Deck 7: Interest Groups

Question 1

Regarding modest increases in the minimum wage

A) they have a major negative effect on employment.
B) they have no effect on employment.
C) it is unclear whether they have a measurable effect on employment.
D) they boost employment significantly, by motivating the unemployed to seek work.
E) None of the above.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Someone who joins an interest group because he or she believes in the ideals of the group and wants a sense of belonging and community with others who share their beliefs is acting for

A) solidary incentives, but not purposive incentives.
B) material incentives, but not solidary incentives.
C) both material and solidary incentives, but not purposive incentives.
D) both purposive and material incentives, but not solidary incentives.
E) both purposive and solidary incentives, but not material incentives.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

People who become members of interest groups for solidary incentives are joining

A) for a sense of belonging to the group.
B) to improve their economic opportunities.
C) for ethical beliefs or ideological reasons.
D) to obtain political, economic, or social change.
E) as free riders.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

People who become members of interest groups for purposive incentives are joining

A) for a sense of belonging to the group.
B) as free riders.
C) for ethical beliefs or ideological reasons.
D) to improve their economic opportunities.
E) because they have been pressured to do so.

Question 5

An interest group is

A) any association of individuals.
B) a group of people who want to gain control of the government.
C) an organization that actively attempts to influence government policy.
D) any organization that requires members to pay dues.
E) an organization setup to support a specific candidate for public office.

Question 6

The age of automation and the rise of the service sector have

A) led to increased power for labor unions.
B) eliminated the need for interest groups for workers.
C) led to an increase in the percentage of blue-collar workers in the total working population.
D) led to attempts to unionize migrant farm workers, service workers, and public employees.
E) caused the collapse of all labor interest groups.

Question 7

All of the following are true about labor unions except

A) the number of members in labor unions has been declining.
B) American labor unions continue to support candidates for Congress.
C) labor unions provide volunteers for campaigns and campaign contributions.
D) a large turnout of union members will increase the final vote totals for Republicans.
E) there has been a growth in the unionization of public employees.

Question 8

U.S. agricultural subsidies are

A) the highest in the world.
B) greater as a percentage of production value than those provided by the European Union.
C) about 30 percent of production values.
D) smaller than those provided by South Korea and the European Union.
E) Option C and D are true.

Question 9

The Constitution protects interest groups through the

A) First Amendment's right to "petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
B) First Amendment's right to "peaceably assemble."
C) Fourth Amendment's protection against illegal search and seizure.
D) Fifth Amendment's right against self-incrimination.
E) Options A and B are true.

Question 10

American farmers and their workers represent less than 1 percent of the U.S. population. This fact supports the proposition that

A) because of their size, farmers have been unsuccessful as interest groups.
B) there are more farmers today than there were forty years ago.
C) most farmers are too busy to be politically active.
D) even a small percentage of the populace can be effective if they organize.
E) geographical dispersion works against the formation of effective interest groups.

Question 11

People who become members of interest groups for material incentives are joining

A) for a sense of belonging to the group.
B) to improve their economic opportunities or gain economic benefits.
C) for ethical beliefs or ideological reasons.
D) to institute change for political, economic, or social impact on the whole society.
E) because they have been pressured to do so.

Question 12

Social movements

A) are spawned most often by political parties or those in society with formal representation.
B) may be the authentic voice of the weak or oppressed in society.
C) are generally organized by a single powerful interest group.
D) generally last for five to ten years.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 13

A public-policy interest that is not recognized or represented by a group is a

A) free rider.
B) common interest.
C) public benefit.
D) rational incentive.
E) latent interest.

Question 14

A lobbyist is

A) any association of individuals.
B) inevitably affiliated with one of the two major political parties.
C) an individual or organization that attempts to influence legislation and the administrative decisions of government.
D) a member of Congress who challenges the majority position.
E) a member of the congressional leadership who is in a position to shape the legislative agenda in a way that benefits powerful interest groups.

Question 15

The argument that it is rational to not join interest groups and then share in the benefits procured by others is the basis of

A) latent interests.
B) the free rider problem.
C) rational incentives.
D) solidary incentives.
E) None of the above.

Question 16

A free rider is

A) an interest group member.
B) a participant in a social movement.
C) someone granted free passage to Washington, DC, to lobby or demonstrate.
D) someone who benefits from the actions of a group without joining it.
E) a civil rights activist.

Question 17

Public sector employees often have _____________, whereas private employees' ________________.

A) very few opportunities for promotion; promotions are very predictable
B) little job security; contracts often give them job security for three to five years
C) guaranteed pension income; pensions fluctuate with the stock market
D) low incomes; incomes fluctuate a great deal
E) Options A and B are true.

Question 18

All of the following are true of interest groups except

A) the structure of American government gives interest groups a number of areas in which to attempt to influence government policies.
B) interest groups attempt to influence government at all levels-local, state, and national.
C) interest groups only seek to influence government through campaign contributions.
D) the First Amendment encourages Americans to form and participate in interest groups.
E) membership in an interest group makes individual opinion appear more powerful.

Question 19

The most numerous types of interest groups in the United States are

A) economic interest groups.
B) social interest groups.
C) liberal interest groups.
D) environmental interest groups.
E) public interest groups.

Question 20

Which types of interest groups are defined as economic interest groups?

A) business, labor, and public interest groups
B) labor, agriculture, and environmental groups
C) business, labor, and foreign governments
D) business, labor, and professionals
E) professionals, agriculture, and foreign governments

Question 21

The existence of interest groups

A) shows that public interest groups and civil rights make up a large percentage of interest groups lobbying Congress.
B) shows that leaders are from the lower social-economic groups.
C) demonstrates the validity of the elite theory model of U.S. political system.
D) can be problematic for democracy because members of the middle or upper classes often dominate interest groups.
E) is required by the Constitution.

Question 22

The primary distinction between an interest group and a political party is that only

A) interest groups seek to affect policy.
B) parties have unaffiliated supporters.
C) parties run candidates for office.
D) parties try to influence elections.
E) Both C and D.

Question 23

Interest groups attain a reputation for being powerful through all of the following except

A) their membership size.
B) their financial resources.
C) cohesiveness.
D) charismatic leadership.
E) their willingness to formally link themselves to a specific party.

Question 24

Most interest groups have a bias toward

A) the middle and upper classes.
B) the middle and lower classes.
C) the common good.
D) the political right.
E) the political left.

Question 25

Environmental groups have found themselves in conflict with other interests over the issue of

A) protecting the snowy egret.
B) wildlife education.
C) global warming.
D) purchasing threatened lands.
E) protecting whales and dolphins from hunting.

Question 26

Republicans tend to get support from interest groups like _________, while ___________ tend(s) to support Democrats.

A) the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Americans for Tax Reform
B) environmental groups; Americans for Tax Reform
C) Americans for Tax Reform; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
D) labor unions; environmental groups
E) the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; labor unions

Question 27

Interest groups

A) have equal resources to influence legislation.
B) possess different combinations of resources to use in the policymaking process.
C) always begin as social movements.
D) are always comprised of members who have high social status.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 28

In cases where the goal of an interest group can be described as having concentrated benefits and dispersed costs, there tends to be a(n) ___________ between supporters and opponents.

A) long, drawn-out political battle
B) period of political gridlock
C) enthusiasm gap
D) willingness to compromise
E) None of the above.

Question 29

Labor unions are

A) embraced by business-oriented conservatives.
B) not popular in southern states such as Georgia and North Carolina.
C) popular in states such as New York and California.
D) Options B and C are true.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 30

Since 1960, the greatest growth in unionization has occurred among

A) military personnel.
B) professional athletes.
C) public employees.
D) private sector employees.
E) information technology employees.

Question 31

Unsafe and unsanitary work conditions in the early 1900s were a problem leading to the development of

A) the feminist movement.
B) the consumer movement.
C) the civil rights movement.
D) the anti-lobbying movement.
E) mostly conservative, pro-business special interest groups.

Question 32

Regardless of an interest group's size or resources, it can be considered powerful if

A) it has strong and effective leadership.
B) it successfully turns itself into a political party.
C) its members are motivated, engaged, and politically active.
D) Both A and B.
E) Both A and C.

Question 33

The issue of global warming

A) creates conflict between environmentalists and industrial interest groups.
B) creates conflict between wildlife conservation groups and hunters.
C) has transformed electoral politics in states like California.
D) Options A and C are true.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 34

Single-issue interest groups

A) include the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
B) include the Common Cause, which lobbies for government reform.
C) are narrowly focused, usually on just one issue.
D) have members who tend to care intensely about their issues.
E) Options C and D are true.

Question 35

Which of the following is true of interest groups?

A) Only a few interest groups attempt to influence public officials in the government at the same time.
B) Interest groups only lobby the national government because at that level issues are more important than at other levels of government.
C) Having a large number of members helps an interest group to influence government officials.
D) All interest groups need members to pay high dues so they can have a strong financial base.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 36

Foreign governments

A) often contribute large sums of money to key members of Congress.
B) sometimes hire former members of Congress as lobbyists.
C) provide expensive gifts to members of Congress who travel to a country on official government business.
D) are rarely interested in the policy debates concerning trade issues.
E) are prohibited by law from attempting to influence U.S. policy.

Question 37

The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) and the National Rifle Association (NRA) are examples of

A) economic interest groups.
B) single-interest groups.
C) public interest groups.
D) foreign interest groups.
E) fringe interest groups.

Question 38

The makeup of dominant voices of interest groups toward Congress tends to support

A) an elite theory of politics.
B) a pluralist theory of politics.
C) a direct democracy.
D) Both A and B.
E) Both B and C.

Question 39

All of the following are true of interest groups except that they

A) use a wide range of techniques and strategies to promote their policy goals.
B) are extremely successful in persuading the president to endorse their programs completely.
C) may try to block or weaken legislation.
D) provide officials with information and assistance when needed.
E) may lobby officials personally or use the general public to influence government on their behalf.

Question 40

Successful interest groups and their representatives try to cultivate long-term relationships with

A) foreign ambassadors.
B) legislators and government officials.
C) federal judges.
D) business leaders.
E) police commissioners and chiefs of police.

Question 41

Indirect techniques used by interest groups include

A) approaching officials personally to press a case.
B) strategies that use the general public or individuals to influence the government for the interest group.
C) illegal tactics such as bribes and payoffs.
D) paying members of Congress as consultants in return for favorable votes on issues important to the interest group.
E) testifying before congressional committees.

Question 42

Groups recognize that the greatest concern of legislators is to

A) support the principles of their political party.
B) be reelected.
C) vote for the ideas of the constituents.
D) be totally informed on issues they will have to vote on.
E) please the congressional leadership.

Question 43

Identifying and making legislative earmarks public was a key feature of

A) the 1946 lobbying reforms.
B) the 1995 lobbying reforms.
C) the 1995-96 rules of the House and Senate.
D) the 2007 lobbying reforms.
E) Both A and D.

Question 44

In an effort to reduce the power of special interests, the Obama administration

A) tried to prevent former lobbyists from holding positions in the administration.
B) introduced legislation to ban all lobbying.
C) refused to meet with any lobbyists on any issue.
D) created the Bureau of Lobbying Interests to oversee lobbying and recommend reforms.
E) Both A and D.

Question 45

Legislators and government officials are often more impressed by contacts from

A) constituents than interest groups.
B) aides to the Supreme Court than the bar association in their district.
C) lobbyists who threaten to take their case to the public than their constituents.
D) reporters who leak classified information to the press than the media in general.
E) representatives from foreign governments than lobbyists from American interests.

Question 46

Political endorsements by interest groups are

A) important because the group can publicize its choices in its membership publication.
B) not very important because while candidates can publicize the fact that their campaign is endorsed by groups, they cannot identify the specific source of the endorsement.
C) relatively ineffective today.
D) a violation of campaign finance reform laws.
E) allowed only in local elections, but forbidden in races for federal office.

Question 47

One of the ways in which lobbyists make themselves valuable to decision makers is by

A) threatening to campaign against them in upcoming elections.
B) providing bribes.
C) threatening to withhold campaign contributions.
D) providing information and expertise whenever asked.
E) inviting them to parties.

Question 48

Interest groups often hire former government employees or former members of Congress as lobbyists for all of the following reasons except that these

A) lobbyists "know their way around Washington."
B) individuals often retain friendships with former colleagues.
C) groups cannot possibly be effective if they do not hire these people.
D) lobbyists often have expert knowledge.
E) lobbyists often understand the regulatory process.

Question 49

Generating public pressure and awareness may

A) convince policymakers that public opinion overwhelmingly supports the interest group's position.
B) mislead the public on environmental issues.
C) bypass the legislative process.
D) force bureaucrats to answer to congressional committees.
E) lobby lawmakers directly.

Question 50

All of the following statements about demonstrations are true except

A) if peaceable, they are protected by the First Amendment.
B) they were used to great effect by the civil rights movement.
C) they were used by the movement against the Vietnam War.
D) they are organized refusals to buy the products of a particular company.
E) if violent, they can backfire and alienate the public.

Question 51

The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007

A) requires lobbyists to report their activities annually.
B) requires Congress to post lobbying information on the Internet.
C) significantly changed the culture in Washington, DC.
D) requires that all pork spending proposals be reported to the president.
E) limits spending by lobbyists to $100,000 per quarter.

Question 52

As a result of 1946 lobbying legislation and Supreme Court's United States v. Harriss decision, you have to register as a lobbyist if you work

A) for any group trying to influence government.
B) directly to influence the bureaucracy.
C) directly to influence Congress.
D) directly to influence the executive.
E) All of the above.

Question 53

Lobbying reforms made in 1995 and 1996, both through legislation and congressional rules, included

A) defining a lobbyist as anyone who spends 20 percent of his or her time lobbying Congress or the executive branch.
B) requiring lobbyists to register with congressional officials.
C) reporting on the nature of lobbying efforts.
D) rules meant to restrict the value of gifts given to members of Congress.
E) All of the above.

Question 54

To generate public pressure, interest groups may

A) use advertisements in national magazines and newspapers.
B) generate mail to elected officials.
C) organize rallies.
D) work with like-minded organizations.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 55

To influence government and policy, lobbyists commonly engage in all of the following except

A) meeting privately with public officials.
B) testifying before congressional committees.
C) assisting in the drafting of legislation.
D) running for Congress.
E) suggesting nominations for federal courts.

Question 56

Legislation to regulate lobbying in 1946 resulted in

A) a minimal number of individuals registered as lobbyists.
B) a large number of lobbyists decided to reveal their tactics.
C) a significant decrease in the influence of special interests.
D) an increase in reporting requirements for lobbyists at federal agencies and the courts.
E) a public record of all lobbyists active that year.

Question 57

All of the following are true of lobbyists except that they

A) may help draft legislation for public officials.
B) may be members of some of Washington, DC's law firms that specialize in providing services to government officials.
C) fabricate the truth when providing information to public officials.
D) meet with public officials to inform them of the interests of their clients.
E) may testify before congressional committees.

Question 58

All of the following are techniques used by interest groups to involve the general public except

A) attempting to mobilize large numbers of constituents to write, phone, or send e-mails and tweets to their legislators.
B) using demonstrations, rallies, and marches.
C) violently protesting so officials will know the unhappiness of the public.
D) getting people to boycott a business.
E) commissioning polls and publicizing the results for the public to see.

Question 59

Lobbyists provide advisory assistance to legislators by

A) testifying before legislative committees.
B) assisting legislators with the drafting of bills.
C) providing technical expertise to legislators.
D) providing exotic vacations for legislators.
E) Options A, B, and C are true.

Question 60

The primary purpose of 1946 legislation that targeted lobbying was to

A) prohibit all lobbying activities.
B) restrict lobbying to the legislative branch.
C) heavily regulate lobbying.
D) improve public disclosure of lobbying.
E) create an agency that would oversee lobbying.

Question 61

What would be the unintended consequences if lobbying was abolished?

Question 62

Discuss two different categories of economic interest groups and contrast these groups with public interest groups.

Question 63

Describe the categories of economic interest groups and provide examples of each.

Question 64

Explain the free rider problem faced by interest groups and how they combat this problem.

Question 65

Explain the direct techniques used by interest groups.

Question 66

What are the differences between a social movement and an interest group? How are they related?

Question 67

Explain the indirect techniques used by interest groups.

Question 68

Describe legislative efforts to regulate the activities of lobbyists.

Question 69

Evaluate the roles of size, leadership, and cohesiveness in interest group power and argue which of these you believe to be the most important and why.

Question 70

Explain the factors that make an interest group powerful.