activities of lobbyists in Washington,D.C. ,as harmful to the functioning of our political system.

Question 74

Independent expenditures are unlimited but must be disclosed to the Federal Election Commission.

Question 75

In recent years,political action committees (PACs)have declined as vehicles for campaign contributions.

Question 76

In 2010,voters in Wisconsin successfully recalled Governor Scott Walker following passage of legislation limiting the rights of public employee unions.

Question 77

Most members of Congress view lobbyists as unnecessary nuisances.

Question 78

According to the theory of pluralism,political power is distributed across a wide range of diverse and competing interest groups.

Question 79

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)largely banned party soft money and narrowed the definition of issue advocacy.

Question 80

The lobbying profession has attracted a substantial number of women and minorities.