Deck 10: Interest Groups

Question 1

What group or groups do interest groups over-represent?

A)The wealthy and specialized interest groups
B)Businesses and non-profit organizations
C)The wealthy and businesses
D)The larger interest groups and specialized interest groups

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What U.S.groups that are underrepresented by interest groups took to the street in inner-city riots in the 1960s, thus demonstrating what group or groups might do when they cannot express their grievances through legitimate channels?

A)Poor and Hispanics
B)African Americans and women
C)Poor and African Americans
D)Hispanic Americans and women

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Who generally belongs to interest groups?

A)A multiplicity of people
B)Primarily the middle-class
C)Almost exclusively the well-educated
D)Suburbanites and urbanites

Answer 3

A

Question 4

What characterizes weak states with regard to interest groups?

A)Interest groups are usually government controlled.
B)Interpenetration of crime and politics
C)Interest groups are rarely allowed.
D)Interpenetration of religion and politics

Question 5

Describe the relationship between the branches and subdivisions of the U.S.government has with interest groups.

A)Each branch or division has a limited the number of interest groups allowed to pursue grants, alterations in regulations, or the establishment of their own agency.
B)Each branch or division has one or more interest group requiring grants, alterations in regulations, or the establishment of their own agency.
C)Each branch or division has one or more interest offering bribes, encouraging fraud, or pursuing insider information.
D)Only a few branches or divisions has one or more interest group requiring grants, alterations in regulations, or the establishment of their own agency.

Question 6

Describe how bureaucracies see their tasks.

A)With iconoclastic eyes, seeking to controvert typical government policies
B)With very conservative eyes, seeking to keep their agencies small and economical
C)As only work to be completed
D)As extremely crucial, demanding bigger budgets and more employees each year

Question 7

A common scenario with government-created interest groups is: Congress creates a program, the program creates an interest group, and then __________.

A)the interest group works on Congress to keep supporting it
B)the public works on Congress to keep supporting it
C)the interest group works on the public to support it
D)the interest group works on the President to support it

Question 8

How is interest-group activity viewed in France?

A)With great admiration
B)As without real impact
C)As dirty and it is looked down upon
D)As opaque and mysterious

Question 9

Why did some criticize the lobbyist-backed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailouts?

A)The bailout prevented each from keeping profits private.
B)The bailout allowed only Fannie Mae to keep profits private but pass on the risk to taxpayers.
C)The bailout allowed each to keep profits private but pass on the risk to taxpayers.
D)The bailout prevented each from keeping profits private, but some risk was still passed on to taxpayers.

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of crime catalyzing the creation of an interest group?

A)Public school teachers who organized cheating on standardized tests organized an interest group.
B)Drug-related crime in Columbia led to armed interest groups.
C)Somalian pirates have created interest groups to support the proliferation of international shipping by sea.
D)Pickpocket and theft crime led to interest groups who battle stop-and-frisk laws.

Question 11

Bureaucracies have become big, and powerful, developing __________ of their own.

A)candidates
B)interests
C)political parties
D)media outlets

Question 12

__________ are only the latest iteration of well-funded interest groups.

A)Defense industry representatives
B)Super-PACs
C)Student organizations
D)Neo-conservative lobbyers

Question 13

Federal lobbying currently costs around $ __________ per year.

A)500 million
B)3)5 billion
C)1 billion
D)4)5 million

Question 14

Explain which individuals have the most influence on politics via interest groups.

A)Women
B)The elderly
C)A wide variety of people
D)Rich individuals

Question 15

A great deal of legislation originates in __________.

A)economic downturns
B)corporate boardrooms
C)specialized agencies
D)secret

Question 16

Why did the 2010 healthcare reform bill contain no provision for public insurance options?

A)The insurance industry blocked them.
B)The people had no desire for a public option.
C)Democrats paid more attention to the private option.
D)Farmers, heavily invested in the insurance industry, blocked them.

Question 17

The National Rifle Association is an example of an interest group that seeks the support of primarily one party, in that it tilts strongly toward __________ candidates.

A)Independent
B)Libertarian
C)Republican
D)Tea Party

Question 18

Why is the democratic playing field uneven?

A)Some groups are rich and well-connected.
B)The relatively frequent use of violence by some groups can intimidate others.
C)Some groups give substantial amounts of money directly to the citizenry.
D)There are more working class and poor people and they regularly organize themselves to get a larger piece of the pie.

Question 19

There are rarely more than __________ or so political parties, for several reasons, including the length of a ballot.

A)two
B)three
C)twenty
D)a dozen

Question 20

Many interest groups are brought about by government, insofar as they are __________.

A)associated with government programs
B)funded largely by the government
C)almost exclusively based in the nation's capital
D)usually formed by former politicians

Question 21

Describe the role played by the healthcare and financial industries.

A)They are the smallest campaign contributors to both parties, but still receive ample consideration.
B)They are the biggest campaign contributors to the Democratic Party, and receive ample consideration.
C)They are the biggest campaign contributors to the Republican Party, and receive ample consideration.
D)They are the biggest campaign contributors to both parties, and receive ample consideration.

Question 22

In countries where __________, the courts become an arena of interest-group contention.

A)public defenders are unavailable
B)the rule of law is strong
C)judges have little power
D)the rule of law is weak

Question 23

Why does a group as large, and with a reach as large, as the NAACP have so little influence?

A)Size and reach don't inherently translate into influence, even if the group isn't disadvantaged.
B)The largest groups are often ignored as people assume groups that attract such large numbers must be having their needs met.
C)Disadvantaged groups with smaller grievances are among the least likely to be listened to.
D)Disadvantaged groups with the biggest grievances are among the least likely to be listened to.

Question 24

Why did Occupy Wall Street protesters take to direct protest?

A)Violent protest had already been attempted
B)The movement could not compete with the financial and political resources of Wall Street.
C)Direct protest seemed a more powerful gesture.
D)The financial and political resources of Wall Street made action through social media negligible.

Question 25

Describe the defense some present for those who riot in reaction to perceived wrongful police shootings and arrests, discrimination, etc.

A)They argue that rioters are only opposing the violence they suffer daily at the hands of police, all levels of government, and an economy that keeps them underpaid and unemployed.
B)They argue that rioters are only taking part in the same atmosphere of violence they suffer daily at the hands of police, all levels of government, and an economy that keeps them underpaid and unemployed.
C)They argue that rioters are too poorly educated and so much the products of poor environments that they cannot possibly be held accountable.
D)They argue that rioters are only opposing the violence they suffer daily at the hands of others in their neighborhoods.

Question 26

Many are convinced that __________ buy Congress with campaign contributions and favors given by corporations.

A)unions
B)lobbyists
C)universities
D)the military

Question 27

Explain what keeps the doors of Congress open to interest groups.

A)A healthy culture of disagreement and debate
B)The exchange of favors
C)The careful cultivation of civil servants and members of Congress over the years
D)A neutral relationship with bureaucrats and Congress-people

Question 28

How was the railroads use of television to explain their case for fair government policies related to their investment in public image?

A)TV allowed the industry to push for government policies that would help railroads a mainstay of the toy industry.
B)Using TV to address those policies was crucial to that industry's ability to survive and compete with trucking.
C)Railroads found TV invaluable in educating the public about policies that would have made high speed rail possible.
D)Competition among players in the railroad industry threatened the survival of the industry, and TV was utilized to address policies that would have prevented that.

Question 29

How was the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that states could not arbitrarily restrict a woman's right to an abortion connected to the phenomenon of single-issue groups? The ruling __________.

A)catalyzed Jews, Muslim fundamentalists, and others to form the "pro-life" movement, which in turn, spurred the formation of "pro-choice" groups
B)catalyzed Roman Catholics, Protestant fundamentalists, and others to form the "pro-life" movement, which in turn, spurred the formation of "pro-choice" groups
C)failed to catalyze Roman Catholics, Protestant fundamentalists, and others to form a "pro-life" movement, but the formation of "pro-choice" groups was spurred
D)catalyzed Roman Catholics, Protestant fundamentalists, and others to form the "pro-life" movement, which in turn, yet no "pro-choice" groups formed in reaction

Question 30

What was Teddy Roosevelt's reaction to the big-money politics of his predecessor, President McKinley?

A)Roosevelt supported the Tillman Act, a reform prohibiting corporations from giving funds to parties and candidates.
B)His party discontinued taking monies from corporations.
C)Roosevelt supported the Tillman Act, a reform limiting the giving funds of funds by corporations to parties and candidates.
D)He lobbied privately for his fellow politicians to stop taking money from corporations.

Question 31

The trend toward negative advertising in political campaigns is spurred, in part, by __________.

A)political ignorance
B)soft money
C)divisions among party members
D)the growth of social media

Question 32

According to Olson why do small, well-organized groups, especially with money, often override the broader public interest?

A)The latter have much to gain from favorable but narrow laws and rulings, so they lobby intensely. The former see nothing to gain, are not organized or intense, and lobby little.
B)The former have much to gain from favorable but narrow laws and rulings, so they lobby intensely. The latter see much to gain, and are not organized or intense, but lobby little.
C)The former have much to gain from favorable but narrow laws and rulings, so they lobby intensely. The latter see nothing to gain, are not organized or intense, and lobby little.
D)The former have much to gain from fair, broad laws and rulings, so they lobby some. The latter also favor broad laws and rulings, but not organized or intense, and lobby little.

Question 33

The largest and most quickly growing U.S.interest group, with around 40 million members, is the __________.

A)NRA
B)NAACP
C)AARP
D)PTA

Question 34

Why do U.S.unions seem powerful even though business has far more clout than unions?

A)American unions are much larger than most businesses.
B)Schoolteachers, police, civil servants, etc. are very beloved by the public.
C)U)S. unions attract much attention when they strike at major firms.
D)They receive a great deal more media attention at all times.

Question 35

Probably the largest single factor in the success of interest groups is __________.

A)money
B)tax-exempt status
C)member numbers
D)regional location

Question 36

Many top former administration officials and some 200 former senators and congresspeople shifting into careers as extremely highly-paid D.C.lobbyists is an example of __________.

A)lobbyists attempting to hire those who give their firm the most ethical possible public image
B)interest groups attempting to sway the judiciary
C)the phenomenon of many government bureaucracies being "captured" or "colonized" by the lobbying groups they deal with.
D)a government-to-lobbying transition that has been a commonplace since the mid-1800s

Question 37

When interest groups approach the __________ it may not be in need of or want of a new law, but merely favorable interpretation of existing rules and regulations.

A)courts
B)corporate world
C)public
D)administration

Question 38

How are Germany and Sweden exemplars of complete public financing?

A)Each uses tax dollars to fund election campaigns.
B)Each tries to limit campaign spending.
C)Both subsidize parties after the election based on how many votes they received and parliamentary seats they won.
D)Both allow corporate funds to subsidize the use of government tax dollars to fund election campaigns.

Question 39

How might an interest group keep a discreet profile whilst pushing their mission without explicit advertising?

A)Such a group might plant news stories that promote their cause subtly while quietly working against the publication of stories that work against their position.
B)The group might infiltrate the offices of opposing groups or politicians and accrue incriminating information which might be anonymously conveyed to the media.
C)They might have lobbyists push news stories in the local media that are directly given to that local media by those lobbyists.
D)A group might plant stories in social media promoting their cause, but also publicly work against the publication of stories that work against their mission.

Question 40

Some interest groups maintain a low profile by promoting their objectives without __________ them.

A)lobbying for
B)fully funding
C)advertising
D)openly debating

Question 41

Individuals have little power and influence in a democracy; by joining together with others in an interest group, individuals can increase their power and influence.

Question 42

__________ aid(s) smaller organizations in fending off more powerful interest groups.

A)Coalitions
B)Civil disobedience
C)Violence
D)A clear message

Question 43

The first attempt to limit campaign financing in the U.S.was the Tillman Act of 1907, supported by Theodore Roosevelt.

Question 44

What is the central paradox surrounding voters and their elected leaders?

A)Most people don't vote, so leaders pay their greatest attention to interest group demands, rather than to the demands of ordinary voters.
B)Voters elect leaders, but leaders pay their greatest attention to interest group demands, rather than to the demands of ordinary voters.
C)Voters attempt to elect leaders, but are usually disappointed to find their candidate loses; the winning candidate pays their greatest attention to interest group demands, rather than to the demands of ordinary voters.
D)Voters elect leaders, and accordingly leaders pay their greatest attention to ordinary voters, rather than to the demands of their fellow office-holders.

Question 45

By deregulating reasonable safeguards, __________ bears much responsibility for debacles like that connected with Enron.

A)the executive branch
B)lobbyists
C)Congress
D)Freddie Mac

Question 46

There has been a rise of single-issue interest groups, like the AFL-CIO, since the 1970s.

Question 47

Bureaucracies have become big, powerful interest groups and as a result sometimes undermine government efficiency and effectiveness.

Question 48

Interest groups and political parties are the same, except political parties work through elected representatives and interest groups do not.

Question 49

Governments directly create interest groups.

Question 50

Describe a "stalemate society."

A)One in which trapped between international allies, the president finds him or herself relegated to focusing solely on domestic issues
B)A society which progresses politically but not economically
C)A society in which lobbyists find themselves unable to influence government
D)One in which government may find itself unproductive, stuck between powerful interests and unable to move on important problems

Question 51

Successful interest groups tend to be dominated by a __________ of political activists.

A)vocal but scholarly cadre
B)discreet but wealthy cadre
C)vocal minority
D)vocal majority

Question 52

How well do interest groups serve the needs of the average citizen?

A)The small businessperson, the poorly informed citizen, and minority groups with little money tend to be represented by interest groups, whether they know it or not and therefore are rarely lost in the push and pull of larger interests and government.
B)The small businessperson, the poorly informed citizen, and minority groups acquire large stores of money, thus resisting the possibility of being lost in the push and pull of larger interests and government.
C)The large businessperson, the well informed citizen, and well-represented groups with extensive cash access are still just as often as not lost in the push and pull of other larger interests and government.
D)The small businessperson, the poorly informed citizen, and minority groups with little money tend to get lost in the push and pull of larger interests and government.

Question 53

Socioeconomic status of members is related to groups' success.

Question 54

Interest groups in the U.S.work through the legislature and the executive but not the judicial system.

Question 55

Provide an illustration of the problem of whether interest groups really speak for all their members or for a small, militant minority.

A)Muslim Americans find it nearly impossible to form interest groups of any influence, at all, such that the few which achieve influence tend to speak only for the power elite among them.
B)The Roman Catholic hierarchy takes positions on contraception and abortion that many ordinary Catholics do not.
C)Jewish organizations are weaker supporters than most American Jews.
D)Christian Evangelical organizations take extremely diverse positions, such that their voices are evenly balanced across their supporters.

Question 56

How did much of U.S.finance come to be little supervised after Reagan's tenure as president?

A)Congress has generally delivered whatever the finance industry specified, and regulations and safeguards were rolled back.
B)Presidents have generally delivered whatever the finance industry specified, and regulations and safeguards were rolled back.
C)Congress has generally delivered whatever the finance industry specified, save the regulations and safeguards the industry pushed.
D)Citizens have generally pushed against most legislation having to do with the finance industry, including regulations and safeguards related to the finance industry.

Question 57

Interest group success is mostly based on the notoriety of their cause.

Question 58

Because __________ action either way angers one group or another certain issues are "hot potatoes."

A)economic
B)union
C)coalition
D)government

Question 59

How is Rousseau's emphasis on the "general will" over and above the "particular wills" that make up society related to interest groups?

A)With legislators and executives attuned to interest groups, it's often as if no one is considering the interests of the whole country.
B)With legislators and the judiciary attuned to interest groups, it's often as if no one is considering the interests of the whole country.
C)With legislators and executives attuned to the "citizens' lobby," it's often as if no one is considering the interests of the corporate community.
D)With legislators and executives attuned to interest groups, it's often as if no one is considering the interests of politics at the local level.

Question 60

Scandals, like that connected to Enron, are found all over the world, and tend to be traceable back to laws that interest groups create to favor themselves.

Question 61

Federal officials on the take are usually __________ rather than __________.

Question 62

How is the example of the "subprime crisis" related to the skewing of political policy?

Question 63

French __________ is reflected in Rousseau's work, which argues that "particular will" will distort the "general will."

Question 64

Right to Life is a __________ interest group.

Question 65

How is the following question exemplary of Olson's theory of interest groups?
Why should Europeans contribute much to NATO when the Americans provide them with free security?

Question 66

Discuss the role that government-created interest groups play.

Question 67

Interest groups are separate from the legislature in __________, but they are integrated into the legislature in .

Question 68

__________ interest groups attract those aiming at religious, environmental, or gender goals.

Question 69

Women's rights, the death penalty, and gun control are examples of __________ issues addressed and dealt with by the U.S.Supreme Court.

Question 70

Compare and contrast interest groups and political parties.Provide examples in your discussion of their similarities and differences.What advantages do interest groups offer that political parties don't? What advantages do political parties offer that interest groups don't?

Question 71

What are the various strategies employed by interest groups to accomplish their goals? Discuss each of these strategies along with their effectiveness.Which of these strategies are utilized the most and why? Provide examples of each.

Question 72

The power that Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) has over the Diet illustrates that bureaucracies sometimes __________.

Question 73

What makes interest groups especially powerful and influential? Why? Should anything be done to control the power and influence of interest groups? Why or why not.

Question 74

__________ has tried to limit the influence of interest groups by subsidizing parties after the election according to how many votes they received, and parliamentary seats they won.

Question 75

Can or should anything be done to curb the power of interest groups and the money associated with them?

Question 76

The appearance of __________ is a potential negative effect of interest groups playing an active role in politics.

Question 77

Is it accurate that, as pluralists believe, no interest group can monopolize power?

Question 78

Issues tend to be silenced by political candidates who attempt to appeal to as broad a segment of the voting public as possible, especially in __________ systems.

Question 79

What is the relationship between interest groups and government? How does this apply to government-created interest groups? Provide examples.What are the effects of bureaucrats as interest groups? Do you believe this crossover between bureaucrats and interest groups to be right?

Question 80

What is an interest group? What role are they supposed to play in a democratic society? What benefits are they supposed to provide? In reality, do they play these roles and provide these benefits? Explain.Are there any disadvantages to interest groups?