Question 1

How did Congress respond to the impending threat of financial collapse brought on by the housing market bust?

Accepted Answer

Congress passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 which authorized the Department of the Treasury to use up to $700 billion in taxpayer funds to bailout banks and stabilize the financial system.

Question 2

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 ______.

Accepted Answer

The iron triangle is a term used to describe 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. This can result in policies that benefit a particular interest group or set of groups at the expense of the broader public interest.

Question 3

Which of the following academics developed an influential theory regarding the logic of interest group participation by studying why people choose not to participate?

Accepted Answer

Mancur Olson developed an influential theory regarding the logic of interest group participation by studying why people choose not to participate.

Question 4

When interest groups try to influence both whether or not the Supreme Court will agree to hear a case, as well as how the justices should rule once they do agree to hear it, they do what?

Accepted Answer

When interest groups try to influence both whether or not the Supreme Court will agree to hear a case, as well as how the justices should rule once they do agree to hear it, they file amicus curiae briefs. Amicus curiae briefs are legal arguments submitted by individuals or organizations who are not parties to a particular case but have a strong interest in its outcome. These briefs are frequently used by interest groups to influence the Court's decision-making process.

Question 5

When the NAACP used the federal judiciary to bring an end to legal segregation in the United States, it did so ______.

Accepted Answer

The NAACP used the federal judiciary to bring an end to legal segregation in the United States by sponsoring litigation, such as the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, which challenged segregation in public schools. They strategically chose cases and worked with plaintiffs to challenge discriminatory laws and policies in court, ultimately leading to significant legal victories for the civil rights movement.

Question 6

Lobbyists provide information to members of Congress that will help them make decisions on a piece of legislation, as well as push their interest group's agenda. This is testament to the fact that lobbying is ______.

Accepted Answer

Lobbying involves a complex and nuanced process of communicating information and advocating for particular interests. While it can be manipulative in some cases, it is not inherently so, and can serve as a means of advancing the public good by ensuring that important information and perspectives are taken into account in the policy-making process.

Question 7

Collective action can be best described as ______.

Accepted Answer

Collective action involves individuals coming together and committing themselves to a shared goal or purpose, often investing time, money, and effort to see that goal realized. This can include joining a club, organization, or political movement, with members working together towards a common objective or set of objectives.

Question 8

How do interest groups most often try to influence judicial decisions?

Accepted Answer

Interest groups most often try to influence judicial decisions by submitting amicus curiae briefs, which are legal arguments submitted by third parties who are not directly involved in the case but have an interest in its outcome. These briefs can bring relevant information to the court's attention and present alternative arguments or perspectives. While interest groups may also engage in direct testimony or indirectly lobby the court, amicus curiae briefs are the most common way for them to influence judicial decisions. Directly sponsoring cases is not a common way for interest groups to influence judicial decisions as it can be costly and time-consuming.

Question 9

Which of the following groups continues to be overrepresented in groups based on membership?

Accepted Answer

The elite, powerful, and wealthy continue to be overrepresented in groups based on membership due to their access to resources, influence, and networks that facilitate their inclusion and dominance in various organizations and institutions.

Question 10

In contrast to iron triangles, issue networks are often ______.

Accepted Answer

Unlike iron triangles, issue networks are temporary and dynamic coalitions of various groups and individuals who come together to promote a particular policy or issue. They may have varying degrees of influence and can change over time based on the issue or policy being addressed. Therefore, issue networks are weaker in terms of their consistency and longevity compared to iron triangles.

Question 11

Most recent efforts to regulate lobbying have focused on ______.

Accepted Answer

Most recent efforts to regulate lobbying have focused on making the process more transparent. This includes disclosing lobbying activities, identifying lobbyists and their clients, registering with government agencies, and reporting lobbying expenditures.

Question 12

Two ways in which lobbyists use information to try to advance their interest group's positions are ______.

Accepted Answer

Lobbyists have access to research that supports their interest group's agenda, and they use this information to testify at congressional committee meetings and provide members of Congress with research reports to persuade them to support their positions.

Question 13

What type of lobbying are lobbyists practicing when they contact members of Congress (or their staff) directly to advocate for their group's position?

Accepted Answer

Lobbyists who directly contact members of Congress or their staff to advocate for their group's position are practicing inside lobbying, which refers to the activities that seek to influence legislators and policymakers directly. Coercive lobbying involves threats or promises of future support or opposition and outside lobbying involves mobilizing public opinion to pressure elected officials indirectly. Agency lobbying involves lobbying on behalf of a client before an administrative agency.

Question 14

Which of the following bests describes 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?

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is commonly referred to as "agency capture", where the regulators develop a relationship with the industry they are supposed to oversee, leading to a conflict of interest and a lack of effective regulation. Inside lobbying refers to advocacy efforts made by an interest group directed towards members of the same organization or institution to which they belong. Purposive lobbying is a type of lobbying where an interest group attempts to influence policymaking by persuading the government or other decision-makers to adopt policies that align with their interests. Executive collusion is an agreement between two or more individuals in a powerful position to use their authority for personal gain. None of these terms accurately describe the situation in which regulatory agencies are captured by the industries they are supposed to oversee.

Question 15

Recent research into interest group behavior shows that although there has been a proliferation of groups and movements focusing on civil rights, women's interests, and the elderly, there has been ______.

Accepted Answer

Recent research has shown that interest groups continue to be dominated by the elite, powerful, and wealthy, with little change in the representation of lower-income and minority groups. This perpetuates inequalities in society and limits the effectiveness of interest groups as a means of promoting social change.

Question 16

Successful lobbyists must have or gain ______ representatives and senators in Congress, in addition to building relationships and donating money.

Accepted Answer

Successful lobbyists must have access to representatives and senators in Congress in order to convince them to support their cause or legislation. Building relationships and donating money can help gain this access. A history of quid pro quos or special favors could be unethical or illegal. Power over representatives and senators is not possible as they are elected officials.

Question 17

The revolving door phenomenon refers to ______.

Accepted Answer

The revolving door phenomenon refers to former government officials going work for lobbying firms and government agencies recruiting former lobbyists for their experience and expertise.

Question 18

Interest groups vary on the basis of their ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Interest groups vary on the basis of...

Question 19

Purposive benefits are described as the ______.

Accepted Answer

Purposive benefits refer to the satisfaction derived from working towards a common goal or purpose, aligning with the idea of achieving a shared objective.

Question 20

Although Stan did not actively participate in the protests that led to better working conditions at his job, he is now enjoying the benefits of the improvements along with those who did actively participate. Stan could be considered a(n) ______.

Accepted Answer

Stan is benefiting from the improvements without having contributed to them, making him a free rider.

Quiz 8: Interest Groups and Social Movements: Collective Action, Power, and Representation