Deck 6: Interest Groups

Question 1

Any formal organization of individuals or groups that seeks to influence government to promote their common cause is called a(n)

A) majority party.
B) focus group.
C) interest group.
D) plurality group.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The idea that "competition keeps powerful interest groups in check and no single group dominates" is represented in

A) interest group theory.
B) pluralist theory.
C) elite theory.
D) transactional theory.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The idea that "public policy is bought and sold like a commodity to the highest bidder" is represented in

A) interest group theory.
B) pluralist theory.
C) elite theory.
D) transactional theory.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The idea that "groups that have greater resources are in a better position to accomplish their goals" is represented in

A) interest group theory.
B) pluralist theory.
C) elite theory.
D) transactional theory.

Question 5

Under the elite theory, most of those who are prominent in interest groups tend to be

A) college students.
B) in blue-collar jobs.
C) from the lower class.
D) from the upper class.

Question 6

Which theory of interest group participation best describes Texas?

A) Transaction theory
B) Pluralist theory
C) Elite theory
D) It is context dependent

Question 7

You want clean air, more efficient government, and expanded civil rights. There are a dozen organizations that are working to ensure this goal. If you are thinking, "Why should I join if they'll do the work without my help?" this would be an example of

A) plurality campaigns.
B) the public dilemma.
C) the collective action problem.
D) the free rider problem.

Question 8

Groups that advocate for the benefit of their members are called

A) private interest groups.
B) public interest groups.
C) free riders.
D) elite groups.

Question 9

An interest group provides a tote bag for those who join the group. The tote bag is an example of a(n)

A) selective benefit.
B) exclusive offer.
C) bribe.
D) membership perk.

Question 10

An interest group comprised of workers collectively advocating for higher wages and benefits is a

A) trade association.
B) union.
C) business group.
D) collective.

Question 11

The Chamber of Commerce, a group of small business owners, is an example of a(n)

A) business group.
B) labor union.
C) single-issue group.
D) identity group.

Question 12

Someone joins an interest group because they enjoy spending time with others who share their views. This is a _______ benefit.

A) purposive
B) solidarity
C) material
D) perk

Question 13

Groups that benefit the public in general are called

A) private interest groups.
B) public interest groups.
C) free riders.
D) elite groups.

Question 14

Individuals who benefit from a publicly provided good or service without paying for it and actively supporting its acquisition are referred to as

A) private interest groups.
B) public interest groups.
C) free riders.
D) elite groups.

Question 15

Private goods made available to people who organize for a collective good are called _______ benefits.

A) group
B) selective
C) routine
D) free rider

Question 16

Someone joins an interest group because being part of the group makes them feel like they are really making a difference. This is a _______ benefit.

A) perk
B) solidarity
C) purposive
D) material

Question 17

_______ serve the interests of an industry, such as farmers, locksmiths, or realtors.

A) Business groups
B) Trade associations
C) Professional organizations
D) Industrial associations

Question 18

_______ are groups that represent a specific occupation, such as doctors or lawyers.

A) Business groups
B) Trade associations
C) Professional organizations
D) Labor unions

Question 19

How does union membership in Texas compare to states like Minnesota and California?

A) Texas has much lower membership rates.
B) Texas has much higher membership rates.
C) Their rates are about the same.
D) There are no unions in Texas.

Question 20

_______ represent the interests of specific groups based on such aspects as race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender, or income.

A) Single-issue groups
B) Trade associations
C) Identity groups
D) Labor unions

Question 21

The Texas Rifle Association takes positions on only firearm-related issues. They have no position on taxes, poverty, or energy. They are a _______ group.

A) single-issue
B) public interest
C) narrowly focused
D) dedicated

Question 22

Suppose the City of Dallas tries to persuade the state legislature to pass legislation that would benefit the city. This is an example of what kind of lobbying?

A) Government interest
B) Insider
C) Municipal
D) Local

Question 23

Individual businesses and organizations representing many businesses often advocate on behalf of their own interests-and sometimes battle each other. These are referred to as

A) business groups.
B) trade associations.
C) professional organizations.
D) labor unions.

Question 24

Getting members of the general public who are interested in an issue to contact elected officials to persuade them on an issue is called

A) grassroots lobbying.
B) AstroTurf lobbying.
C) electioneering.
D) fundraising.

Question 25

What type of lobbying involves manufacturing public support and making it appear as though it was inspired organically by a swell of public opinion?

A) Grassroots lobbying
B) AstroTurf lobbying
C) Electioneering
D) Fundraising

Question 26

Advertising (radio, mail, Internet, or television) for or against issues or candidates, granting endorsements, and raising funds is called:

A) grassroots lobbying.
B) AstroTurf lobbying.
C) electioneering.
D) fundraising.

Question 27

A legal filing with relevant opinions or information pertinent to a court case that affects a group's interests, even if they are not directly part of the case, is called a(n)

A) abstract.
B) endorsement.
C) amicus curiae brief.
D) summary hearing.

Question 28

Direct communications with members of the legislative or executive branch of government to influence legislation or administrative action is referred to as

A) lobbying.
B) interest groups.
C) plying the president.
D) the bully pulpit.

Question 29

An interest group runs ads advocating for a candidate. This is an example of

A) public lobbying.
B) grassroots lobbying.
C) AstroTurf lobbying.
D) electioneering.

Question 30

Suppose an interest group wants to publicly urge its members to vote for a particular candidate. The group might _______ the candidate.

A) nominate
B) endorse
C) primary
D) repudiate

Question 31

An interest group sends an e-mail to its members letting them know about actions the legislature has taken. This is an example of what role of interest groups?

A) Education
B) Citizen campaigns
C) Electioneering
D) Fundraising

Question 32

Over the past 20 years, the number of lobbyists in Texas has

A) dropped to almost zero.
B) stayed the same.
C) increased.
D) decreased.

Question 33

Most lobbyists work on _______ issues.

A) military
B) identity
C) social
D) economic

Question 34

A lobbyist appears at a committee hearing to _______ either for or against the issue.

A) espouse
B) testify
C) grandstand
D) electioneer

Question 35

Suppose several interest groups decide to work together on a common cause. These groups have

A) electioneered.
B) testified.
C) merged.
D) built a coalition.

Question 36

The relationship that forms between interest groups, the legislature, and executive agency regulators in the policy formation and implementation process is sometimes referred to as

A) the Texas triangle.
B) the revolving door.
C) the three-edged sword.
D) the iron triangle.

Question 37

A lobbyist encourages a member of the legislature to make changes to a bill. What role of lobbying is the lobbyist engaged in?

A) Building coalitions
B) Commenting on rule making
C) Testifying at hearings
D) Shaping legislation

Question 38

An interest group keeps an eye on the performance of a government program. This process is called

A) program monitoring.
B) citizen oversight.
C) bureaucratic surveillance.
D) bureaucratic assistance.

Question 39

When iron triangles develop around a single issue, the relationship is often called a(n)

A) political network.
B) issue network.
C) social network.
D) revolving network.

Question 40

When agency bureaucrats and legislators leave their jobs to become lobbyists, or vice versa, it is referred to as

A) the Texas triangle.
B) the revolving door.
C) the three-edged sword.
D) the iron triangle.

Question 41

How many years must Texas elected officials wait before becoming lobbyists in Texas?

A) 0
B) 2
C) 5
D) 10

Question 42

The phenomenon whereby a government agency is "controlled" by the industries that it was designed to regulate is referred to as

A) the Texas triangle.
B) agency capture.
C) the green effect.
D) the iron triangle.

Question 43

If a lawmaker receives a gift from a lobbyist over a certain value, she must _______ it.

A) pay for
B) donate
C) refuse
D) report

Question 44

In recent years, the Texas Ethics Commission has issued _______ rulings.

A) an increasing number of
B) few
C) many
D) no

Question 45

Since 1991, the _______ has served as the primary agency for regulating and enforcing laws related to interest group lobbying and campaign disclosure.

A) Texas Safety and Integrity Elections Council
B) James Madison Commission
C) Texas Ethics Commission
D) Texas House Committee for Transparency

Question 46

Deciding not to participate in a legislative activity as an elected official is known as

A) recusal.
B) forfeiture.
C) dereliction of duty.
D) mediation.

Question 47

The filing of a report that includes details about lawmakers' personal finances or business dealings is known as

A) an annual report.
B) full access.
C) a disclosure.
D) a blind trust.

Question 48

Legislators frequently _______ themselves-elect not to participate in decisions-from issues in which they have a personal stake.

A) recuse
B) forfeit
C) derelict
D) mediate

Question 49

Which government agency maintains records on lobbying activity?

A) The Texas Ethics Commission
B) The State House of Representatives
C) The attorney general
D) The secretary of state

Question 50

Ethics reform tends to occur

A) when scandals emerge.
B) when a new governor is elected.
C) when new interest groups start lobbying.
D) after reapportionment.

Question 51

What is "pluralist theory"?

Question 52

Define private interest groups.

Question 53

Define public interest groups.

Question 54

What issue area has the most lobbyists?

Question 55

What types of things do lobbyists do in order to persuade legislators to vote the way they would like?

Question 56

Explain the difference between private and public interest groups, and the free rider problem.

Question 57

Describe "grassroots lobbying" and how it relates to the concept of "AstroTurf lobbying."

Question 58

Explain when and how endorsements by interest groups influence election outcomes.

Question 59

How do interest groups interact with the judicial branch in Texas?

Question 60

Explain the role of lobbyists.