Question 1

Perhaps the most influential conservative Christian organization in the U.S.today is the __________.

Accepted Answer

The Christian Coalition is a politically conservative Christian organization founded in 1989 by evangelical leader Pat Robertson. It has been influential in shaping conservative politics and policies on issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, and school prayer.

Question 2

Organized movements of persons who make collective claims on other are called __________.

Accepted Answer

Social movements are organized collective efforts by groups of people to bring about social, political, or cultural change. Protest movements, factions, and interest groups may also make collective claims, but social movements are typically broader in scope and more focused on systemic or structural change.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A consumer rights group is an example of a public interest group because it promotes the interests and welfare of the general public, rather than just its own members. Its focus is on issues that affect a large portion of the population, such as consumer protection laws and regulations.

Question 4

Consider the "Who's Getting What?" box.Which of the following is an example of rent seeking?

Accepted Answer

Rent seeking is the use of resources (usually time and money) to gain a larger share of wealth transfers from others or to impose costs on others with the help of the government. A farm organization lobbying for subsidies is an example of rent seeking as they are trying to gain a larger share of wealth transfers from taxpayers.

Question 5

Why is it significant that business/economic interest groups have more lobbyists in Washington,D.C.,than other types of groups?

Accepted Answer

Business/economic interest groups having more lobbyists in Washington, D.C. can be significant because it may lead to the government favoring their interests over other groups, such as environmental or consumer rights groups. This can raise concerns about the influence of money in politics and the potential for policies to be swayed in favor of those with more resources to lobby lawmakers.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

The National Education Association is a professional association for educators, specifically teachers and other education professionals. A professional association is a non-profit organization that represents and serves the interests of professionals within a particular field or industry.

Question 7

What did James Madison identify as the most prevalent special interest in politics?

Accepted Answer

James Madison identified economic interests as the most prevalent special interest in politics, stating "the most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property."

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the evolution of organized labor movements in the United States from 1950-2000?

Accepted Answer

The decline in industrial union memberships, such as those in the automotive and steel industries, was offset by increases in government union memberships, such as those in education and public services. While overall membership declined, there was still significant influence and power exerted by the remaining unions, particularly in the political arena.

Question 9

In the early 20th century,the main focus of most women's organizations was to __________.

Accepted Answer

In the early 20th century, the main focus of most women's organizations was to obtain the right to vote. This was a major goal of the women's suffrage movement which sought to secure voting rights for women in the United States. Other issues such as equal pay, access to education and healthcare, and reproductive rights would come later as part of the broader women's rights movement.

Question 10

MADD and NARAL are examples of __________.

Accepted Answer

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League) are both focused on specific issues, making them single-issue groups.

Question 11

How does the textbook define the term rent?

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook, rent is defined as "payment for a good beyond the marginal cost of its production and supply." This means that rent is an economic term that refers to the additional amount paid for something beyond what it cost to produce or supply it.

Question 12

A(n)__________ is an interest group that pursues liberal or conservative agendas.

Accepted Answer

An ideological organization is an interest group that seeks to promote and pursue a specific political ideology, such as liberalism or conservatism. Labor unions, environmental groups, and trade associations may have political agendas, but their primary focus is not necessarily ideological in nature.

Question 13

How does the interest group system differ from the electoral system?

Accepted Answer

Interest groups are designed to represent specific policy preferences directly to policymakers, offering a more focused avenue for citizens to influence policy outside of the broader and less specific mechanisms of electoral politics.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Interest groups provide a way for citizens to participate in government by advocating for specific policies and influencing decision-making processes. While they may not always be successful in achieving their goals, they play an important role in shaping political discourse and advocating for their members' interests. The other options are not accurate; many interest group lobbyists do not serve in Congress, and interest groups do not determine what issues get covered in the media.

Question 15

Interest groups are often defended as a check on __________,or the tendency of democratic governments to allow the faint preferences of the masses to prevail over the intense feelings of minorities.

Accepted Answer

Interest groups are seen as helpful in countering majoritarianism, which refers to the idea that the majority should always prevail in democracy, regardless of the impact on minority groups. Interest groups represent the voices and preferences of specific, often minority, groups and help to ensure that their concerns are heard and addressed in the political process.

Question 16

What is a public interest group?

Accepted Answer

A public interest group is defined as a group that works to gain benefits for society as a whole, rather than for a particular individual or organization. These groups may advocate for social, economic, or environmental issues and generally aim to promote the common good. Examples include the Sierra Club, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Public Citizen.

Question 17

What is a trade association?

Accepted Answer

A trade association is an organization that represents businesses within a specific industry. It serves as a voice for the industry and advocates for its interests in policy and regulatory matters. The association may also provide resources and services to its members, such as networking opportunities, industry research, and education and training programs.

Question 18

A(n)__________ refers to an organization that seeks to influence public policy.

Accepted Answer

Interest groups are organizations that seek to influence public policy on behalf of their members or supporters. Corporations are a type of interest group, but not all interest groups are corporations. Institutes are research organizations and not necessarily focused on influencing policy. Congressional districts are geographic divisions within a state represented by a member of the House of Representatives, and not relevant to this definition.

Question 19

James Madison defined a(n)__________ as 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.

Accepted Answer

James Madison's definition of a faction is a group of individuals that prioritize their self-interest over the common good. The other choices, political party, social movement, and oligarchy, do not necessarily imply this prioritization of self-interest over the greater good.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Labor unions are the main type of organization that lobbies on behalf of workers. They negotiate with employers for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. Public interest groups often work to support broader social and political issues, while trade associations and corporations generally represent the interests of businesses rather than individual workers.

Quiz 9: Interest Groups: Getting Their Share and More