Question 1

The number of interest groups has grown rapidly since the 1960s.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The number of interest groups in the United States has increased steadily since the 1960s, with some estimates suggesting there are now over 100,000 organizations lobbying for various causes and issues.

Question 2

In a classic study,Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba found that citizens in Germany and Great Britain were more likely to state that they would protect an unjust regulation than citizens in the United States.

Accepted Answer

Almond and Verba's study, "The Civic Culture," actually found that citizens in the United States were more likely to participate in civic activities and felt more empowered to influence government action compared to citizens in Germany and Great Britain, not more likely to protect an unjust regulation.

Question 3

Public-interest groups often do better when the government is in the hands of an administration that is hostile to their views.

Accepted Answer

When the government is hostile to the views of public-interest groups, it often mobilizes these groups to become more active, vocal and engaged with the political process. This can lead to increased public attention and pressure on the government, and ultimately result in more successful advocacy efforts by the public-interest groups. Additionally, opposition can help to build alliances among different public-interest groups and foster a sense of common purpose and urgency, further boosting their effectiveness.

Question 4

Economic trends away from manufacturing and toward service delivery have affected union membership.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. As manufacturing jobs have declined in many countries, especially in developed economies, the number of union members in the manufacturing sector has decreased. In contrast, the service sector has seen growth in employment opportunities, but these jobs are often lower paid and less likely to be unionized.

Question 5

The phrase revolving door refers to interest-group contributions to congressional candidates.

Accepted Answer

The phrase revolving door typically refers to the movement of individuals between government positions and private sector jobs, often in industries they previously regulated. While interest-group contributions may be related to this issue, the term primarily focuses on the movement of people.

Question 6

The First Amendment's freedom of speech and the right to petition government clauses protect the activities of
interest groups.

Accepted Answer

The First Amendment's freedom of speech and the right to petition government clauses protect the activities of interest groups, as they are able to freely express their opinions and lobby for policy change.

Question 7

The weakness of our political parties encourages the creation of interest groups.

Accepted Answer

When political parties are weak, they may not effectively represent the diverse interests of their constituents. This creates an opportunity for interest groups to form and advocate for specific issues, causes or policies. Additionally, interest groups may provide a way for individuals to have more direct and targeted political influence than through traditional political channels.

Question 8

The Audubon Society can be considered an interest group.

Accepted Answer

The Audubon Society is a nonprofit environmental organization that advocates for bird conservation and habitat preservation, and therefore can be considered an interest group.

Question 9

Women's organizations that attract members with purposive incentives must take strong positions on divisive issues.

Accepted Answer

Women's organizations that attract members with purposive incentives are often focused on advocacy for a specific cause or goal. In order to effectively advance that cause, they may need to take strong positions on issues that are controversial or divisive. This can help to mobilize members and generate support, but may also lead to opposition or criticism from those who disagree with the organization's stance.

Question 10

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund is an example of a conservative public-interest law firm.

Accepted Answer

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund is not a conservative public-interest law firm. It was founded in 1940 to fight for civil rights and racial justice, and has traditionally taken progressive stances on issues related to race, voting rights, and criminal justice.

Question 11

Civil rights is an issue on which the labor movement followed the attitudes of the rank and file in its lobbying activities.

Accepted Answer

The labor movement often took a leadership role in advocating for civil rights, sometimes ahead of the attitudes of its rank and file members, particularly in pushing for desegregation and equal rights in the workplace.

Question 12

Unions composed of government workers are becoming the most important part of the union movement.

Accepted Answer

According to recent data, unions composed of government workers, particularly at the state and local level, are growing and now make up a larger percentage of the overall union membership than in the past. Therefore, they are becoming increasingly important within the union movement.

Question 13

A social movement need not have liberal goals.

Accepted Answer

A social movement can have any type of goal, not just liberal ones. It could have conservative, radical, or other types of goals.

Question 14

Discuss interest groups in America,Great Britain,and Germany.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss interest groups in America,Great Britain,and Germany....

Question 15

Interest groups can legally supply money to public officials who are running for office.

Accepted Answer

According to the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, interest groups and other organizations can spend unlimited amounts of money in support of candidates through independent spending or Super PACs. However, direct contributions from interest groups to candidates' campaigns are limited by federal campaign finance laws.

Question 16

Americans are more likely to join religious and political organizations than labor or business groups.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that Americans are more likely to join religious and political organizations than labor or business groups.

Question 17

Today,only about 12 percent of American workers are covered by unions.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the union membership rate in the United States was 10.8 percent in 2020.

Question 18

The centralizing effects of the U.S.Constitution help promote the formation of interest groups.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The centralizing effects of the U.S.Constitution help...

Question 19

Lobbyists provide information about legislation that is hard to come by without expert help.

Accepted Answer

Lobbyists have access to information and expertise that may not be easily accessible to others. They often have extensive knowledge about the issues and legislation they are advocating for or against, and can provide valuable insights and analysis to lawmakers and other decision-makers. However, it's important to note that lobbyists also have their own agendas and may not always provide completely unbiased or objective information.

Question 20

Solidary incentives are the sense of pleasure,status,or companionship that arises out of meeting together in small groups.

Accepted Answer

Solidary incentives refer to the social benefits that individuals derive from group membership, such as a sense of belonging, camaraderie, and shared identity.

Quiz 11: Interest Groups