Deck 6: The Politics of Interest Groups

Question 1

Our federal system of government encourages interest groups to

A) be more general and less specific in their demands.
B) be more inclined to form coalitions with other groups.
C) have a decentralized organizational structure.
D) have a single national office and staff.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Most political interest groups represent

A) organized blue-collar labor.
B) professional and managerial occupations.
C) minimum-wage employees.
D) fixed-income retirees.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which constitutional right is the foundation of the right to form and participate in interest groups?

A) Free speech
B) Freedom of association
C) The right to vote
D) Equal protection under the laws

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Texas is among a group of states that has strong _________and weak __________.

A) political parties; interest groups
B) centralized power; political parties
C) interest groups; politicians
D) interest groups; political parties

Question 5

Which occupational group is least likely to have a large representation in an interest group?

A) Lawyers
B) Accountants
C) Physicians
D) Receptionists

Question 6

Which of the following generalizations regarding interest group leadership is incorrect?

A) Interest group decisions are usually made by an active minority of the membership.
B) Some individuals are better at playing politics to reach leadership levels than are others.
C) Some individuals have greater leadership qualities than do others.
D) Most interest group members can afford to devote time to interest group activities.

Question 7

The Texas Association of Businesses and Chambers of Commerce is an example of

A) a trade association.
B) a trade union.
C) an umbrella organization.
D) a public interest group.

Question 8

An interest group has as its primary objective the

A) electioneering support of candidates for public office.
B) influencing of government to respond to the group's objectives.
C) achievement of success as a national organization.
D) growth of its membership.

Question 9

An organization of individuals with similar views that tries to influence government to respond favorably to its views is called a(n)

A) voluntary association.
B) benevolent society.
C) interest group.
D) political party.

Question 10

Which of the following would not be a goal of an interest group?

A) Getting its members elected to public office
B) Having government policies passed that benefit the group
C) Influencing government officials regarding legislation
D) Making policy preferences known to government officials

Question 11

An organization that works with government officials for the purpose of influencing public policy is referred to as a(n)

A) political party.
B) interest group.
C) legislature.
D) social brigade.

Question 12

The primary objective of an interest group is to promote

A) the political party with which it is identified.
B) benefits that better the society as a whole.
C) the particular interests of its own members.
D) programs that will increase its membership.

Question 13

The United States achieves a decentralized governing structure through

A) republicanism and checks and balances.
B) republicanism and federalism.
C) federalism and checks and balances.
D) federalism and separation of powers.

Question 14

Interest groups try to influence public policy by

A) lobbying only one specific political party.
B) working only with a political party's leaders.
C) lobbying government officials regardless of party affiliation.
D) ignoring key decision makers in the political process.

Question 15

Who would be most supportive of the Texas right-to-work law?

A) Business groups
B) Labor groups
C) Illegal immigrants
D) Ethnic groups

Question 16

The principal purpose of political party activity is to

A) achieve changes through the constitutional amendment process.
B) gain control of government by winning elections and thus achieve party goals.
C) influence public officials who are already in office to respond to the party's goals.
D) obtain favorable treatment for party members in governmental activities.

Question 17

The decentralized structure of Texas politics and governance __________ the ability of interest groups to influence public policy.

A) decreases
B) eliminates
C) increases
D) has no effect on

Question 18

Which of the following goals would a business organization be least likely to pursue?

A) Lower state or federal taxes
B) Minimum government regulations
C) Fewer concessions to labor unions
D) Increased safety and environmental standards

Question 19

Any organization is considered an interest group when it

A) registers with the Texas Secretary of State.
B) selects an officer to preside over the body.
C) seeks to influence a governmental policy decision.
D) achieves more than twenty-five members.

Question 20

In the case of the NAACP v. Alabama (1958), the U. S. Supreme Court

A) recognized that all persons are created equal.
B) recognized the right of association as part of the First Amendment.
C) ruled that provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment were applicable to the states.
D) ruled that the poll tax was unconstitutional and discriminatory.

Question 21

In which of the following activities are interest groups most involved?

A) Recruiting candidates
B) Writing party platforms
C) Providing an outlet for citizen activity
D) Electioneering

Question 22

Which of the following would the Christian Coalition likely not oppose?

A) The issuing of vouchers for school choice
B) Classifying acts against homosexuals as enhancing criminal penalties
C) Prohibiting picketing within 25 yards of a family planning clinic
D) Abolishing religious invocations prior to legislative sessions

Question 23

Social interest groups exist to address which of the following issues?

A) Racial
B) Gender
C) Religious
D) All of the above are true.

Question 24

A major result of grassroots activity by interest groups is that it

A) attracts a larger number of supporters than any other group.
B) creates the appearance of public support for the group's program.
C) makes political power holders afraid to oppose it.
D) reduces the amount of work that the group's paid lobbyists must do.

Question 25

Which organization would most likely mount a vigorous campaign to oppose a reduction in the staffing levels of the Texas Rehabilitation Commission?

A) Christian Coalition
B) Texas Public Employees Association
C) County Judges and Commissioners Association
D) Texas Alcohol and Narcotics Education

Question 26

Which of the following techniques do interest groups use to influence policy decisions?

A) Lobbying
B) Campaign financing
C) Providing favors and gifts
D) All of the above are true.

Question 27

Ethnic minorities have found that their most successful political strategy has been to

A) dominate one of the major political parties.
B) organize into political interest groups.
C) elect their members to statewide public office.
D) seek amendments to the Texas Constitution.

Question 28

In 1999, Texas became the first state to allow

A) for the taxing of interest groups.
B) public school teachers to form unions.
C) state employees to legally go out on strike.
D) doctors to collectively bargain with health maintenance organizations.

Question 29

Among state government employee interest groups, which is the largest?

A) Texas Public Employees Association
B) Texas City Management Association
C) Justices of the Peace and Constables Association of Texas
D) Texas City Attorneys Association

Question 30

An example of a professional organization is the

A) Texas American Federation of Labor.
B) League of United Latin American Citizens.
C) Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association.
D) Texas Health Care Association.

Question 31

A social interest group would not be involved in an issue concerning

A) school prayer.
B) women's rights.
C) highway funding.
D) civil rights.

Question 32

Which of the following would a government employee interest group be least likely to pursue?

A) Higher wages
B) Better retirement packages
C) Increased health-care benefits
D) Decreased levels of government spending

Question 33

In recent years, registered lobbyists in Texas have

A) not been influential.
B) become better regulated.
C) increased to over 1,800.
D) not caught the attention of the media.

Question 34

Studies of lobbying in Texas indicate that the most commonly employed strategy of influencing legislation is

A) personal argument with the legislator to persuade him.
B) providing the legislator with relevant information.
C) abandoning the legislature and lobbying the governor.
D) abandoning the legislative and executive branches and filing lawsuits.

Question 35

A major benefit of interest groups to political officeholders is that they

A) speak for the general public.
B) provide information and expertise.
C) provide many free lunches.
D) give objective input.

Question 36

An individual seeking a favorable decision from government is most likely to succeed if he or she

A) works through the Democratic party.
B) works with a group having similar goals.
C) attempts to reach his or her goals alone.
D) votes in the general election.

Question 37

The political term grassroots refers to activity that

A) begins locally and spreads to broader areas.
B) starts at the state level and works down.
C) is associated with agriculture.
D) has produced little or no growth.

Question 38

Common Cause of Texas is an example of

A) a public interest group.
B) a trade association.
C) a trade union.
D) an umbrella organization.

Question 39

Which of the following interest groups would be an example of a professional group in Texas?

A) Teamsters
B) National Rifle Association
C) Texas Trial Lawyers Association
D) League of United Latin American Citizens

Question 40

The definition of a lobbyist is an individual who

A) works to get a candidate elected to office.
B) sits on a Congressional committee.
C) attempts to influence the decision-making of lawmakers.
D) issues rulings on major court cases.

Question 41

Following the Sharpstown Bank scandal, the Texas legislature

A) banned lobbyists from the capitol building in Austin.
B) prevented lobbyists from giving cash payments to lawmakers.
C) prohibited speaker candidates from giving anything of value to supporters in the House.
D) changed laws allowing gifts to exchange hands between state senate and house members.

Question 42

An interest group with substantial financial resources, sizable membership, unity, and a competent leadership

A) would be mistrusted by the legislative leadership.
B) has no more influence over the legislative process than any other group of citizens.
C) should have success in getting its policy preferences honored.
D) is prevented from obtaining its policy preferences because of the Ethics Act.

Question 43

Typically, in order to get people to the polls, which of the following is generally employed?

A) Mail-outs, telephone calls, door-to-door solicitation, and transportation to the polls
B) Bribes of money and promises of a job if one votes for a specific candidate
C) Providing free signs and food to potential voters
D) Calling mass meetings and demonstrating against opponents

Question 44

Members of the Texas Ethics Commission are selected by the

A) voters in a general election.
B) Texas State Legislature.
C) Texas Governor.
D) U.S. Congress.

Question 45

The device by which a corporation may contribute money to a political candidate is

A) through a political action committee.
B) directly through the union that represents its workers.
C) directly from the corporation's funds.
D) through a special state tax transfer fund.

Question 46

An interest group technique that is unethical would be

A) making campaign contributions.
B) utilizing bribery.
C) conducting lobbying.
D) taking clients to lunch.

Question 47

The details of political contributions and expenditures of candidates must be filed with the Texas Ethics Commission

A) between two and seven times each year.
B) every seven years.
C) between four and seven times each biennium.
D) only once during the campaign process.

Question 48

In Texas, corporations and labor unions may provide campaign contributions

A) directly to the candidates.
B) through the state Treasury.
C) through Political Action Committees.
D) only up to $5,000 maximum.

Question 49

Texas law prohibits a speaker candidate from giving money to

A) fellow House members.
B) the Texas Environmental Fund.
C) the Texas Brewers Institute.
D) the Christian Life Commission.

Question 50

In electioneering, an interest group would be unlikely to

A) participate actively and publicly in primary campaigns.
B) publicize the voting record of politicians.
C) provide friendly candidates with group membership lists.
D) allow favored candidates to speak at group meetings.

Question 51

Texas state law requires all of the following, except

A) limits on campaign contributions.
B) disclosure requirements for lawmakers and lobbyists.
C) prohibition of honoraria for lawmakers.
D) disclosure of any gift over $250.

Question 52

An interest group would be in a good position to achieve its goals if

A) state political parties were stronger.
B) it was well represented within government.
C) its views were consistent with the views of one political party.
D) government officials wielded additional power.

Question 53

Political races are most likely to be altered at the last minute as a result of

A) campaign laws being changed without public notice.
B) last minute contributions from interest groups.
C) changes in a candidates position on a key issue.
D) court challenges to candidate qualifications.

Question 54

Actively campaigning in support of candidates to office by an interest group is called

A) lobbying.
B) grassroots pressure.
C) electioneering.
D) bribery.

Question 55

Which of the following statements best explains campaign finance laws for candidates running for a seat in the Texas legislature?

A) There is no limit on how much a PAC may contribute directly to a campaign.
B) There is no limit on how much a corporation can donate directly to a campaign.
C) There is no limit on how much a labor union can donate directly to a campaign.
D) There are no disclosure requirements for campaigns and lobbyists.

Question 56

Ethics laws prohibit a candidate or official from receiving a contribution inside

A) a commercial business building.
B) a religious organization's building.
C) the Democratic or Republican headquarters.
D) the Texas state capitol building.

Question 57

The Texas Ethics Act of 1991 prohibited

A) interest groups from paying more than $1,500 to their lobbyists in any session.
B) lobbyists from spending more than $500 in entertainment expenses per legislator.
C) lobbyists from making contributions to legislative political campaigns.
D) legislators from accepting campaign contributions from interest groups.

Question 58

Which Texas House speaker was not the subject of an inquiry about potentially improper practices with regard to interest groups?

A) Billy Clayton
B) Gus Mutscher
C) Gib Lewis
D) Pete Laney

Question 59

In response to big spending by lobbyists, Texas voters in 1991 approved a constitutional amendment to create the eight-member

A) Texas Ethics Commission.
B) Texas Rangers Association.
C) Texas Governor's Association.
D) Texas Common Cause.

Question 60

The system of politics in Texas can be described as one with

A) weak parties and weak interest groups.
B) strong parties and strong interest groups.
C) strong parties and weak interest groups.
D) weak parties and strong interest groups.

Question 61

A triangular relationship is said to exist in Texas government. What are the elements of this triangle? How do they benefit one another? In your judgment, does this relationship pose a problem for democratic government? Defend your answer.

Question 62

Distinguish between an interest group and a political party. In what ways are their goals and membership different? In what ways do they interact with one another?

Question 63

Based on what you have learned about interest group membership and objectives, and using your own socioeconomic circumstances as a starting point, which interest group would you most likely join and why?

Question 64

Describe the characteristics of an interest group and explain the basic role of interest groups in the political process

Question 65

Distinguish between a "professional/career" interest group and a "government employee" interest group. In what ways are their goals and membership different? Which of the two would "educator" groups more closely resemble?

Question 66

Interest groups in Texas must operate under the laws of the state. What are the state regulations regarding interest groups and how are the enforced? Comment on the perceived effectiveness of these regulations in Texas.

Question 67

Describe the interest group practice of "electioneering." Explain the role and influence of Political Action Committees (PACs) in this process.

Question 68

Identify and discuss the factors that contribute to the success or effectiveness of interest groups. Which factors seem most important?

Question 69

Compare and contrast centralized and decentralized structures of interest groups. Which, if either, seems to work best? Is there any special reason why an interest group would choose one over the other?

Question 70

Distinguish between an "economic" interest group and a "business" interest group. In what ways are their goals and membership different? Which of the two would "labor" groups more closely resemble?