Deck 7: Interest Groups

Question 1

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 interest groups.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following groups are economic interest groups?

A) The U.S. Chamber of Commerce
B) The American Dairy Association
C) The AFL-CIO
D) The American Federation of Teachers
E) All of the above are true.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

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.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

American farmers and their workers represent less than one 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 5

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 6

A free rider is

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

Question 7

All of the following are true of the AARP except

A) most people who join AARP are doing so based on material incentives.
B) the AARP is the largest interest group in the United States.
C) the AARP provides discounts and insurance plans for members.
D) the AARP can claim it represents millions of senior citizens.
E) most people join the AARP because of its free rider policy.

Question 8

A lobbyist is

A) any association of individuals.
B) inevitably affiliated with one of the two major political parties.
C) an individual or organization who 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 9

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 10

Which of the following statements is incorrect?

A) The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers are known as "umbrella groups."
B) The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers combine with other types of interest groups, such as public interest groups and professional organizations, in order to achieve their objectives.
C) The U.S. Chamber of Commerce represents more than three million businesses.
D) The National Association of Manufacturers can mobilize articulate lobbyists to promote the concerns of members.
E) The AARP promotes the interests of American agricultural rural producers.

Question 11

The Constitution protects interest groups

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

Question 12

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 13

Lobbyists

A) are persons hired to attempt to influence members of Congress.
B) date back to colonial times.
C) are deeply unpopular with the general public.
D) represent special interests.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 14

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.

Question 15

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 set up to support a specific candidate for public office.

Question 16

Interest groups are

A) an organized group of individuals who actively attempt to influence policymakers.
B) an organized group of individuals sharing common objectives.
C) a branch of a political party.
D) an organized group of individuals who attempt to win seats in government to influence policy from within for their members.
E) Options A and B are true.

Question 17

Which of the following would not properly be called an interest group?

A) American Association of Retired Persons
B) National Farm Bureau
C) Sierra Club
D) American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
E) Unorganized poor

Question 18

Which is true?

A) A lobbyist is hired to influence political officeholders.
B) A lobbyist improves the debate by providing expert information on important issues.
C) Lobbying is a recent phenomenon.
D) A lobbyist actively and effectively represents the poor and the young.
E) Options A and B are true

Question 19

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 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

U.S. agricultural subsidies

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

Question 22

All of the following statements about the representation of poor people are true except

A) their representation comes largely from business groups.
B) representation is difficult because the poor often cannot afford the time or money needed to join groups.
C) the poor depend largely on indirect representations.
D) most efforts on behalf of the poor come from a policy network of groups.
E) many people who are classified as poor do not have the ability to find out which group might represent them.

Question 23

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 24

The Consumer Movement

A) began in the 1960s during the anti-war and civil rights movements.
B) began in the early part of the twentieth century due to unsafe and unsanitary workplace conditions.
C) was founded by Ralph Nader who pioneered increased safety testing of commercial airliners.
D) is funded by business and industrial interests.
E) was inspired by the book, Silent Spring by Rachel Carson.

Question 25

Labor unions

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

Question 26

The Sierra Club and the Nature Conservancy are examples of

A) agricultural interest groups.
B) interest groups of professionals.
C) economic interest groups.
D) environmental interest groups.
E) public interest groups.

Question 27

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 28

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 29

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 30

Opponents of the Keystone XL oil pipeline contend

A) the pipeline will transport the cleanest oil on earth.
B) that the process used to extract oil from tar sands creates the dirtiest oil on earth.
C) that oxygen emitted in the process will cause damage to the atmosphere.
D) that the process uses little energy to extract the oil, but is too costly to produce.
E) that the Canadian oil flooding the market will raise gas prices.

Question 31

All of the following statements about professional interest groups are true except

A) they include the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association
B) members, such as doctors and lawyers, are influential because of their social status.
C) the attorneys within these groups have an advantage because many members of Congress are also attorneys.
D) the AMA spends large amounts of money on lobbying.
E) they include police officers, fire fighters, teachers, and college instructors.

Question 32

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 33

Supporters of the Keystone XL pipeline contend that it will reduce the importation of "conflict" oil which

A) comes to the United States from countries in the Middle East without liberties due to repressive governments.
B) comes to the United States from countries that are ruled by dictators.
C) comes to the United States from the oil sands of Canada.
D) comes from the Gulf of Mexico.
E) Options A and B are true.

Question 34

The League of Women Voters

A) is officially non-partisan.
B) lobbies for government reform.
C) lobbied for the Equal Rights Amendment.
D) was founded in 1920.
E) All of the above 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 have influence with 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

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 37

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 38

Common Cause, a public-interest group,

A) helped with ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, establishing prohibition.
B) is concerned with passing legislation to obtain a major revision of the Internal Revenue Service.
C) works to make governmental institutions more responsive to the public.
D) is one of the smallest public-interest groups.
E) Options A and B are true.

Question 39

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 40

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 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 like 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

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 43

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 44

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

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

Question 45

"Model Bills" created by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)

A) tend to address issues of concern to liberal legislators.
B) try to reduce or prevent the growth of state and local regulation on business.
C) try to prevent business failure through more comprehensive regulation.
D) tend to promote the public funding of entities that compete with private corporations.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 46

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 47

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 our 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 48

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, D.C.'s law firms that specialize in providing services to government officials.
C) they 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 49

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 50

The number of lobbyists in Washington has _________ since 2000.

A) decreased slightly
B) decreased extensively
C) stayed the same
D) increased slightly
E) more than doubled

Question 51

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 52

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 53

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 54

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.
D) requires that all pork spending proposals be reported to the President.
E) limits spending by lobbyists to $100,000 per quarter.

Question 55

Legislation to reform the regulation of federal lobbying in 1995 resulted in all of the following except

A) lobbyists were forced to register.
B) lobbyists had to produce semiannual reports.
C) religious groups had to register as lobbyists.
D) a lobbyist was defined as someone who spent more than twenty percent of his or her working time lobbying Congress or the executive branch.
E) an accompanying move was made to limit gifts to members of Congress.

Question 56

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 57

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 58

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 59

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 60

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 61

What would be the unintended consequences if lobbying was abolished?

Question 62

Explain how economic interest groups, public-interest groups, and single-issue interest groups differ from each other.

Question 63

Explain the indirect techniques used by interest groups.

Question 64

Explain the different incentives Americans have for joining interest groups. What are some examples of the types of groups Americans join?

Question 65

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

Question 66

Explain the factors that make an interest group powerful.

Question 67

Explain the direct techniques used by interest groups.

Question 68

Describe the three different techniques used by interest groups that you think are the most important. Then explain why the techniques you have chosen are important.

Question 69

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

Question 70

Describe legislative efforts to regulate the activities of lobbyists.

Question 71

Describe the role played by interest groups in shaping public policy.