Deck 13: Interest Groups

Question 1

Private organizations whose members act together to influence public policy to promote their common interests are known as

A) political groups.
B) interest/pressure groups.
C) partisan/party groups.
D) push groups.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Interest/pressure groups can act as intermediaries in the political system by

A) working to have the preferences of public and private groups converted into public policy.
B) raising revenue.
C) All of the above
D) None of the above

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Interest groups are composed of

A) individuals.
B) institutions.
C) All of the above
D) None of the above

Answer 3

C

Question 4

What binds pressure groups together?

A) Common backgrounds
B) An interest in politics
C) An interest in the economy
D) Common interests

Question 5

Ida B. Wells-Barnett was

A) an antilynching activist.
B) a ournalist.
C) a women's rights advocate.
D) All of the above

Question 6

According to Ida B. Wells-Barnett, what was the main reason Blacks would have a difficult time creating the social change they wanted?

A) They did not have the intelligence and political know-how to do so.
B) They did not have the organization created by an interest group to do so.
C) They did not have the desire or will to do so.
D) They did not have the time or money to do so.

Question 7

Interest groups differ from social movements in that

A) social movements have more organization and institutionalization than interest groups.
B) interest groups have the ability to develop out of and last beyond social movements.
C) social movements have longer time horizons than interest groups.
D) interest groups are more committed to specific goals.

Question 8

In Federalist No. _______, James Madison indicates a concern that conflict, rather than consensus, would be predominate in American politics.

A) 1
B) 10
C) 51
D) 87

Question 9

What was the cause of James Madison's worry over conflict in the American political system?

A) Career politicians
B) Agricultural politics
C) Undivided factions
D) Race

Question 10

Which theory of politics contends that power is group-based and that, because there are multiple points of access within American government, each group possesses an equality of opportunity when competing with other groups for power and resources?

A) Pluralism
B) Elite theory
C) The iron triangle
D) Systems theory

Question 11

The concept that competition among groups is the basis for public policy creation and political outcomes in a democratic government best reflects

A) pluralism.
B) elite theory.
C) the iron triangle.
D) systems theory.

Question 12

Which of the following is not an assumption of pluralism?

A) Politics is group based.
B) Differing political resources among groups will balance out in terms of their influence.
C) Race will always be a significant factor in politics.
D) Government is a neutral arbiter of group competition.

Question 13

Which of the following is not a critic of the theory of pluralism?

A) E. E. Schattschneider
B) Robert Dahl
C) Theodore Lowi
D) None of the above

Question 14

A conception of bureaucratic policy making in which policy making is dominated by congressional committees, interest groups, and bureaucratic agencies is known as

A) pluralism.
B) elite theory.
C) the iron triangle.
D) systems theory.

Question 15

The logic of collective action is

A) a concept of a person profiting from the activities of others without participating in those activities.
B) the view that the costs of large groups collectively organizing are high and the benefits to individual members are relatively low.
C) any benefit that if available to one member of the community cannot be denied to any other, regardless of whether he or she bore any of the costs of providing it.
D) a conception of bureaucratic policymaking in which it is dominated by congressional committees, interest groups, and bureaucratic agencies.

Question 16

The free-rider problem is

A) a concept of a person profiting from the activities of others without participating in those activities.
B) the view that the costs of large groups collectively organizing are high and the benefits to individual members are relatively low.
C) any benefit that if available to one member of the community cannot be denied to any other, regardless of whether he or she bore any of the costs of providing it.
D) a conception of bureaucratic policymaking in which it is dominated by congressional committees, interest groups, and bureaucratic agencies.

Question 17

A collective good is

A) a concept of a person profiting from the activities of others without participating in those activities.
B) the view that the costs of large groups collectively organizing are high and the benefits to individual members are relatively low.
C) any benefit that if available to one member of the community cannot be denied to any other, regardless of whether he or she bore any of the costs of providing it.
D) a conception of bureaucratic policymaking in which it is dominated by congressional committees, interest groups, and bureaucratic agencies.

Question 18

The way in which defense policy is developed and implemented in the United States provides an example of

A) the free-rider problem.
B) the logic of collective action.
C) the collective good.
D) the iron triangle.

Question 19

A person not participating in a sit-in to be able to eat at a segregated establishment, then eating at that establishment once it integrates, provides an example of

A) a free rider.
B) the logic of collective action.
C) the collective good.
D) the iron triangle.

Question 20

The provision and assurance of voting rights to all racial minorities, regardless of whether all individuals participated in the demonstrations and other activities that brought this about, provides an example of

A) the free-rider problem.
B) the logic of collective action.
C) the collective good.
D) the iron triangle.

Question 21

What is one way that interest groups help to ensure that people will join them?

A) They provide collective benefits for society.
B) They provide special benefits that are only distributed to active members.
C) They provide opportunities to engage the political system.
D) None of the above

Question 22

Organizations such as the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society do not offer incentives for participation with the understanding that

A) people are interested enough in the missions of the organizations to participate without incentives.
B) people expect that the organizations will help them at a later date.
C) All of the above
D) None of the above

Question 23

Which of the following is not a way that organizations maintain member participation?

A) Incentives
B) Interest in the purposes of the organization
C) Prestige
D) Provision of collective goods

Question 24

As of 2020, there are approximately _______ national interest group organizations in operation in the United States.

A) 243
B) 2,430
C) 24,300
D) 243,000

Question 25

Which of the following constitutes the category with the largest number of national organizations compared to other categories in the United States?

A) Cultural organizations
B) Religious organizations
C) Health and medical organizations
D) Fraternal, nationality, and ethnic organizations

Question 26

According to Mahood, interest groups should be classified into which two categories?

A) Economic and noneconomic
B) Social and antisocial
C) Political and apolitical
D) Racial and nonracial

Question 27

Which of the following is not a subcategory of economic interest groups?

A) Business
B) Professions
C) Government
D) Agriculture

Question 28

_______ were among the first to organize as an interest group in the United States

A) Mill workers
B) Farmers
C) Former slaves
D) Priests

Question 29

Which of the following is not traditionally considered among the interests and goals of business organizations?

A) Protection of ability to sell products
B) Protection of rights and safety of workers
C) Making a profit
D) Enduring as little government regulation as possible

Question 30

When did business interests begin to organize?

A) Early eighteenth century
B) Early nineteenth century
C) Early twentieth century
D) Early twenty-first century

Question 31

Which of the following is the world's largest business federation?

A) Business Roundtable
B) National Association of Manufacturers
C) Consumer Financial Protection Agency
D) U. S. Chamber of Commerce

Question 32

What is the purpose of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency?

A) To regulate financial markets
B) To prevent another financial collapse
C) To oversee credit reporting agencies, debit and credit cards, payday and consumer loans, and credit card fees
D) None of the above

Question 33

The power of labor unions is

A) weaker than it was in the past.
B) stronger than it was in the past.
C) the same as it was in the past.
D) variable from week to week.

Question 34

Many labor interest groups are made up of

A) independent agencies.
B) interrelated businesses.
C) unionized workers.
D) None of the above

Question 35

Which of the following is not a labor interest group?

A) Screen Actors Guild
B) National Association of Manufacturers
C) United Farm Workers of America
D) Major League Baseball Players Association

Question 36

Which of the following is not a business interest group?

A) Business Roundtable
B) National Association of Manufacturers
C) Teamsters
D) U. S. Chamber of Commerce

Question 37

Which of the following is not an example of a profession's interest group?

A) U. S. Chamber of Commerce
B) American Medical Association
C) American Bar Association
D) All are professions' interest groups.

Question 38

Which of the following is a subcategory of noneconomic interest groups?

A) Religion
B) Civil rights
C) Ideology
D) All of the above

Question 39

Noneconomic interest groups are concerned with

A) benefits to society as a whole.
B) benefits to large groups of individuals.
C) All of the above
D) None of the above

Question 40

_______ is not a subcategory of noneconomic interest groups.

A) Public interest
B) Single issue
C) Government
D) Labor

Question 41

Which of the following are not goals associated with civil rights interest groups?

A) Equal opportunities
B) Removing business regulations
C) Decreasing race, ethnic, and gender discrimination
D) Civil liberties

Question 42

The nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization, the NAACP, was founded in

A) 1909.
B) 1929.
C) 1949.
D) 1969.

Question 43

The largest Latino civil rights organization serving Latino groups is

A) NAACP.
B) MALDEF.
C) NCLR.
D) None of the above

Question 44

_______ is the largest feminist organization in the United States.

A) NOW
B) CORE
C) NAACP
D) NCLR

Question 45

The National Organization of Women (NOW) was founded in

A) 1848.
B) 1898.
C) 1926.
D) 1966.

Question 46

Which of the following is not an interest of NOW?

A) Eliminate workplace discrimination.
B) Create greater business sector opportunities.
C) Eliminate racism, sexism, and homophobia.
D) These are all interests of NOW.

Question 47

Most government interest groups are

A) federal organizations that promote the interests of the national government with state and local governments.
B) state and local organizations that promote the interests of these regions with the federal government.
C) All of the above
D) None of the above

Question 48

Which of the following is not included in the activities of government organizations?

A) Lobbying for collective bargaining rights for public employees
B) Strengthening and promoting cities
C) Lobbying for collective bargaining rights for all employees
D) All of these are activities that government organizations engage in.

Question 49

Groups that adhere to a particular belief system or ideal about how society and government should be structured and what policies are most desirable are known as

A) labor interest groups.
B) civil rights interest groups.
C) government interest groups.
D) ideological interest groups.

Question 50

The _______ is not an example of an ideological interest group.

A) American Conservative Union
B) American Civil Liberties Union
C) People for the American Way
D) National League of Cities

Question 51

Public interest groups work to represent all the following except

A) political reformers.
B) environmentalists.
C) politicians.
D) consumers.

Question 52

Which of the following is an accomplishment of Public Citizen?

A) Removal of dangerous dietary supplements from the market
B) Standardized airbags in vehicles
C) All of the above
D) None of the above

Question 53

_______ is an example of a _______.

A) National Council of Churches; profession interest group
B) Mothers against Drunk Driving; single-issue interest group
C) Public Citizen; religious interest group
D) People for the American Way; single-issue interest group

Question 54

Religious interest groups

A) work to ensure that the government will institute an official government-sponsored religion.
B) garner greater influence of the government on religion.
C) push policy issues that conform to their beliefs.
D) None of the above

Question 55

The process by which an individual, a group, or an organization seeks to influence government policy makers is known as

A) litigation.
B) lobbying.
C) electioneering.
D) education.

Question 56

Working actively on behalf of a political candidate or political party with activities that might include publicly endorsing a candidate, making a campaign contribution, or making phone calls is known as

A) litigation.
B) lobbying.
C) electioneering.
D) education.

Question 57

Indirect lobbying consists of

A) letter-writing campaigns.
B) phone calls.
C) general "grassroots" activities.
D) All of the above

Question 58

Which group cannot legally engage in electioneering while at work?

A) Federal employees
B) Service employees
C) Manufacturing employees
D) None of the above

Question 59

Which of the following is not an aspect of electioneering?

A) Making phone calls on behalf of a candidate
B) Publicly endorsing a candidate
C) Contacting a candidate concerning his or her policy positions
D) Making campaign contributions

Question 60

Which Supreme Court case allowed for First Amendment free speech rights for corporations and labor unions, thus allowing them to give unlimited amounts of money to Super PACs?

A) McConnell v. FEC (2003)
B) FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life (2006)
C) Randall v. Sorrell (2006)
D) Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Question 61

What is the limit for campaign contributions to a political candidate from a PAC for each election cycle?

A) $500
B) $1,000
C) $2,500
D) $5,000

Question 62

Can Super PACs give money directly to candidates?

A) Yes, this has been ruled constitutional.
B) Yes, because this is a part of free speech.
C) No, Super PACs may receive and spend unlimited funds on political activity, but not candidates.
D) No, Super PACs are unconstitutional.

Question 63

The purpose of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold Act) was to

A) update old voting systems in poor counties.
B) regulate campaign finance.
C) change the methods for electing the president.
D) None of the above

Question 64

How many individuals contributed more than $1 billion to Super PACs between 2010 and 2018?

A) 15
B) 13
C) 11
D) 9

Question 65

What is the purpose of interest groups engaging in education campaigns for the public?

A) To influence public opinion
B) To ensure a fair playing field for all policy ideas
C) All of the above
D) None of the above

Question 66

Why do some interest groups turn to litigation to accomplish their policy goals?

A) Courts can establish constitutionality of policies.
B) Courts can be used to challenge the constitutionality of legislative and executive action.
C) Courts can help to initiate new policies.
D) All of the above are true.

Question 67

What tactics do interest groups use when pursuing litigation?

A) Filing amicus briefs
B) Sponsoring individuals to pursue court cases in which they have standing
C) Working to block the nomination of judges with records they find unsatisfactory
D) All of the above

Question 68

What was one major tactic used by the NAACP to outlaw racial restrictive covenants in real estate?

A) Sponsor the plaintiff in the Shelly v. Kramer (1948) case
B) Attempt to block judicial nominations
C) Educate the legal field on the topic of restrictive covenants and urge decision making in a particular direction
D) None of the above

Question 69

Which is not a type of media campaign used by interest groups?

A) Offensive
B) Goodwill
C) Supportive
D) Defensive

Question 70

A media campaign geared to create a favorable image concerning an interest group is known as _______ campaign.

A) an offensive
B) a goodwill
C) a supportive
D) a defensive

Question 71

A media campaign in which an interest group works to generate support for a particular policy position is known as _______ campaign.

A) an offensive
B) a goodwill
C) a supportive
D) a defensive

Question 72

A media campaign geared to prevent a policy change the interest group does not favor is known as a(n) _______ campaign.

A) offensive
B) goodwill
C) supportive
D) defensive

Question 73

The "Support the U.S. Auto Industry" media campaign provides an example of which media campaign strategy?

A) Offensive
B) Goodwill
C) Supportive
D) Defensive

Question 74

The "STOP ERA" media campaign provides an example of which media campaign strategy?

A) Offensive
B) Goodwill
C) Supportive
D) Defensive

Question 75

Why is the pluralism tenet that all groups have equal access to the political process problematic?

A) Many groups have encountered and continue to encounter legal and structural barriers.
B) Some groups choose not to influence the political process.
C) Both of the above are true.
D) This tenet is not problematic.

Question 76

Strolovich argues that minority interest groups do not fully represent the interests of those groups because

A) some subgroups have not figured out how to articulate their interests.
B) some subgroups are further marginalized within the larger group.
C) some subgroups have yet to formalize.
D) None of the above

Question 77

Which group has the fewest interest groups and the least interest group resources?

A) African Americans
B) Latinos
C) Asian Americans
D) American Indians

Question 78

The "We Card" public service announcements sponsored by tobacco companies provide an example of which media campaign strategy?

A) Offensive
B) Goodwill
C) Supportive
D) Defensive

Question 79

Which of the following is not a racial or ethnic minority interest group?

A) NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
B) MALDEF
C) ACLU
D) None of the above

Question 80

How is the ACLU advantaged over the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and the MALDEF?

A) ACLU has greater financial resources.
B) ACLU has better trained staff.
C) All of the above
D) None of the above