Deck 8: Interest Groups

Question 1

The principal difference between a mass association and a peak association is:

A) how much influence each has over policy making
B) the number of former government employees that each is willing to employ
C) the level of centralization in the organizational structure
D) membership: a mass association's members are individuals and a peak association includes businesses and other organizations
E) that peak associations are significantly less influential and effective in the political arena than mass associations

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Some interest groups are not primarily political organizations.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Which of the following is a key feature of an interest group?

A) It runs candidates for office.
B) Its members vote on policies in the legislature.
C) Its goal is to influence government.
D) It must have a connected political action committee and run campaign ads.
E) Its members must all be U.S. citizens according to federal law.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

When it comes to spending money on elections,the typical political action committee (PAC)tends to spend more than the average 527 organization.

Question 5

Which type of interest group tends to seek policy change on a wide variety of issues?

A) economic groups
B) citizen groups
C) single-issue groups
D) mass associations
E) professional organizations

Question 6

Which of the following groups spends a lot of money on lobbying and is a citizen group?

A) Chamber of Commerce
B) General Motors
C) American Hospital Association
D) AARP
E) American Association for Justice (formerly the American Trial Lawyers Association)

Question 7

While a centralized group has the advantage of employing its resources ________,it can face significant challenges in ________.

A) efficiently; being effective
B) effectively; being efficient
C) efficiently; learning what its members want
D) effectively; learning what its members want
E) throughout the nation; raising enough money to afford to do so

Question 8

In a situation known as the revolving door,the people most qualified to work in a particular field are likely to have a conflict of interest when they move between government and an interest group.

Question 9

When an interest group's leadership is concentrated in its headquarters,it has a(n)_________ organizational structure.

A) centralized
B) decentralized
C) confederal
D) peak association
E) elite

Question 10

It makes more sense to ask when interest groups are powerful rather than ask whether or not they are powerful.

Question 11

Citizen groups,also known as public interest groups,rarely have much of a constituency.

Question 12

Citizens' groups using grassroots lobbying are most successful when they do not have to do much to motivate people to contact government.This gives those groups a significant advantage over economic groups.

Question 13

An interest group is best defined as an organization:

A) that influences policy by running candidates for office
B) that watches over government for the purpose of informing the public
C) that tries to influence public policy for a group of people with common interests
D) that represents many diverse interests in Washington
E) that has purely selfish and narrow motives with little regard for the common good

Question 14

Which of the following would be a type of economic group?

A) AARP
B) the AFL-CIO
C) the American Trial Lawyers Association
D) the National Right to Life Committee
E) NARAL

Question 15

Interest groups that have large budgets have a significant advantage in lobbying government.

Question 16

Groups whose members are businesses or other organizations rather than individuals are:

A) community associations
B) collective associations
C) peak associations
D) business unions
E) co-op associations

Question 17

A key characteristic of a group with a centralized organizational structure is the presence of well-organized local groups that are fairly independent of each other.

Question 18

The key difference between a mass association and a peak association is in the level of organizational centralization.

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of an interest group that is entirely political?

A) National Rifle Association
B) Public Citizens
C) Automobile Association of America
D) AARP
E) AFL-CIO

Question 20

When an interest group contacts a public official and tries to influence public policy,it is engaged in:

A) electioneering
B) lobbying
C) pluralism
D) external strategy
E) collusion

Question 21

Since 2000,the total amount of money spent on lobbying has:

A) increased
B) remained stable from year to year
C) decreased
D) fluctuated tremendously from year to year
E) been impossible to track, because groups have a constitutional right to privacy and do not have to disclose all of their lobbying expenses

Question 22

Inside strategies usually involve which of the following tactics?

A) direct lobbying
B) electioneering
C) grassroots lobbying
D) marches on Washington to protest and engage in civil disobedience
E) attempting to influence elected officials through their constituents

Question 23

In what way can people be considered a resource for an interest group?

A) They can put pressure on elected representatives by writing letters, demonstrating, and engaging in other activities.
B) An interest group's funds are completely influenced by its number of members.
C) Elected officials only pay attention to interest groups with many members.
D) Larger interest groups are more likely to have personal connections with policy makers.
E) People force interest groups to become more democratic in their operations, making groups more efficient overall in influencing the political process.

Question 24

Selective incentives are important because:

A) they are public goods
B) they help groups overcome the collective action problem
C) they are valued by political entrepreneurs
D) they allow groups to offer benefits to elected officials in exchange for their support
E) they allow groups to prevent their political opponents from undermining the group

Question 25

Which of the following summarizes tactics used by a group conducting an inside strategy?

A) working with other groups, litigating, and mobilizing public opinion
B) drafting legislation, conducting research, and working with other groups
C) electioneering, grassroots lobbying, and using the initiative process
D) using political action committees, mobilizing public opinion, and testifying before Congress
E) astroturf lobbying, mobilizing public opinion, and drafting legislation

Question 26

A group that lobbies for a collection of companies in the same industry is called:

A) an economic group
B) a trade association
C) a citizen group
D) a private group
E) a professional association

Question 27

When we consider the different tactics that make up an inside strategy,which of the following is used LEAST?

A) drafting new legislation
B) drafting new regulations
C) testifying
D) litigating
E) conducting policy research

Question 28

When an interest group files an amicus curiae brief,they are trying to influence policy through:

A) drafting regulations
B) testimony
C) litigation
D) drafting laws
E) congressional hearings and investigations

Question 29

Which of the following are resources that interest groups can use to influence public policy?

A) coercion
B) expensive gifts (airline tickets, meals at restaurants, etc.)
C) selective benefits
D) people, expertise, and campaign contributions
E) solidary, material, and purposive benefits

Question 30

The term revolving door refers to:

A) the nature of interest group influence in Washington
B) movement of personnel between the government and interest groups
C) the policy expertise of interest group staff members
D) individuals who move between the private sector and interest groups
E) the frequent firing and rehiring of staff in the interest group community

Question 31

Over the past fifty years,the number of registered interest groups has:

A) decreased
B) remained stable
C) increased
D) fluctuated dramatically with sharp spikes in some years and dramatic declines in others
E) It is impossible to know because there are no reliable estimates on this.

Question 32

Grassroots lobbying is best defined as:

A) using high-paid professionals to contact legislators
B) whipping up public opinion through media contacts
C) attempting to change what the public thinks about an issue
D) using group members to contact legislators
E) using group members to create chaos through mass protest and civil disobedience

Question 33

Money is an important resource for interest groups because:

A) it allows interest groups to offer purposive benefits
B) they can buy the support of legislators and other policy makers
C) it is an easy way for policy makers to compare the importance of different groups
D) it shows that they have support from lots of different people
E) it gives them the ability to fund activities that help them influence policy

Question 34

Which of the following is a common goal of mass protests?

A) stopping government action
B) providing research to policy makers
C) offering material benefits to rank-and-file members
D) ending apathy among all citizens and improving the democratic process
E) warning elected officials of possible revolution and overthrow of the government

Question 35

The key to direct lobbying is to focus on:

A) converting opponents into supporters
B) undecided legislators
C) legislators who already share the group's policy goals
D) legislators who are willing to accept campaign contributions
E) legislators who are ambitious and seek higher office in the future

Question 36

Why do interest groups sometimes form coalitions to work for the same policy goal?

A) Policy makers are more likely to respond to large coalitions with a diverse membership.
B) Coalitions unite all interests, forcing politicians to respond to the groups' demands.
C) Coalitions of groups can often make up a majority of Americans and create pressure through elections.
D) Coalitions allow groups to exploit loopholes in campaign finance laws.
E) Coalitions of groups are effective because they form the basis of so-called iron triangles.

Question 37

Which of the following is a regulation that pertains to interest groups?

A) All groups must disclose publicly, to the federal government, the names of all of their dues-paying members.
B) People who leave government for a group cannot lobby their former office for at least a year.
C) Groups cannot donate money to anyone that they intend to lobby in an upcoming legislative session.
D) Groups may not hire former members of the U.S. Congress to work for them in any capacity.
E) Groups may not hire a person who has worked in any capacity for the federal government as a lobbyist.

Question 38

A(n)________ focuses on tactics used in Washington,while a(n)________ focuses on working outside of Washington to accomplish policy goals.

A) inside strategy; lobbying strategy
B) outside strategy; lobbying strategy
C) inside strategy; outside strategy
D) outside strategy; inside strategy
E) lobbying strategy; outside strategy

Question 39

Which of the following is a characteristic of mass associations?

A) Members are individuals who often pay dues.
B) Members always have a direct say in selecting group leadership.
C) Members are businesses and other organizations.
D) Membership is dominated by ideologically extreme individuals.
E) Membership is dominated by those who are willing and able to engage in protest activities.

Question 40

As of 2011,the total amount of money spent by interest groups on lobbying efforts exceeded:

A) $320 million
B) $3.2 billion
C) $32 billion
D) $32 million
E) $320 billion

Question 41

Describe the interest group universe and how it has changed in recent years.What kinds of groups exist? How has the composition of the interest groups changed in recent years? Why have these changes occurred?

Question 42

For a group to take advantage of grassroots lobbying,it needs which of the following characteristics?

A) a large number of members
B) a good media strategy
C) a good legal team
D) a political action committee that organizes voters
E) a charismatic leader who can "rally the troops"

Question 43

What is the revolving door problem? How does it present a dilemma in politics? Do you think we should be worried about this problem? Why or why not?

Question 44

Compare and contrast economic,citizen,and single-issue groups.What are the major characteristics of each? Give examples of each and explain what their interests are in lobbying government.

Question 45

A group that can raise money for the purpose of contributing to candidates or spending on campaigns is known as a(n):

A) political action committee
B) 501(c) organization
C) economic group
D) peak association
E) issue advocacy group

Question 46

Astroturf lobbying occurs when:

A) group members spontaneously contact policy makers
B) a group lobbies members of Congress in their home districts
C) a group organizes a large number of contacts with policy makers by regular people
D) a group organizes a contacting effort directed at policy makers, but it looks spontaneous
E) a group organizes its efforts like a football team with ground (i.e., grassroots) and air (i.e., advertising) attacks

Question 47

How would you characterize the power of interest groups? Are they very powerful,somewhat powerful,or not powerful at all? Under what conditions would you expect them to have more influence over policy?

Question 48

Which of the following statements best characterizes the influence of interest groups?

A) Most groups are only successful some of the time, regardless of their resources.
B) Most groups get what they want from government most of the time.
C) Interest groups are completely powerless.
D) Only groups with many members and large budgets are successful.
E) Interest groups can easily buy the congressional votes they need to get what they want from the legislative process.

Question 49

Which of the following summarizes tactics used by a group conducting an outside strategy?

A) working with other groups, litigating, and mobilizing public opinion
B) drafting legislation, conducting research, and working with other groups
C) electioneering, grassroots lobbying, and using the initiative process
D) using political action committees, mobilizing public opinion, and testifying before Congress
E) astroturf lobbying, mobilizing public opinion, and drafting legislation

Question 50

Compare and contrast political parties and interest groups as forms of representation.In your opinion,which one provides better links between the public and government?

Question 51

Which of the following is a key factor in determining a group's success in the policy process?

A) the level of salience surrounding its policy request
B) how long the group has been working in the policy area
C) how much support the president received in the last election from the group supporting the policy
D) the number of issue advocacy advertisements that the group runs on behalf of the policy
E) the financial advantage separating groups who support the policy from those who oppose it

Question 52

Large-scale spending in elections is:

A) unusual for all but a few 527s and political action committees (PACs)
B) common only among mass associations like unions
C) typical behavior for all groups with business interests
D) common among most 501(c) groups, 527 groups, and PACs
E) almost nonexistent since new campaign finance reforms went into effect in 2004

Question 53

What is the best tactic for an interest group to use in pursuing policy change?

A) direct lobbying
B) grassroots lobbying
C) ballot initiatives
D) electioneering
E) Choice of tactic depends on the group and its policy goals.

Question 54

When it comes to electioneering,which of the following tactics do interest groups use most?

A) campaign advertising
B) providing campaign workers
C) candidate endorsements
D) campaign contributions
E) polling and other campaign management services

Question 55

When people think about interest groups,they often picture a lobbyist making policy with politicians behind closed doors.Based on your reading of the text,how accurate is this depiction of direct lobbying? Given what you have learned about lobbying,do you think that we should do more to regulate the process? Why or why not?

Question 56

An interest group's success typically depends in part on its resources.What are the different resources available to interest groups? What are the pros and cons of using each resource in trying to influence public policy? Do you think that some groups are more likely to have certain types of resources? Why or why not?

Question 57

What is the primary difference between a 501(c)organization and a 527 organization?

A) There is no difference.
B) A 501(c) can spend only a portion of its budget on political activities, but a 527 can spend as much as it wants.
C) A 501(c) can spend money only on advertising, while a 527 can only make donations to candidates.
D) The money given to a 527 is tax deductible, while the money given to a 501(c) is not.
E) A 501(c) group is not regulated by the government, while a 527 group must answer to both the Federal Election Commission and the Internal Revenue Service.