Question 1

An amicus brief

Accepted Answer

An amicus brief is a document submitted to a court by a third party, not a direct party to a legal dispute, in order to provide the court with additional information and context for the case. It explains the group's position on the case and offers legal arguments and evidence for the court to consider.

Question 2

An interest group that focuses on policy benefits for senior citizens would be an example of

Accepted Answer

E

Question 3

Economic groups have an advantage over non-economic groups because

Accepted Answer

Economic groups, by definition, are focused on economic issues and therefore tend to have access to greater financial resources, giving them an advantage over non-economic groups.

Question 4

Roughly how many American workers currently belong to unions?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Roughly how many American workers currently belong...

Question 5

A basic reason for the existence of so many interest groups in the United States is

Accepted Answer

All of these factors contribute to the proliferation of interest groups in the United States. The American tradition of free association allows individuals to form groups around any issue or interest they choose. The diverse range of interests in American society means there are many potential groups to form, from environmental organizations to business associations to religious groups. The federal system of government, in which power is distributed between the national government and state governments, creates multiple venues for groups to seek influence and access to policymakers. The separation of powers also creates opportunities for groups to lobby members of Congress, executive branch officials or judges who may be sympathetic to their cause.

Question 6

Economist Mancur Olson concluded that groups

Accepted Answer

The answer of Economist Mancur Olson concluded that groups
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Question 7

The situation in which individuals are tempted not to contribute to a cause because they will get the benefits even if they do not participate is called

Accepted Answer

The free-rider problem occurs when individuals have the opportunity to benefit from a public good without incurring the costs of contributing to it. This often leads to a situation where not enough people contribute, resulting in the public good being underfunded or not created at all.

Question 8

The theory that society's interests are most effectively represented through group action is

Accepted Answer

The theory that society's interests are most effectively represented through group action is pluralist theory. It holds that interest groups play a key role in democratic governance and that societal interests are most effectively represented through group action rather than individual action or government action.

Question 9

Citizens' interest groups are distinguished from economic interest groups by the fact that

Accepted Answer

Economic interest groups advocate for policies that benefit their members financially or economically, while citizens' interest groups advocate for policies that benefit society as a whole and do not provide direct and immediate financial or economic benefits to their members.

Question 10

The most fully organized interests are those that have which of the following as their primary purpose?

Accepted Answer

Economic activity is a primary driver of organized interests, as businesses and industries seek to advocate for policies that benefit their bottom line.

Question 11

"Agency capture" occurs when

Accepted Answer

Agency capture refers to the situation where regulatory agencies end up serving the interests of the industries they are supposed to regulate rather than those of the public they are intended to protect. This can occur due to various reasons such as revolving door practices where agency officials move seamlessly between the public and private sectors or being overly influenced by lobbying organizations that represent the industries they regulate.

Question 12

Which citizens' group did a Fortune magazine survey rank as the nation's most powerful lobbying group?

Accepted Answer

The AARP, or the American Association of Retired Persons, was ranked as the nation's most powerful lobbying group in a Fortune magazine survey. The AARP has a large membership base and is able to wield significant political influence on issues affecting older Americans.

Question 13

Why did Representative Tom DeLay lose his post as House majority leader?

Accepted Answer

Representative Tom DeLay lost his post as House majority leader because he was implicated in a scandal involving campaign donations from lobbyist Jack Abramoff. This scandal tarnished his reputation and led to his resignation from his position as majority leader.

Question 14

Why have issue networks become more prevalent than iron triangles?

Accepted Answer

As policy problems become more complex, individual interest groups may not have enough resources or expertise to effectively influence policymaking. Issue networks, which involve a broader range of actors including experts, bureaucrats, and other stakeholders, can provide the collaboration necessary to tackle complex policy issues. Iron triangles, which typically involve a small group of interest groups, legislators, and bureaucrats working in isolation from other actors, may be less effective in addressing the complexity of modern policy challenges.

Question 15

Some groups pursue collective goods.A collective good is one that

Accepted Answer

A collective good is a good or service that benefits all members of a group or society, and cannot be selectively granted or denied to individuals. This means that everyone in the group benefits from the good, regardless of whether they contributed to it or not. Examples of collective goods include clean air, national defense, and public parks.

Question 16

A flaw in pluralism theory is the fact that

Accepted Answer

The flaw in pluralism theory is that some interests are far better organized and more powerful than others, which means that the interest group system is unrepresentative. This undermines the idea that all interests have an equal ability to influence government policies.

Question 17

The Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v.Federal Election Commission (2010)

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) allows corporations and labor unions to spend unlimited funds on campaigns, which was previously restricted under campaign finance laws. This decision has led to the rise of Super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose political candidates.

Question 18

In order to overcome the free-rider problem,non-economic groups have

Accepted Answer

Non-economic groups often use targeted communication strategies, such as Internet resources and mailing lists, to reach potential donors and encourage contributions, thus addressing the free-rider problem by increasing member engagement and funding.

Question 19

A purposive incentive is defined as

Accepted Answer

A purposive incentive is an incentive that motivates people to participate in an activity or contribute to a cause because they care about the goal or purpose of the activity or cause. This is different from a direct economic gain, which is a material reward that people receive for participating in an activity. Choice B reflects this definition, as the opportunity to contribute to a worthy goal or purpose is a prime example of a purposive incentive that could motivate individuals. The other answer options do not accurately reflect the concept of a purposive incentive, as they either focus on economic or group benefits rather than goals or purposes.

Question 20

According to James Madison,the source of most factions is the

Accepted Answer

James Madison believed that factions arise from the unequal distribution of property, as those who have more property will naturally seek to protect their interests and seek to limit the power of the majority. This is explained in Federalist No. 10, where Madison argues that the Constitution's system of checks and balances is specifically designed to prevent factions from seizing power and depriving others of their rights.

Quiz 1: Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence