Deck 10: Interest Groups and Lobbying in Texas

Question 1

Which of the following is a SLIG?

A) Texas Municipal League
B) Texas Medical Association
C) Texas Farm Bureau
D) Texas Automobile Dealers Association

Answer 1

A

Question 2

What is the most important tool for interest groups seeking to influence election outcomes?

A) lawyers
B) public relations
C) money
D) connections

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD),the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU),the AARP,and MoveOn.org are all examples of what interest group type?

A) political interest
B) public interest
C) racial and ethnic interest
D) religious interest

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which category of PAC spent the most money in the 2012 Texas election cycle?

A) energy/natural resources/waste
B) ideological/single issue
C) real estate
D) agriculture

Question 5

Imagine you own a small company and you form an interest group to lobby your elected representatives.What category of interest group organization would yours fall under?

A) membership organization
B) nonmembership organization
C) governmental organization
D) quasi-private organization

Question 6

Which of the following is one of the five types of lobbyist?

A) contract
B) in-house
C) governmental
D) All of these answers are correct.

Question 7

What was the total amount of PAC money spent in Texas in the 2012 election?

A) $14 million
B) $57 million
C) $86 million
D) $126 million

Question 8

What is the primary difference between a membership organization and a nonmembership organization?

A) official membership roles
B) broad-based citizen support
C) dues
D) transparency

Question 9

In which of the following regions of the country are you most likely to find a right-to-work state?

A) Midwest
B) South
C) Northeast
D) West Coast

Question 10

Which of the following is a private sector professional association?

A) Texas Medical Association
B) Texas State Teachers Association
C) Texas Farm Bureau
D) State Chamber of Commerce

Question 11

Attempts to discuss topics of interest with a member of the legislature in an ambush-style meeting in the public hallways outside a legislative chamber is the original form of what's still known as

A) "gottcha" politics.
B) lobbying.
C) guerrilla influence.
D) influence peddling.

Question 12

The goal of ________ is to create a favorable public image for the group.

A) positive media coverage
B) public relations activities
C) mass mailings
D) a focus group

Question 13

The process of electioneering begins with

A) raising money for campaign costs.
B) focus groups.
C) candidate recruitment.
D) interest polling.

Question 14

Trying to influence the outcome of elections is known as

A) electioneering.
B) lobbying.
C) campaigning.
D) influence peddling.

Question 15

Peak business associations are interest groups that represent

A) statewide business interests.
B) seasonal business interests.
C) national business interests.
D) local business interests.

Question 16

Who is best known for arguing that "factions" would play an important role in American politics?

A) George Washington
B) Ben Franklin
C) Thomas Paine
D) James Madison

Question 17

The National Rifle Association (NRA),the U.S.Chamber of Commerce,Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD),and the National Education Association (NEA)are all examples of groups that are

A) government recognized special interest groups.
B) nonmembership organizations.
C) active on both the state and national levels.
D) barred from financial contributions to PACs.

Question 18

Organized labor in Texas is

A) very weak.
B) modestly weak.
C) quite strong.
D) very strong.

Question 19

The largest professional group in Texas is the

A) Texas High School Coaches Association.
B) Texas State Teachers Association.
C) Texas Trial Lawyers Association.
D) Texas Medical Association.

Question 20

Inviting public officials to address organizational meetings is one technique to raise

A) a group's image in the eyes of the organization.
B) a group's image in the eyes of these officials.
C) the organization's image in the eyes of the community.
D) a community's image of a public official.

Question 21

What are the main activities lobbyists engage in?

Question 22

Which of the following can help offset the power of interest groups?

A) economic diversity
B) competitive political parties
C) legislative professionalism
D) All of these answers are correct.

Question 23

Having a large number of interest groups representing a particular interest,rather than a small number,

A) will probably make them more powerful.
B) has no relation to power.
C) will probably make them less powerful.
D) indicates that many people have similar concerns, thus raising the group's status.

Question 24

According to Chapter 305 of the current Government Code,an individual "who crosses either a compensation or expenditure threshold" while engaged in lobbying efforts

A) is guilty of influence peddling.
B) will be banned from further lobbying efforts for the period of two years.
C) must register as a lobbyist with the Texas Ethics Commission.
D) All of these answers are correct.

Question 25

Discuss how Texas regulates interest groups.

Question 26

As an interest group,what is the Texas Municipal League's strength?

A) organization
B) size
C) status
D) number of groups

Question 27

Discuss the strength and role of private-sector and public-sector unions in Texas.What accounts for the relative strength or weakness of such unions?

Question 28

When the relationship between a state agency and an interest group becomes very close,it is referred to as

A) entrapment.
B) "strange bedfellows."
C) capture.
D) the "Iron Triangle."

Question 29

Compare and contrast retail trade associations and professional associations.

Question 30

The process in which policy is created through the combined efforts of interest groups,a state agency,and a legislative committee is called

A) entrapment.
B) "strange bedfellows."
C) capture.
D) the "Iron Triangle."

Question 31

Commercial shrimp fishermen are more than likely limited in influence because of a lack of

A) geographic distribution.
B) money.
C) political party competition.
D) leadership.

Question 32

Discuss how money is an especially important power component of nonmembership groups.

Question 33

Briefly describe at least five different types or subtypes of membership organizations.

Question 34

Texas required registration of interest groups for the first time in ________.

A) 1876
B) 1892
C) 1907
D) 1932

Question 35

All of the following contribute to legislative professionalism EXCEPT

A) limited sessions.
B) more staff support.
C) higher pay.
D) longer sessions.

Question 36

When the economy of a state grows more diverse,

A) it is easier for a single rich interest to monopolize power.
B) the number of interest groups shrinks.
C) the influence of interest groups becomes greater.
D) no single industry or group can dominate.

Question 37

Why and how do interest groups engage in electioneering?

Question 38

The Coalition of Health Insurance Choice (CHIC)mobilized opposition to

A) the Affordable Healthcare Act.
B) President Clinton's health care proposal.
C) "Obamacare."
D) Medicaid and Medicare.

Question 39

When are PACs prohibited from making contributions to members of the Texas state legislature?

A) never; they are free to contribute whenever they wish
B) during the regular 140-day session only
C) the period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the regular session
D) in odd calendar years, i.e. 1971, 1973

Question 40

The situation of individuals receiving the benefits of collective action without contributing is known as

A) the "free-rider problem."
B) the "welfare state."
C) "benefit stealing."
D) "coattailing."

Question 41

Examine how having a high degree of legislative professionalism lessens the influence of interest groups.

Question 42

Explain the effects of economic diversity as it relates to the relative number and size of interest groups.

Question 43

Define the terms "capture" and "iron triangle." How does a fragmented government structure make these two situations possible? Are these two situations overall good or bad for the public as a whole? Why?